Date: 2006-10-02
From: Hanover, NH

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

My time here at Dartmouth has been very special. For one, being back in the academic atmosphere has made me realize how much I like school. I thought I was through with it...at least for a while.When I first arrived here I had all intentions of eating, resupplying and then hiking out the next day.But as I was sitting in the restaurant, a couple came in and sat down. I could tell from the girl's accent that she was from somewhere in Spain. Aintzane is her name, and it turns out that she's basque (del pais vasco!). Giacomo, the fella she was with (who spoke perfect spanish), is from Italy. I spent the rest of the evening in deep conversation with two europeans who throughout this week have become dear friends. Giacomo, who is working on his doctorate, came to Dartmouth to teach Italian for a year. Aintzane, also working on her doctorate, came here to work with a certain professor who has specialized in her area of study--the Franco-era of Spanish history.So... I decided to stay another day.But here in Hanover the only hotel is "The Dartmouth Inn" which costs around $200.00/night. I think I've spent about 1,200.00 dollars just in lodging since I've been here. But it has been well worth it!Just kidding!!! It is true that the only hotel in town has the "Dartmouth Ritz" scribbled all over it, but thankfully the fraternities have opened their doors to thru-hikers like myself.Jaybird had given me the inside scoop upon my arrival to this New England town. I inquired at Phi Tau (a co-ed frat house), and they let me in. I slept on the floor in their basement. But according to the rules they only allow hikers to stay two nights. So the third night I tented in the back yard of another frat house which doesn't seem to care how long I stay. In fact, every person I've met in the fraternity seems to be chill.So throughout this week I have been meeting Aintzane at the Dirt Cowboy Cafe in the morning for coffee and a bagel. We part ways, and I wander through the Dartmouth Bookstore, grab a hotdog from a little hotdog stand on the street, and find a bench in the Dartmouth Green where I sit back and watch students--some throwing frisbee, some hand-in-hand, and some engrossed in their studies with books, brains and laptops open. It seems to be a fad for Dartmouth students to carry Macintosh computers. (A good fad because we all know that Apple runs smoother than any PC!) But yes, I have also seen students playing Croquet in the Green.WELCOME TO DARTMOUTH!At some time during the day I make my way to the Baker Library where I get lost in the Stacks and the World Wide Web which rules the day.The woods are nice. Civilization has its benefits as well...And so I admit to having been sucked in to this temporal arena which is so much a part of who I was before the trail...The Sirens are sounding, and like Odysseus, I'm outta here!.....But by the third day I had met Elsa, a girl from Paris, who is teaching French here at Dartmouth.And so I learned from her and Giacomo that the teaching method they use is called the Rassias Method. Dr. Rassias, a professor at Dartmouth, has founded this method which is a very fast-paced, oral, interactive drill worthy of the prestige it has gained. An hour-long drill session seemingly passes in 20 minutes.What has kept me here the extra days was that I was able to attend the "drill session" classes in spanish. There was also a seminar being offered on this method which comes with a certification. Unfortunately Dartmouth charges 400 bucks to attend. Obviously I couldn't afford it. Maybe I'll come back here, teach a spanish drill class and get certified on Dartmouth's bank...I would jump on an offer like that...I like this town. I'm having a hard time leaving. I know that tomorrow its definitely going to happen. I experienced the same thing when I was traveling in 2004. Every place has its "spirit." It just happens to be that the spirit of this old college town is very appealing to me. I've experienced it, I would like to someday live it, but the woods are calling me...And the path I'm traveling on now passes right through Hanover.~Easy Feelin'