The end of W14

Well, the end of term is upon us and it feels like winter has gone by too fast. After Winter Carnival ended, we headed straight into midterms which inevitably come hand in hand with loads of reading, late nights, and Reece’s peanut butter cups. On the contrary, the last couple of weeks have been full of fun outings and new discoveries.

I happen to be, yet another, west coast kid from Los Angeles, so the insane downpour of snow was both beautiful and exhilarating. Since I strongly identify as a nature girl, getting outside is critical for my mental health. Sometimes, I find myself just looking up in awe of the sparkling little snowflakes—absolutely mesmerizing. After a few days of freezing cold snowfall, the sun started to peep through the clouds which was truly lifted everyone’s spirits during midterm season. The constantly changing weather patterns confuse little west coast kids such as myself. I frequently learn new things about the East Coast climate from natives or upperclassmen. For example, I was walking home from a class when I nearly slipped and fell on what I though was a puddle. Later, I learned that this “puddle” was a frozen puddle. (One of my teammates informed me is called “black ice.”) Thank goodness for my trusty bean boots. On a positive note, apparently melting snow means prime snowball weather. One night, Julia and I had a blast on the way home from dinner rolling tiny snowballs into massive snowmen bases and proceeded to throw them at one another. The looks we got from some upperclassmen... Amazingly enough, some of the team was

able to get out on a Saturday and head to the slopes. Some snowboarded, some skied, and everyone had a great time in the snow. Another night, the team went to Freshman Formal together! We pulled a classic group of teenage girls and all got ready together curling our hair and doing each other’s makeup. Once we were all done up, we went out to a classy dinner at Murphy’s and headed over to the Hanover Inn where we danced the night away. Overall, we took advantage of a wonderfully planned event and had fun meeting some of our other classmates while having a great time. 

Volleyball wise, we continue to push ourselves in the gym technically, physically, mentally, and tactically. As a team, we have made strides in conditioning, lifting, and our volleyball technique. There are only 10 of us from the team on campus, but we have created such a competitive yet fun environment in the gym and weight room that the team feels bigger than ever. From step-dancing in the weight room to crushing sprints at 7:30 a.m., we have grown as a cohesive group as well as stronger athletes in all accounts. 

Over the last two weeks, we have started meeting with the Assistant Athletics Director for Leadership, Steven Spaulding, to explore goal setting in depth and set some of our own goals. We discussed the importance of setting goals and dreaming. Steven had us each do some “homework” regarding our own personal goals for volleyball as well as dreams as an individual human. To help voice our goals, Steven had us all stand in front of one another while we gave a quick explanation of our goals in the near and distant future. As we went down the line, we heard of teammates plans to become the CEO of their own company and empower other women to do the same. Others dreamed of winning the Ivy League or traveling the world. The experience was eye-opening and I learned more about my teammates than I thought I would at a goal setting meeting. I can’t wait to see what the last two weeks of classes hold for the team and me. I have enjoyed my first real winter so far and am looking forward to having my whole team back playing in the gym together for spring term!

 Molly Kornfeind ’17

My First Winter

So no, I'm not a freshman, despite the fact that apparently I still act like one. But this winter has really seemed like my first true "college winter," despite having been at Dartmouth for three wonderful years. My freshman winter was more of a muddy excuse for a season, as exemplified by the fact that they had to import snow for the Winter Carnival snow sculpture, which was crafted on top of a green (okay brown) Green. Having grown up in San Francisco, I'm pretty sure I was more excited that I was going to get to go to school in the snow than I have been for just about anything, so to say I was disappointed when the average temperature was 40 and we got almost no snow would be a very big understatement. So my sophomore year, I did the logical thing that everyone does when they want freezing cold weather and feet upon feet of snow - I went to Africa, where it was the middle of the summer. And while I maintain that last winter was one of (if not the) most transformative experiences of my life (so I absolutely second the props given to Dartmouth Athletics in the last player spotlight about how incredible it is that we can study abroad), it's definitely been a different sort of adventure being back on campus. 

