When I first sunk my bid to come to Dartmouth, I was convinced that I would spend at least one of my terms abroad. After all, as I had heard from tour guides, pamphlets, the Internet, et cetera, that the D-plan makes it sooo easy to travel! The summer before I arrived at Dartmouth, I didn't ponder what I would choose as a major, but where I would choose to travel during my time away from Hanover. Italy? South Africa? The world seemed like my oyster.
Now, four years later, I haven't become the international jet-setter that I had envisioned. I've been in residence here ever since 04F with the exception of three off-terms -- all of which were spent working in New York (including two during which I lived at home!); my idea of geographical diversity is having been employed in East Harlem, Midtown and the Financial District.
At first, I blamed the D-Plan and an obscure minor as the reasons why I never studied in another country. But that's actually not entirely correct " my sophomore year, I actually started filling out an application for an FSP. I was even on my way to ask a professor for a recommendation when a realization hit me " despite what I tried to tell myself, I didn't really want to leave Hanover.
At most, we get 120 weeks at what is arguably the best place on Earth " why would anyone want to give up even a small portion of that time? I know we like to gripe about life at Dartmouth " DDS prices, S&S Gestapo tactics, course enrollments, you name it. But if you step back and really think about it, in comparison to everywhere else, things here are absolutely wonderful.
We have few commitments, little responsibility to anyone but ourselves, relatively free license to act irrationally, and nothing really matters nearly as much as we think it does. It's a pretty carefree existence, and even if something goes wrong, help is just an acronymed organization away.
Think back to the first time that you arrived in Hanover knowing you'd be spending four years here. For me, it was on the bus ride up for Dimensions weekend. I sat next to a kid named Sam who tried to engage me in conversation about World of Warcraft, but gave up after realizing I didn't know the difference between a druid and a warlock.
It was a pretty awkward trip, and I spent much of it wondering if I would have to pick up MMORPGs in order to "fit in" at Dartmouth. But as soon as we crossed over the bridge from Vermont I knew I was in the right place. To this day, I maintain that the best-smelling air I've ever experienced was my first breath after I got off the bus " crisp, clean, refreshing. My love affair with Hanover began at that moment, and hasn't ever stopped.
I guess you might say that by staying in Hanover rather than going abroad, I tried to stave off the real world for as long as possible, since FSPs and LSAs certainly rate higher than Dartmouth on the "realness" scale. But what's wrong with that? The real world will always be there. College, unfortunately, won't. If you see me grabbing the cheeks of a round-faced '11, shaking him, and imploring him to "cherish these times," just remember that it's for his own benefit. He'll thank me later.
So, Amy, you can have your chic Euro-style hairdo, cosmopolitan vocabulary and new wardrobe. I'll be just fine with my Walt & Ernie's, Dartmouth abrevs and the same polo shirts I've worn since high school.
Of course, none of this is to say that I don't believe in the value of foreign travel in general. After all, the day after graduation, I'm getting on a plane and preparing to work for two years in a place that I've never even visited: Houston, Texas. From what I hear, it's a completely different country there. I wonder if they'll stamp my passport.
Brian is a staff writer for The Mirror. His favorite European city is Montreal.
