Give A Rouse!

It's about time that I detail my very first Dartmouth Homecoming experience. I’ve been slacking on recording my life because of all of the make up assignments I’ve had to do this week as a consequence for “festing it up” this weekend. Where shall I begin? I know that when I'm an old alum(na), I'll probably read this again, hoping for a (very) complete narrative in order to visualize the events “like it was yesterday.”

For me, the festivities started on Friday morning, when I dressed up in green. Thinking ahead for the cold/hot conditions of the bonfire, I chose to wear under armor and my fleece jacket underneath my long-sleeve Dartmouth ’15 shirt, with leggings and athletic sneakers on the bottom.

Professor Perry was kind enough to cancel class, so I was able to sleep in for once. It felt amazing, and I was all rested for the long night ahead of me. Unfortunately, Christesen did not cancel class, and my mind was wandering through that whole hour of Spartan History. To make matters worse, students building the bonfire were visible right out the window of Reed Hall, and I just couldn’t wait to get down there at 11 AM! I met up with my roommate on the Green, and after lunch, we had the opportunity to climb up. I think we looked stunning in our hard hats. It was scary to use the ladder, but we faced our fears and we succeeded! Strangely enough, our moment of victory will forever be preserved on video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d6HyICNurU).

In reality, I had a lot of work to finish before the evening, and we made our way to Rauner Library to study for the afternoon.

My energy spiked ten-fold when the clock hit 6 PM. The Brace Commons Cluster Party was about to start! I made my way downstairs to meet a floor mate handing out fluorescent bracelets and glow-in-the-dark shade glasses and made sure I could find one of my fellow Glee Club members. An hour of dancing ensued. We busted our moves to the DOC classics, like “Blame It On the Boogie,” “Everytime We Touch,” and “Salty Dog Rag.” Even though I didn’t go on a trip, I was familiar with their traditions.

At about 7:30, the screen in Brace Commons lifted, and the UGAs ushered us outside to wait for the Freshman Sweep, in which the alumni and upperclassmen paraded the ‘15s throughout campus and up Main Street to Dartmouth Hall. We Gleekers had to run off before we even passed Berry Sports Center, but at least we saw the sweep coming our way. For the next couple minutes, we warmed up with the “Twilight Song” and cooled down with “Son of a Gun,” well, at least the ‘15s did, anyway. As we hit our last notes, the upperclassmen busted some cans of Keystone and thoroughly drenched us in the most disgusting alcoholic drink in existence. I was shivering for the rest of our performance, and I couldn’t wait to run around the bonfire.  After some long speeches by the President (his son is adorable), the Dean, and athletic coaches/captains, the Glee Club concluded the ceremony with “Dartmouth Undying” and the Alma Mater ("Dear Old Dartmouth, Give A Rouse!"). At the end, they pushed us to begin our laps.

I will never forget the rush of excitement when the bonfire was lit and we pushed our way through the crowd to enter the ring. Burning on one side, and freezing on the other, I had never felt so united with my class, and Dartmouth in general. To make up for all the times I missed Dr. Kim in the dining hall, I high-fived him THREE TIMES. Win. Unfortunately, I only ran 15 laps, while many of my floor mates completed the 115. I wish I could have been as awesome as them.

After showering — I felt so gross and sticky with beer in my hair, down my neck, on my back — I changed into my “frat clothes,” since obviously my ’15 shirt would shout FRESHMAN. Even with my roommate, a Dartmouth-obsessed guy (since I shouldn’t reveal names), and a couple other friends, the dance parties were actually quite disappointing, since the people got really creepy and the music wasn’t that great. I guess nothing can compare to my very first time. Regardless, I enjoyed my night as a whole although it ended on a less-than-ideal note. Let’s just say, I can never listen to Rihanna’s S&M ever again without thinking about… nevermind. Apparently it’ll be a good move in the long run to stay friends, in order to avoid awkwardness or tension later during our college years.

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Let the games begin! The Dartmouth-Columbia game was so much fun. I actually didn’t show up until the second half, but I really enjoyed spending time with the marching band up in the bleachers. They were so enthusiastic and they made me really want to join! Now I just need to get this metal extracted from my mouth before I can pick up a flute or piccolo again… “Glory to Dartmouth” is on my list of songs that I MUST learn before the end of the fall term. I did hang out with Dartmouth-obsessed guy up front after he rushed the field (lucky him!) but I have to admit, it was a little awkward since none of our other friends were with us, and it was definitely not as interesting as the marching band. Of course, I abandoned him! Haha… so mean…

Well, I wasn’t that mean. We played tennis afterward, and he beat me 4-6. I just can’t seem to figure out his slices to save my life! Grr…

And that concludes my Homecoming weekend

Pictures

Full Metal Jacket...

Was the most disturbing movie I have ever, ever seen – even more disturbing than Hitchcock, because nobody committed suicide on a toilet.  The shower murder was much more tame than the realistic reenactment of death in the Vietnam war.

Why would a person like me go to see this movie?  Long story.  In sum, I went with a couple friends to turn an accidental date into a group night out.  No, it was not my accidental date, but to protect the innocent, I will not go into further detail.  And yes, the movie was the guy's choice, not ours.