Due to some changes in transfer term policies and pre-med requirements, the population on campus right now is much higher than a normal winter in Hanover, when everyone seems to want to go somewhere where they can soak up some vitamin D (although yesterday I defied the idea that you can't get sunburned in Hanover!). To make things even more happening, this past weekend was Winter Carnival AND the start of the Winter Olympics! I'm not sure who exactly told me that it would be okay to not touch my backpack for 4 days, but I definitely agree with them even if some professors don't. This weekend was the perfect break from the chaos of winter term academics and a great chance to revamp before heading back into the remainder of the term. Winter Carnival, like Homecoming in the fall and Green Key in the spring, can sometimes get a reputation for being little more than the college's excuse to ignore work for a few days and hang out. However, the big weekends here are perfect termly reminders of how lucky we are that this is our home base for four years - it seems like every weekend I'm hearing about something incredible to do just right around town! This week's fun fact is that we're only 15 minutes away from the longest ice-skating trail in North America! I'm not going to say my performance on it rivaled that of the Sochi competitors because I wouldn't want them to get their feelings hurt, but I do think that the 2018 US Figure Skating team should be seriously considering my recruiting tape.

We all talk pretty regularly about how grateful we are that we have the opportunity to go to Spain, Argentina, San Francisco, or Texas (and that's just this term!) while being D1 athletes. However, sometimes in the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life, especially in the winter when we're trying out new things or taking daunting classes (one of our 14s, Elisa Scudder, is in her first science class - Physics for Future Leaders!), it's easy to forget that we have an incredible place to call our second homes when we return from our globetrotting adventures. Seeing alums come back and talk about how much they miss the little things that we take for granted on a daily basis is great not only because alums are some of the coolest people I've ever met, but also because it's a little reminder of the fact that even when it's 6:30 AM and -20 and we're walking to practice and cannot feel a single extremity, we're surrounded by beautiful snow-covered trees on our way to play volleyball at a D1 school before going to classes led by the best undergraduate faculty in the country (and then, to really help out with the first part, the library sells really fantastic coffee :)). But now that Winter Carnival is over, it's time for us to recover from the frigid Polar Bear Plunge, catch up on those readings that weren't as important as ice skating or watching Olympians actually ice skate, and get to work because somehow we're already on week 6, and the second round of midterms are right around the corner! But luckily every TV and computer on campus has started streaming the Olympics, so we will not be short on study breaks :) 

Alex Schoenberger '15

The Perfect Dartmouth Winter

As a beach girl and player from Santa Cruz, California, the concept of a New England winter, let alone the Polar Vortex, was both daunting and exciting.  But honestly, it’s much better than people make it out to be. Although cold is not a fit description for the morning walks to conditioning, maybe frigid tundra would be more suitable, the right down-coat and gloves make it manageable. In fact, Hanover’s winter has brought us closer together as a team and provided some great bonding opportunities and memories. 

This past week has been my favorite of the term by far. We’ve had a lot going on, including sporting events, volunteering, and four birthdays (mine, Holly, Molly, and Paige). Last Saturday (the 26^th) we all met up at the Dartmouth Men’s Basketball game against Harvard where we volunteered our very own Emily Astarita to participate in one of the halftime shows. Emily, always the competitor, made us proud and took home a special prize! After the game, my teammates took me out for a birthday dinner at Molly’s Restaurant, which hands down made my day.

On Sunday (the 27^th) we volunteered for the Special Olympics held at our very own Dartmouth Skiway. We started our adventure by catching the bus outside of the HOP (Hopkins Center) and singing along to the bus’ music all the way to the Skiway. Getting off the bus we began our trek to our volunteer spot – cheering on the skiers at the top of the hill. We had no idea how amusing and difficult this climb was going to be. A chairlift would’ve come in handy! We had trips and falls and at certain points were crawling to get up slippery parts. Reaching the top was worth the comical struggle of our climb though.

