Stationed perfectly between winter and spring break, Intraterm annually serves as an opportunity to interact with new faculty members and peers, make memories from once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and revalue school beyond classes and studying. As we returned from Intraterm, the weather began to shift toward Spring, followed shortly by the Spring Forward time change. As people lounged in the courtyard while eating lunch, we realized that Intraterm had brought a positive energy to campus. To try and capture this within the confines of a written article, we broke our typical format and interviewed numerous students, asking just a few questions about positive experiences from Intraterm. Last but not least, we want to extend a huge thank you to the faculty who planned and led Intraterms that contributed to the diverse offerings we got to choose from this year. Enjoy!
What was your intraterm and how would you rate it on a scale of 1-10?
My intraterm was Theatrical Adventures, and I’d give it like a 7/10
I did A Week of Saturdays, 10/10!
Molten Magic: Glass Blowing, 10/10
I did Arts and Gardens on the Run, and I rate it a 9/10.
Exploring the Volcanic Side of Hawaii, 10/10
By the Sea. It was good, a 9/10.
Seattle: The Emerald City, 9/10!
My intraterm, A Week of Yoga, Nature and Self-Exploration, was great! I’d give it a 9.
Washington, DC: Black History Is American History, definitely a 10/10!
Self Care if Self Love… 10/10!!!!!
Washington, DC: Black History Is American History, and I would rate it a 9/10! I had a great time over all.
Seattle: The Emerald City, 8/10
Artful acts of kindness, I would rate it a 6/10
Arts and Gardens on the Run, I’d give it a solid 7.7/10
Exploring the Volcanic Side of Hawaii, like a 12! (we’ll round to 10/10)
Exploring the Volcanic Side of Hawaii, 9.5/10
What was one interesting highlight, memorable moment, or favorite day from Intraterm?
“Probably on the first day when we watched a four-and-a-half-hour musical that had no intermission. The content was pretty unexpected, but it was a fun experience I’ll definitely remember for a while.”
“I loved getting to decorate journals and reading every day”
“After a hike, we went to a natural hot spring and we just sat in there and I got to chat with my friends.”
“The last day because we watched this INCREDIBLE play and got frozen custard afterward!”
Dancing around during our kundalini yoga class
“We hiked across this huge crater, which was really pretty. I talked to a lot of people and it was super fun.”
“The first night we went to a restaurant that served enormous portions of food. One of the people on the trip ordered a slice of cake that was almost the size of their entire moment but then ate the entire thing.”
Tuesday, when we all went to Crepevine for breakfast.
“On our first morning, I got up really early with a friend and ran seven and a half miles while the sun was rising. It was sprinkling a little bit and was the most I had ever run.”
“I really enjoyed going to the Spheres, which is a cool Amazon building with lots of plants and animals taken from the Amazon Rainforest (a lot of them were poisonous).”
“Going to the Supreme Court was definitely cool and seeing the National African American History Museum was pretty sick.”
Yoga we did at the top of our hike.
“It said we were staying at a hostel, but it ended up being a lot better and cooler than I expected. It was kind of outdoorsy and had great scenery, which I liked.”
“We had a lot of fun in this garden in Richmond. We did a lot of weeding there, but it was really pretty and sunny out and it felt like Spring.”
“Tuesday at Filoli Gardens because I really liked the fancy mansion and the field of dandelions!”
“Making a bowl and then cutting the sides and spinning it around to make a plate was actually surprisingly fun!”
Seeing elephant seals and the beach at the hostel.
“My favorite moment was attending an open mic night at a local restaurant. The poetry and music were inspiring, and there were some great comedy acts! It definitely encouraged me to look for other events like it out here in California.”
“On Tuesday we went to the Filoli Gardens in Woodside and it was really beautiful and peaceful. I had a lot of fun just walking around and hanging out.”
“My favorite day was probably the day when we went to the Microsoft headquarters. We got to check out a lot of their facilities, which I thought were really cool.”
Needless to say, it seems like Intraterm was widely enjoyed. With an average rating of 9.3/10, the trips had slightly higher ratings than the average of 8.4/10, but everyone had something positive to report back on from Intraterm, regardless of whether they traveled or stayed local. Students also found time to forge connections with new people, often in new and unexpected ways. One student describes giving foot high fives to other students from a downward-facing dog position. Another student enjoyed connecting with faculty, describing that they “had never talked to a teacher in that sort of context, more like friends.” And of course, to bring the whole experience together, some good food was needed. Whether it was tacos after gardening, an Italian meal that cost almost half of the total budget, or the best burger ever (from the Microsoft Headquarters?), the nourishment was solid enough to sustain packed days. Looking forward to next year, some of the interviewees echoed a common sentiment that there should be more trips next year, but based on the experiences we heard from a wide array of students who stayed local, there is lots of fun to be had here in the Bay Area!