It is hard to decide which part of the night was the most memorable.  While eating out for dinner with five of my friends was a positive memory, I think there must be way to reframe the movie as a positive memory as well.  We met at Yama, a Japanese-Korean restaurant along Hanover's main street of shops.  Thanks to my roommate's recommendation, I ordered bibimbap, served in a heated bowl – absolutely DELICIOUS! It was my first time tasting Korean cuisine, one of many items on my "Dartmouth Freshman Firsts" list.  My next one will be Homecoming on Friday, but that's another blog post. :)  Despite the graphic nature of Full Metal Jacket, I was surrounded by amazing people.  Since a few friends broke off after dinner, we had a more intimate group in which we could actually lean over to whisper without being disruptive.  Of course, we also found the need to curl up in fetal position in utter disgust at a few of the scenes.  I can't believe it has already been a month since I landed in Hanover.  Already I wish I could relive this month, but there is still so much to come during my first year here!  Time really flies and I need to remind myself to slow down and look around me in amazement that I am really finally here, that I am student at Dartmouth College.

Running in the Rain

I must say, yesterday was not one of the best Fridays I have experienced here.  I woke up late, and in my 5-minute scramble to get to Greek on time, I left my lifeline – a keychain with my cellphone, key, credit card, and student ID – in my room.  I had only gotten 5 hours of sleep since I had to cram intensely for a quiz on the omega-verb conjugations of the middle/passive voice.  My eyes usually turn bloodshot and sting when I am overtired.  At least the bottom rims of my glasses could cover up the dark circles underneath.  By the time Sparta came around, I was totally falling asleep, but the hunger pangs and the pile of B-papers handed to me made me alert again.  I've been trying so hard to understand all of the readings in that class, so I was greatly disappointed.

Things looked up in the afternoon, though.  My roommate saved me from homelessness and starvation, and we met at FoCo together, and then attended an "intermediate" classical ballet lesson.  Yeah, right.  According to the Blitz, if we knew what a pique turn was, then we'd be good to go, but this class was SO much more difficult than I'd expected.  We ended up sitting out for the last 15 minutes so we wouldn't become obstacles to the other dancers!!  However, I absolutely loved it.  I hadn't realized how much I've missed dance, and I had forgotten that wonderful feeling of moving my body.  The other dancers looked so beautiful and effortless – I am ready to work hard to improve myself.

Running in the rain made the day all worth it.  Last night was the "Fire and Ice" freshman formal.  To keep true to the theme, I chose to wear my short red dress – fire!  I really enjoyed getting ready with my floor mates, from my across the hall neighbor checking himself out in the mirror to my room mate doing artwork on all the girls.  She has such a good hand for makeup and make sure it suits each individual face.  I enjoyed how she made mine look natural, but still complement the vibrancy of my dress.  Everyone looked so great!  I don't have pictures, so I hope someone will post on Facebook.  Unfortunately, the prep was more exciting than the dance itself.  There was hardly anyone there, except our group, two other groups, and an awkward, creepy old couple fondling each other's posteriors.  Who let them in?!?!  It's funny that one of my close non-McCulloch 3 friends was there the whole time, but his friend just came in when we were about to leave.

That just meant we'd have to continue the festivities elsewhere.  To frat row!!  By the time we all changed back into casual attire and accumulated on McCulloch 3, it had started to rain.  We just made a dash for it.  Not much was going on in the frats, actually, but we did stop by one sorority house and one frat house, in which said non-McCulloch 3 friends tried *gasp* vodka.  I really hope I find them alive this morning!  Just kidding.  I saw them drink, and the cup was not even half full.

I want to go to a real dance party again.  Tri-Kap a few weeks ago was so much fun, and I definitely want to relive that night.  But not until Homecoming weekend is over!  That will be the ultimate celebration!  I really can't wait to sing and run around the bonfire.

GREENPRINT!! Y U NO WORK...

...WHEN I NEED YOU???

I. Am Not. A Whore.

(but I like to do it...)  Um... just kidding.

Random thoughts of the night, to make up for all the times I was too busy to post anything, of course!

1. I keep sprinkling random Greek letters in my class notes.

2. My partner and I have Spartan history DOWN.

3. So glad the scary political picketers are gone.

4. My weight isn't so great, but I'm starving.

5. Baby, it's cold outside.

6. I plan to go to bed "early" tonight. (YEAH RIGHT)

7. So screwed for Writing 5...
8. Sicut Locutus Est is my favorite movement of the Magnificat, and Omnes Generationes is a total witch.
9. I really need to learn the Salty Dog Rag.
10. Sometime I should actually give a rouse at 6:00 PM in front of Baker.

Letting Go

Today, I turned in my very first college academic paper.  I have been furiously working on it, pestering friends and floor mates for peer review, making revisions, and pretty much obsessing over it.  When I finally placed it in my professor's essay collection folder, I actually had a hard time letting go.  As she took the pile away, so many doubts flooded my train of thought (at the time I was wonder why class was being held in Baker-Berry rather than the seminar room on first-floor Kemeny).  What if the format wasn't exactly what she expected?  What if I had missed some grammatical errors?  What if my MLA citations weren't quite right?  Did I connect my evidence to the thesis enough?  Did I make sufficient transitions between topic sentences?