As each contestant started the race, we burst into cheers. It was extremely rewarding to see the pride and sense of accomplishment as the athletes pushed out of the starting gate. Some contestants clanked their poles together heading into the first turn, expressing delight and gratitude. It was an experience we will always remember and reminds us how lucky we are to be collegiate athletes. Dartmouth athletes. When the skiers had gone and it was time to leave, we began our treacherous descent. To onlookers, we must’ve seemed like buffoons. Every few steps one of us would fall, sliding down the hill consumed with laughter. It was definitely a team effort to get everyone down in one piece: we even had to carry a few teammates at certain parts. It’s a good thing we’re working out and staying fit!

In addition to practice and conditioning this week, we’ve pushed to our limits in the weight room – literally. One of our goals this term is to be a top team in the weight room. We’ve tested for our maximums in Squat, Bench, Hang cleans, Verticals, 10 yard-dash, and Pro Agility. As each member of our team strives to set a personal record, the bond we have as a team is strengthening and flexing as well. The support and encouragement heard during these sessions is inspiring. The gym falls silent and all we can here are the voices of our team yelling and cheering at the top of our lungs, pushing our teammates to do better and succeed.

 

This term is flying by so fast, it’s hard to remember that we have already had a month of classes. I’m so excited to spend the rest of my time here at Dartmouth with my lovely teammates and look forward to making more memories with them. They make my day everyday with their gut laughter, smiles, support, and kindness; my time here wouldn’t be the same without this part of my family. Go Big Green!

Kendall Ronzano '17

Hola from Buenos Aires

January 26, 2014

While the rest of the team is bearing the cold weather in Hanover, Kayden and I are studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the winter on a Dartmouth LSA (Language Study Abroad) program. There are actually two LSA’s for the Spanish department—the other one is located in Barcelona, Spain, where Katie, Alli and Kaira are right now. To clarify, seasons are switched in Argentina, so it is summer here. Because Kayden and I are from Texas, we can handle the heat.

We are taking three Spanish classes: a history/culture class, a literature class, and the Dartmouth Spanish III equivalent. Upon arrival, we were immersed in the Spanish language right away. Not only are the classes taught in Spanish, but we also live with a host family. The first day I met my host mother and sisters was awkward and challenging, but now it is much easier, and I love being in an actual home rather than a dorm.  My family is extremely hospitable and social with me.

At first, it was hard being thrown into a big city with a different language, culture and customs. Speaking Spanish constantly and adapting to a different way of life are challenging. One of the hardest things for me to get used to is how late everything is here. Sitting down to eat dinner at 10:30 p.m. is completely normal. It is also the culture to sit at the table and talk for a least an hour after everyone is done eating. Here, they call that after-dinner conversation a “sobremesa.” I find it funny that stores on the street very rarely open before 11 a.m. and close by 5 p.m. How are people making any money? Also, service here is very slow. I think porteños (the Spanish name for people from Buenos Aires) like to take their time with everything. They live casually and without worry, much different than the speed of American life. 

We have free time to explore the city as well as planned events and trips. For starters, every Tuesday we take tango classes. I am completely hooked on the dance now. It is so much fun! I love watching the locals dance. They are so passionate and great at improvising. I plan to join the tango club at Dartmouth when I go back. I have traveled some already. On a free weekend, Kayden and I went to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay to relax at the beach. It was so strange tanning in January, but I wasn’t complaining! This weekend, the group went to the Iguazú National Park, which is in the most northern tip of Argentina. Words cannot describe how blown away I was by it. The waterfalls have been named one of the 7 wonders of the world and I couldn’t agree more. The main attraction was called “The Devil’s Throat,” which was like Niagara Falls times four.  I took a million photos, but I am sure they still didn’t capture the essence. I felt like I was in an Avatar movie or something. It was so surreal. I have never been so blown away by nature. It was hands down the most amazing natural phenomenon that I have ever seen in my life. On our ten-day break, Kayden and I and our moms are going to go to Machu Picchu in Peru. I am so excited! The Iguazú Falls will have some competition.

