<p>^^^Simon Pearce is a very nice place, and definitely not a jeans and T-shirt place. No suits for men or fancy dresses for the ladies, but a very, very nice white-tablecloth kind of place.</p>
<p>garnetsâ daughterâs experience is not unusual.
I once posted that the ethos at Dartmouth is to be friendly and self-deprecating. Somebody pointed out that being in the Ivy League and being self-deprecating is some unusual combination. Yep.
I donât know exactly how such characteristics persist over time at specific institutions, but at Dartmouth, from what I can tell, they have. One-upping your fellow student is not acceptable, except maybe at pong at 4 AM at some beer-soaked fraternity basement. But as they say in public service advertisements on TV in other competitions, simply to compete is to be a winner.</p>
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<p>This was certainly true 30 years ago, and I think it continues. Definitely a sharp contrast to <em>some</em> of the others, anyway.</p>
<p>BTW, If you like Indian food there is a good restaurant in Hanover. Naturally I canât recall the name, but you go straight away from the green and take the firstâI thinkâleft, and itâs down in a converted house on the right. The Canoe Club is probably the most upscale restaurant in Hanover, and it is good. There are several pub food options that have good pub food</p>
<p>Jewel of India?</p>
<p>Yeah, I think itâs Jewel of India. It doesnât have great ambience or anything, but the food is pretty good. I noted that some reviews complained about the service, which I found to be fine in the âIndian restaurantâ context. Not a polished waitstaff, but not unpleasant either.</p>
<p>Hereâs the first of probably a gazillion questions⊠Are the kids really not allowed to have microwaves in their room? Are there microwaves available in a central kitchen in the dorms?</p>
<p>First question -true See: [url=<a href=âHome | Office of Residential Lifeâ>Home | Office of Residential Life]II</a>. Individual Room Policies<a href=âscroll%20to%20bottomâ>/url</a>
Second question - yes.</p>
<p>Over the past two days, I was visiting my S at Dartmouth and we went to that Indian restaurant for dinner. The food was very authentic in taste and presentation. True, the service is not polished. Wait staff passes food over your plate to others rather than serving them at their seat. It is a small family run restaurant, and I would return again. However, I would not recommend it if one is not comfortable with the less than professional way in which food and beverages are served at the table.</p>
<p>Just read a post in the âregularâ parentâs threads that mom was devasted that daughter chose Dartmouth over UPenn because UPenn was more urban and prestigiousâŠ</p>
<p>Urban, yesâŠ</p>
<p>We returned late last night from Freshman Family Weekend and it was just wonderful! We were able to meet my sonâs friends, get to know his life a little and enjoy quite a few fun activities. We climbed the bell tower, ate at Mollyâs, heard Pres. Kim, and attended several fun student performances. And the weather was spectacular! I have to remind myself that the students are working hard as well or it would seem like young adult summer campâalmost too good to be true. And really everyone is so friendly. My only worry is that my high school aged daughter is now setting her heart on Dartmouth and who knows if that will turn out to be a possibility. But good for her to dream big!</p>
<p>Hope everyone else enjoyed it as well.</p>
<p>^^We went and enjoyed it too. We also did all those things (except eat at Mollyâs) plus we enjoyed the Gospel Music Choir performance Friday evening, the Culley student concerto competitions Saturday afternoon, and improv comedy and a capella groups singing on Saturday evening. Dr. Kim gave a great talk, although I was disappointed that he took at least three jabs at Harvard. I wish Harvardâs peer schools were self confident enough to stand on their own wonderful merits and didnât feel a need to tear down Harvard.</p>
<p>On the reaurant front we had a great meal at a place out in countryside near Orford called Bunten Farmhouse Restaurant. It was expensive but wonderful gourmet food, mostly grown locally (all the dairy products came from the restaurantâs own cows), and served family style. The vegetable was fiddle head ferns, which grow wild and I didnât know were even edible. They were served boiled. Reminded me of spinach.</p>
<p>Just trying to plan ahead a little bit. I can see on the 2010-2011 academic calendar that the last day of exams before winter break is on December 8. If I want to look for plane tickets now how soon after that date are kids usually ready to leave? Do they have to leave over break? Any information would be useful. Thanks.</p>
<p>Iâd like to know the answer to that question as well. There are some nice prices and flight times now. How soon can they return? Jan1?</p>
<p>The dorms generally close the day after the last day of exams. Thus, they are supposed to leave. But, some internationals cannot due to visa restrictions, so the College makes arrangements for a place to stay, which may not be in their same dorm room.</p>
<p>Re: making flight plans nowâŠprobably not worth it since early Dec is always a slow fly season; prices will stay low. Plus, you never know when the last final will be. Your child could have a paper due instead, or three finals on the first day or two, and nothing to do for the next xx days.</p>
<p>OTOH, the return over New Yearâs weekend is always busy and expensive.</p>
<p>Thanks bluebayou. Do you know when the dorms typically re-open after the break?</p>
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<p>Oh, the likelihood is that they would find something to do! :D</p>
<p>It does get increasingly dead on campus as the last day of exams approaches. Many students leave soon after their last committment. Most students who remain are there because they still have finals or papers and are still studying and not interested in unwinding. Eager as first years are to get back to Dartmouth after break, they are especially eager to come home for that first break. So for the various reasons mentioned, you might want to hold off on reservations at least until you know your childâs exam schedule. </p>
<p>At any rate, you can get the close/open dates here: [Important</a> Deadlines & Dates](<a href=âhttp://www.dartmouth.edu/~orl/housing/dates.html]Importantâ>Home | Office of Residential Life)</p>
<p>Consolation:</p>
<p>There is no doubt than any teenager can find âsomethingâ to do, but it mostly would be by themselves. The vast majority of students still on campus have finals/papers due, and breaks are few and far between; basements are out, unless one does not care about grades. There are a few that cannot travel home, internationals for example, so some students remain on campus.</p>
<p>I have a question about student health insurance. On our financial aid letter it indicates a fee for âhealth servicesâ for $255. On Dartmouthâs website, I found information about the DSGHP which is a requirement unless you can get a waiver. In 2009-2010 school year the cost was $1786. I have a family plan which covers my daughter but will not satisfy all of the waiver requirements. Unfortunately, Iâll still need to pay for the family premium ($400/month) to cover the rest of the family even if I could take this daughter off of my insurance. Does anyone have any experience with this?</p>
<p>Do the students get all of their textbooks at the Co-Op downtown? It seems like a long walk back with all those books!</p>