I guess I didn't have that much time to contemplate the quality of my paper, since my professor promptly assigned the next one.  Oh great.  I thought I'd actually have a weekend to myself.  The new book is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which is a much more pleasurable read than Bad Blood.  Rebecca Skloot definitely has a way with words, even though her intensions may have been questionable.

Moving onto the good news.

1) Dancing!!  For the past couple weeks I have been attending ballroom lessons with a friend who is actually trying to fulfill a P.E. credit.  I have brushed up on my waltz and east coast swing, and I am learning how to foxtrot and salsa!  So much variety...  I forgot how much I loved it.  This Friday, I also plan to take an intermediate classical ballet lesson with my roommate.  I don't know which style of dance is the most exciting, but I know that I've really missed the ballet from my childhood.

2) Republicans!!  Dartmouth hosted the Republican Debates tonight.  Actually, I totally forgot about entering the ticket draw, so I couldn't actually attend live.  I'l be Youtube-ing tomorrow.  However, for the past couple days I have been surrounded by campaign propaganda and commotion on the Green, including the big Bloomberg stage and the Jack-O.  I have pictures.  This week has surely started off on an interesting note.

3) Fire and Ice Formal!!  Yes, that's right!  We have our own freshman Homecoming dance this week to celebrate all the hard work we've put in this fall term.  I really cannot wait to prep with my floor mates and wear a dress... just like high school... *squeal* I can see grinding and sweat in my future, but hopefully more refined than a frat party.

4) GLEEEEE!!  Last Thursday I was kidnapped from my dorm room by the upperclassmen of the Glee Club as part of an abinduction tradition.  Since East Wheelock was the first cluster targeted, I took part in the rest of the parade around campus, from the Choates to the River, singing the Alma Mater.  I really enjoyed myself and kind of learned the first verse of each Dartmouth song.  I reached the halfway point to the deadline for memorization (Dartmouth night is next week).  Perhaps I didn't mention this before, but we do not sing Journey mashups.  In November, we will perform Bach's Magnificat as our major work.  We are really starting to come together with all the intricate parts and harmonies.

5) SEXXXX!!  Well, first allow me to preface this with some background information.  I did not go on a Dartmouth Outing Club trip.  I have a floor mate who went on the Farm Living section of the DOC.  During Orientation, I met a lot of her trippees, and over the course of the month, I hung out with them a lot – gathering for meals, watching football games, playing tennis, "studying" on the Green... Now, I am officially an adopted member of their trip group.  So, what does this have to do with testosterone? Everything: Tripcest (trip group incest), condoms and cookies, releasing the inner sexual animal, unanimous crushes on the trip leader and each other, extreme stalking, love triangles, THE DARTMOUTH 7!!! (just kidding about the last one, by the way... who would ever dare to do the nasty on the President's lawn?)  But... in all seriousness... letting go of my current infatuations is near impossible when I see these people every day.  Wait, I didn't actually see them today!  I need to drift away step by step.  Umm... that was vague.  Syruprun would understand this one though.

6) Russian Unicorns!!  "We can do it on the couch while my roommate's out hiking... So take it off or bite your tongue..."  Just look it up.

Bye for now~

Holding My First Pieces of Ancient Greece

RWIT

I am going to RWIT today!! That stands for the Student Center for Research, Writing, and Information Technology. Of course, if you take the whole acronym, SCRWIT, it ironically resembles "SCREW IT." Hahaha... I agree, I'm so ready to throw in the towel, so to speak.

I attended my Writing 5 professor's office hour, and I left with direction and confidence. However, when I actually began to write, that seemed to decline. Here's my first introduction paragraph:

The Tuskegee Study, an appallingly unethical study conducted by the government-endorsed Public Health Service on the effects of the late stages of Syphilis in black men. As it persisted for 40 years without clearly defined protocol, Tuskegee is a case study that teaches us what happens when informed consent is denied to patients – it grew out of control and produced disastrous results. There has been much debate about the morality of the PHS. Although doctors refuted accusations, the study was blatantly wrong, as it violated the Hippocratic oath established in ancient times and the Nuremberg Codes instituted in Germany while the study was being conducted. Much like Nazi Germany under Hitler, more and more scientists surrendered to collective thought, adopting the incentive of the majority while avoiding careful individual reason. The physicians completely disregarded the medical safety of their patients and were ignorant of the difference between rational selfishness, pursuing their own best interests, and irrational selfishness, infringing upon the wellbeing of others. What was the most atrocious element of the Tuskegee Study? By deliberately deceiving and exploiting the black men as merely scientific subjects, government betrayed the principles for which it was originally created. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Fathers wrote of “certain unalienable Rights, … Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”. The absence of knowledge that treatment would not be received lead to the unnecessary pain and death of the research subjects, which irrefutably abuses the legal rights in place for humans.

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