Editor's note: Each week, Amy examines a small group of students in order to understand the individual Dartmouth experience as part of a whole. This week, Amy learns what Dartmouth is really like from an outsider's perspective.
We're always told that we at Dartmouth are part of a green-blooded, cold-resistant, beer-guzzling cult, and that no one can ever really understand us unless they go here. This, of course, is only cemented by such works of literary genius like Chris Miller's memoir of his time here, "The Real Animal House." (As much as I tease, I'm not knocking it, I promise. A copy's on my bookshelf between my Italian dictionary and Salinger's "Nine Stories" right now.)
So how does the outsider really perceive Dartmouth? Are we as incomprehensible as we would like to be? Apparently not, according to Rob Swift '09 at Trinity College Dublin, who, in the interest of full disclosure, is also my boyfriend.
After spending two weeks in Pennsylvania eating Buffalo wings, watching classic baseball movies and engaging in other highly American activities, I've brought Rob up to the cold climes of New Hampshire to give him a taste of my daily life during the first week of my last term ever at Dartmouth. It's a strange thing, showing off my Dartmouth life. Since we met when I was a visiting student at TCD, my returning there has always been partly a visit to his school, and partly a return to my own stomping grounds. I've always been eager to hear his impressions of the school that wholly belongs to me. And about 4,000 of you, too, of course.
I asked Rob what his favorite parts of Dartmouth were. He answered in a way that I'm sure the admissions office would love.
"I like the student atmosphere. Hanover is a town that is driven by Dartmouth. Every business in Hanover seems to be geared toward students ... Hanover couldn't exist without Dartmouth, and Dartmouth couldn't exist without Hanover," he said.
"I [also] like the idea of the Greek system," he added. "I always used to think of the fraternity system as another club or society that you don't have to do anything to get into."
I made a noise indicating he was on dangerous ground.
"But it's different," he continued. "That's the sort of stereotype [that exists overseas]."
I asked him for an example of how it was different. Rob recalled seeing Boon, Alpha Delta fraternity's dog on the house's front porch, and how he remarked at the time how much of a bond the house must have to pass the care of a dog from brother to brother.
"The fact that the fraternities have dogs changes that [for me]," he said. "There's much more of a sense of belonging than I ever could have realized."
Since Rob has seen several other American schools before, I asked him how Dartmouth compared.
"A lot of people seem to be affiliated with a sports team ... it's all part of that sense of belonging."
So maybe we are a bit cultish after all, though not in the way I was expecting. Of course, the closest thing to a sports team I've joined here was my Hip Hop Booty and Abs class that I took in the fall.
I've also brought Rob to a couple of my classes. I asked him what he thought of them.
"The liberal arts education system is very different from what we have. It's refreshing to see people get to study things that they like, that might not have anything to do with their majors. I've very envious of that," he said.
And what about the food?
"Very good. [I give] the breakfast bomb five stars, even though I was really hung over ... I really liked the salad bar [at Home Plate] as well," he said.
Rob also commented on our often-maligned e-mail system, BlitzMail. Surprisingly, Rob came out on the side of Team Blitz.
"The Blitz thing changes everything. It can only work in this kind of environment, but it works perfectly. It does affect the social scene as well. You can get together in groups very quickly ... in the morning we have no idea what we're doing, but by the evening we have several choices."
I'm tickled that Rob thinks my social life is varied enough that I get to cherry pick my engagements, but I realize that there's no more flattering mirror than the eyes of someone you're dating.
But enough philosophizing. Rob's back in fine form and ready to Dartmouth-bash.
"Playing pong with paddles is kind of weird ... [Dartmouth students] are so proud of it as part of their Dartmouth identity," he said with a touch of amusement.
I asked Rob about Phi Delt, which he went to on Monday night.
"I was entertained by the bathroom ... that little room [in the basement]."
I wrinkled my nose, but told him to continue.
"It was crazy. Much more crowded than I expected," he said. "People were friendly, even when I said I wasn't from here."
I hesitated to point out that the accent may have been a dead giveaway. But maybe that's just me.