Obviously I cannot get the same volleyball training and reps that my teammates are in Hanover, so it is an adventure improvising workouts. Kayden and I got a membership to a gym by our house and work out with a personal trainer from Germany (not sure how he got to Argentina). The gyms here are nowhere near as nice as Hanover. In February, the volleyball team at my university in Buenos Aires starts up again. I am really excited to touch a volleyball again and play in a team setting.

Overall, I am elated that I had the opportunity to go on this trip. Being a varsity athlete and being able to study abroad is very rare. In that case, Dartmouth is particularly unique, and I love it for its flexibility with the D Plan. I feel like studying abroad is an unparalleled experience and what you learn cannot be taught in a classroom. I already feel so much more educated and cultured, and it’s only been 3½ weeks. I can’t wait for the weeks ahead.

-Paige Caridi ‘16

Greetings from San Francisco!

 Former DVB setter Alissa Santa-Maria '13 and Lucia Pohlman '15

I’ve been working at my new job for 2 weeks now, and it has been fabulous. One great thing about the D-Plan is that you can avoid the winter in NH! I’ve been enjoying wearing dresses (without tights!) and lounging outside my apartment building basking in the sun. Other than the great weather, my internship has proven to be be better than imagined. The company I work for, Real NewEnergy, is a small sustainability development firm that consults, develops, and commercializes sustainable technologies. It is a super small company so I spend a lot of time with the CEO and get to manage my own project. They have a net-zero impact greenhouse configuration, GoodSpheres Greenhouses, and I’m trying to find a location, customers, and funding to build a greenhouse. One cool idea I have is to crowdfund for the greenhouse in sustainable Eco-Villages in California. As an environmental studies major at Dartmouth, I’m interested in sustainable solutions for urban areas. I’m so lucky to be experiencing the type of work I want to do post-graduation in my Junior year of university! 

Also, there is a great side note to where I work. The company owners are Dutch and many of their projects involve information sharing between entrepreneurs and businesses from the Netherlands. As such, they have worked out this special relationship with the Dutch Consulate here in SF and are their in-house-entreprenuer. Moreover, I work in the Dutch Consulate! I have to have a super security pass, and am friends with the SF Consul General and it all feels very official. Also, the Dutch Consulate doesn’t have too shabby of an office! I work on the 31st floor of One Montgomery Tower in downtown SF. They also have really cool parties where everyone speaks Dutch, and I just walk around and pretend that I can understand. Those are pretty funny.

In terms of Dartmouth, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to capitalize on the time I have here in SF and the spring and summer terms. One great thing about attending Dartmouth is that I can capitalize on Volleyball (training, mindset, practicing, goal-setting), as well as my academic and career oriented interests (sustainability). I’ve been having major cases of FOMO (fear of missing out for all the non-high schoolers that might read this blog) seeing pictures and updates from my teammates in Hanover, but am so grateful for the opportunity to explore my career interests as a D1 student-athlete. I’m so excited to get back in the gym in the spring and work through blood, sweat and tears in order to prepare for my final season in the fall of 2014!

Thanks for reading!

-Lucia

14W from the eyes of our Hawaiian

Thoughts on the first week of 14W? Cold, hectic, crazy, fun. 14W stands for the 2014 Dartmouth Winter term and it’s safe to say there was no easing into it. Between reading multiple syllabi, surviving 7:30 a.m. conditioning, and having our wet hair freeze, we have had a lot of adjusting to do. 

While a lot of the upperclassmen are studying abroad in Spain or are taking part in some rad internships, the freshmen, accompanied by the lovely Maura and Schoney (Alex Schoenberger), have been busy in the library and the gym. 

