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ダートマス名物、ウインターカーニバル
ダートマス大学の冬の大イベントいえば、2月に行なわれる "Winter Carnival" です。これはもともと、大学が学生たちにウインタースポーツを楽しんでもらおうと企画した行事でしたが、今では、卒業生をはじめ一般客までが見物にやってきます。さて、このイベントでどんなことが行なわれているのでしょうか?
One carnival to rule them all
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今年のカーニバルのテーマは『指輪物語』
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Dartmouth has one big event every term. In the fall, we have Homecoming; in winter we have the Winter Carnival, a tradition that was started in 1910 and takes place over a weekend in February. It was originally planned as a way for Dartmouth students to make the most of the college's prime location for winter sports, and has since become an annual showcase of outdoor activities that draws spectators and alumni from various parts of the nation.
Each Winter Carnival has a theme, and one of the key attractions of the weekend is the long-standing tradition of building a huge snow sculpture in the center of the Green in accordance with this theme. As you may have guessed from the title of this article, which served as the catchphrase of this year's carnival, the theme of 2003 was J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings." Students rallied together to build a gigantic figure of the wizard Gandalf, one of the characters from the novel, holding a pair of skis. Several engineering majors were enlisted in its design.
Due to the heavy snowfall and relatively cold temperatures this winter, the result, while perhaps not exactly resembling the movie character, was still a highly impressive structure that towered over the buildings around it. In its palm was placed a light bulb that emitted a suitably eerie, "magical" green light at night.
A first-time visitor to Dartmouth's Winter Carnival is likely to think that the students have gone mad due to the cold, or perhaps from the university's isolation. For instance, the two most cherished Winter Carnival activities, the Human Dog Sled Race and the Polar Bear Swim, involve student "dogs" dragging people across the snow-covered lawn and scantily clad students jumping into a hole drilled into the ice on Occum pond. "What in the world for?" you may ask. To tell the truth, I have no idea. It seems like Dartmouth students look for any possible excuse to do crazy things.
This Winter Carnival, I decided to go and watch the Polar Bear Swim. This tradition, albeit a recent one (started in 1994), attracts a large number of spectators as well as a surprisingly large number of reckless students waiting their turn to jump, wearing only swimming trunks or bikinis (and sometimes, capes, American flags and other strange gear.) A rope is tied around each swimmer's waist and medical assistance is on standby, but thankfully there have been no casualties yet.
I personally never intend to participate myself - what makes people voluntarily jump into ice-cold, muddy pond water just to immediately climb back out again for a measly polar-bear badge is something I will never fathom. Besides, it is much more entertaining (and warmer) to watch others put themselves through such ludicrous acts!
There are many other options for those who prefer something a little less insane. Aside from the usual themed parties and musical performances that take place, there is also the 99-cent ski day, sponsored by the college radio station, 99Rock, and the Midnite Breakfast, where a full breakfast is served in the college dining facilities at midnight. Slalom races take place at the Dartmouth Skiway during most of the day, where Dartmouth skiers compete against skiers from other colleges.
Winter Carnival is definitely the greatest perk of the at times desolate winter season in Hanover. It certainly helps one appreciate the splendor of all the snow and ice, although I, for one, am feeling a sort of relief because the days are finally getting longer and the weather slightly warmer (although it is still snowing as I write).
Next term, I will participate in a college language program, where I will be spending nearly three months studying French in the city of Paris. I am sure that I can expect a totally different atmosphere over there, and I will let you know how I am doing in articles to come!
Shukan ST: April 4, 2003
(C) All rights reserved
- One carnival to rule them all
- ダートマスのカーニバルがほかのカーニバルよりも上だ(『指輪物語』のセリフ "One ring to rule them all" のもじり)
- term
- 学期
- Homecoming
- 大学祭
- make the most of 〜
- 〜を存分に楽しむ
- prime location for 〜
- 〜に絶好の土地柄
- annual
- 恒例の
- showcase
- 紹介の場
- draws spectators
- 観客を引き付ける
- alumni
- 卒業生
- theme
- テーマ
- attractions
- 呼び物
- long-standing
- 長年の
- snow sculpture
- 雪像
- Green
- キャンパスにある芝生のこと
- in accordance with 〜
- 〜に沿って
- served as 〜
- 〜となった
- J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings"
- J・R・R・トールキンの『指輪物語』
- rallied together
- 結集した
- gigantic
- 巨大な
- wizard Gandalf
- 魔法使いのガンダルフ
- engineering majors
- 工学専攻の学生
- were enlisted
- 協力した
- snowfall
- 降雪
- relatively
- 比較的
- resembling 〜
- 〜に似る
- towered over 〜
- 〜の上にそびえた
- In its palm was placed 〜
- 手のひらに〜が設置された
- light bulb
- 電球
- emitted 〜
- 〜を発した
- suitably eerie
- いかにもそれらしく不気味な
- have gone mad
- おかしくなった
- isolation
- 隔絶していること
- cherished
- 人気のある
- Sled
- そり
- Polar Bear
- ホッキョクグマ
- dragging 〜
- 〜を引っ張る
- lawn
- 芝生
- scantily clad
- まともな服を着ていない
- drilled into 〜
- 〜に開けられた
- Occum pond
- 大学にある池
- What in the world for
- 一体何のために?
- albeit 〜
- 〜だが
- reckless
- 向こう見ずな
- swimming trunks
- 海水パンツ
- capes
- マント
- gear
- 衣装
- medical assistance
- 救護班
- is on standby
- 待機している
- casualties
- 負傷者
- never intend to 〜
- 〜するつもりはない
- muddy
- 濁った
- measly polar-bear badge
- (参加賞の)くだらないホッキョクグマのバッジ
- fathom
- 理解する
- ludicrous
- ばかげた
- a little less insane
- もう少しまともな
- Aside from 〜
- 〜以外に
- Midnite(=midnight)
- 深夜
- dining facilities
- 食堂
- Slalom
- スラローム。スキー回転競技
- Dartmouth Skiway
- 大学のスキー場
- compete against 〜
- 〜と競う
- perk
- 特典
- at times
- ときに
- desolate
- 陰うつな
- Hanover
- ダートマス大学がある町
- appreciate 〜
- 〜を理解する
- splendor
- 素晴らしさ
- a sort of 〜
- 〜のようなもの
- relief
- 安ど