Winter Workouts

Meghan, Elisa, Viv & Rose

Usually, freshman are the only members of our team on campus in the winter, while our underclassmen are taking part in fabulous internships or study abroad programs. This is our chance to work with our fitness trainer, Amanda, and improve our strength, endurance, speed, and agility. We have been working hard this quarter with conditioning and lift three times a week, plus an additional volleyball practice a week.

Elisa & Rose

Some of the girls are recovering from leg injuries, so for the first few weeks, we started off with non- running conditioning. On Monday, we had a leg-intensive lift followed by spinning. Wednesdays included a pool workout and an upper-body lift. On Fridays, Amanda led us in an intense spin workout and then lift. However, after two weeks of this schedule, Amanda decided to add the running component. Because Vivian and I were healthy, she had us run the sprint test this last Monday before lift. I had not been training for it, so when I learned what I was about to do, I was not exactly confident that I could pass. After passing 3 out of 5 sets easily, I realized that the spin workouts had been helping me with my strength and endurance. Knowing that I can pass the sprint test, I feel like I am ready for the rest of Amanda’s conditioning.

Meghan & Rose

We also started volleyball practices, but because of NCAA rules, we can only practice for two hours a week. The first week was a little rough. We were all pretty rusty, so we just worked on some fundamentals like passing, serving, hitting, and digging. The next two weeks were much better. We even started to look like volleyball players again! Since there are only four of us practicing, it allows for some great one-on-one time with our coaches. I already feel like my serve has improved after only three practices because I am able to get the individual critique that would be more difficult to receive when the whole team is here. Also, Amanda’s strengthening is already helping. I feel more power in my swing when I hit and serve! Now that I am stronger and getting into better shape, I am looking forward to seeing the rest of my teammates and playing with them again in the Spring!

Viv

--Rose Dicovitsky '14, Altadena, CA

"La Vida es Una Escuela"

During the last three years, I've thought a lot about why I chose to attend Dartmouth, and I think I've realized above all else I knew it was a place I could challenge myself to grow. The D-plan forces each student to think of themselves as an individual. It creates a sense of possibility and future opportunity that can only be your own. I knew that if I attended Dartmouth I would leave my wonderful home in Austin and create new friendships apart from my elementary best friends. I knew that sometime during my time at Dartmouth I would experience things absolutely unexplored before. Such independence was always an integral part of my plan for my time in college.

Along the way, I fell in love with Spanish, geography, helping others, and travel. Now I find myself living in the Amazon region and for the coming months I am working at the Rio Beni Health Project in Rurrenabaque, Bolivia. An internship working in primary health care, at first seemed like a bit of a misfit for my government major. However, working with this foundation I cannot imagine a more incredible experience to transfer to my academic tract. The Rio Beni Clinic through its status as a non-governmental organization works to fulfill the Bolivian government's promise of the right to health by providing access to health care regardless of economic status. Each day I feel like I'm learning so much, sometimes during my afternoon chats about Bolivian politics with Modesto, a former political science professor, or observations of treatment by Alan, the executive doctor, or learning new dichos During meals with Ins, a recent medical graduate, I almost feel like I'm back at Dartmouth taking courses in Comparative Politics, Infectious Disease and Spanish. Instead though I'm living it.

"La vida es una escuela" (Life is a school), Ins shared with me over lunch a couple of weeks back. Here living on my own I don't know if there has ever been a more appropriate time to apply the phrase. During the week, I am constantly learning and surprising myself. On the weekends, I always plan an adventure like wandering through the Sunday open air market, attending a Bolivian circus, hiking local rails, or going on jungle excursions. I feel so fortunate to be living independently and I am absolutely certain that I will take away exactly what I need from these three months in South America. The thing that I chose Dartmouth most for: growth and development of inner strength and peace and the confidence in my own ability to create a fresh life anywhere in the world with the opportunity to wake up everyday ready for a new lesson.

--Madeline Baird '12, Austin, Texas

My First Snow

As a native Californian, I have only been in the snow a few times, and I have never encountered a real “storm” (a hard core storm in California consists of rain and some hail oh no!). I certainly have never been subjected to temperatures in the twenties or even the thirties. In fact, when I told people I was going to Dartmouth, they would say something along the lines of “Do you think you can survive,” or “Please don’t freeze to death.” I would then respond by saying it can’t be that bad- people from the west coast go to east coast schools all the time, right? I mean, it can’t be that cold. Oh how naïve I was…

As the second week of winter term comes to an end, I can officially say that yes, I can survive the cold. I can even survive a blizzard! (Well, it seemed like a legitimate blizzard to me at least, even though a lady in town described it as “wimpy.”) However, I would not exactly describe the temperature as comfortable. More like bone-chilling. We are not even that far into the winter, but it is downright COLD in my personal opinion.


Nevertheless, even though it sometimes feels like the arctic tundra to a sunshine loving Californian such as myself, I can honestly say that I am enjoying the experience of my first real winter. Walking in the snow, watching the snow fall, taking pictures of the snow- all of these things, though commonplace to an east coast dweller, are new and fun for me. I also participated in my first snowball fight this weekend, one that involved the entire college, and I plan on building a snowman soon.

Overall, living here in the winter can be quite enjoyable once you get past the numbing effects of the cold air and the wind. Buy a big coat, a good hat, a few scarves, and some wool socks and you are good to go. Although I was scared of the cold at first, I have come to appreciate the snow and even accept it as a crucial part of the Dartmouth tradition and lifestyle.

-- Meghan Cooney '14, Martinez, CA

Big Apple Bound

As my winter break is winding down, I am gearing up to take on Corporate America. While the rest of my teammates will be either on campus or on some adventure abroad, I head to New York City on January 11th for my off term. This winter I will be working for a company called Modern Luxury Media where I will be doing event planning and marketing.

I have been fortunate enough to spend the break here in Texas where it has been filled with sunshine and warmth! In between workouts and practicing with my old club team, I have taken up a few other hobbies. I have been playing golf and hunting every chance I get.

While I have loved having the chance to be at home for such a long time, spending so much time away from Dartmouth has made me miss all of my teammates and friends! I am already counting down the days until I go back for Spring Term!!!

Kendall Houston '12, Austin, TX