The neat part about volleyball training in the winter term is that there are only three 40-minute sessions with a group of six or less girls per week. The whole focus of each session is to focus on our technique, something that we don’t get to concentrate as closely on during the busyness of season. Aside from position and skill training with the coaches, we have also gotten to get a few reps with our men’s volleyball club team, which pushes us to play at a faster paced game. In the weight room and conditioning, Kayleigh is pushing our limits, seeing how much we can improve in our strength, quickness, and agility. Winter training is about improving our selves so that can be better for the team and we plan to do that! In regards to the weather, well that’s a whole other story. 

Coming back up to Hanover for the winter term was a pretty big ordeal in my house. Being from Hawai’i, ‘winter’ has always meant Christmas and larger waves to surf on. I’d never really associated the term with drastic weather changes. I found myself purchasing this ‘New England’ uniform that everyone seemed to have. Whether it were these so called ‘bean boots’ (a type of snow boot) or a long North Face down jacket, there seemed to be a very long list of warm clothing that I had never been accustomed to wearing. However, as much as I miss the 70-degree weather back home, I actually have come to really enjoy the cold. 1. It is extremely refreshing to have cool air blowing against your sweaty face after early morning training. 2. More importantly, it gives me a reason to dress up in cute, warm winter outfits. On top of those reasons as to why the winter is actually really awesome, the fact that I am experiencing the winter with my teammates is what makes the extremities of a Hanover winter bearable. Trekking through the icy slush and freezing temperatures becomes amusing adventures when we’re together (especially with the ever-so coordinated Lottie). 

-Julia Lau ‘17

  

Spring is here. . . finally. . .

Hello from (now finally warm) Hanover!

As Scud (Elisa Scudder) said on our walk to get breakfast from lift yesterday, it seems like the entire campus has bloomed overnight. The trees are finally covered in leaves again, there are BEAUTIFUL flowers popping up everywhere, and the Green is actually green, which is always a nice change from the mud that's been there for a few months. The spring is definitely one of the best terms on campus because it seems like the whole campus is in a great mood, especially coming off of what was a ridiculously long winter with a snowstorm in the middle of April. With new puppies all over, barbecues, sunrise hikes, and trips to Ice Cream Fore U, it's pretty easy to see why people love it. However, after the first few sunny days there were definitely a lot of very red people walking around after trying to reverse the Hanover "tan".

With regards to volleyball, we're still rocking the early mornings. It's definitely different playing with a team of only 11 in the spring, but it's a nice chance to reconnect as a team after being apart all winter. Our two conditioning sessions per week with our amazing new strength and conditioning coach have been preparing us to crush the sprint test next Thursday and getting some competitive spirit going with relay races as surprises. We're in the middle of max week right now, which is our favorite week of the term for lifting because we get to push ourselves as far as we can go and see all of our lifts from the term pay off in the numbers. We even have an all-athlete record board that was recently put up in the weight room, so hopefully we'll be representing on that! 

Outside of volleyball, the spring gives us a chance to get involved with some of the incredible things Dartmouth has to offer beyond athletics. While we tend to take our hardest classes in the spring, the whole atmosphere is more laid-back and it's definitely more relaxing studying on the Green or by the river than in the library! Most clubs and organizations also go into overdrive in the spring, so there are even more opportunities than usual to get involved in community service projects like Relay for Life, cooking at David's House, or volunteering at the Upper Valley Special Olympic, just to name a few. Paige, Kaira, and I had the chance to volunteer with the swimming events at the Special Olympics last weekend and had a blast! We met some wonderful swimmers from around the area, did a whole lot of cheering, and Paige and Kaira did a great job handing out awards :) 

Given that it took the weather a few weeks to realize what term we were in and actually get warm, it seems like the spring has gone by absurdly quickly and it's absolutely crazy that 13S is wrapping up already. The rest of the 15s and I are lucky enough to get to come back after two weeks for our Sophomore Summer, but unfortunately it means another term of our team being spread out across the country. However, this spring has been a great time to refocus on getting better and stronger with each opportunity, and I know that we'll all be working as hard as we can wherever we are so that when we reconvene in 3 short months we'll be ready to crush preseason!

Alex Schoenberger '15