There is less than a month remaining at I-House for residents who leave in the spring, and my heart gets ever heavier with the impending day of moving out. Like most great things in life that arrive strong and live short, I am heartbroken at the end of my dalliance with I-House and extremely grateful for the months of learning, connection, and enrichment I was treated to.
If I were a gambling man, I’d bet that I am not the only resident going through these emotions. My peers and friends at International House have a gleam in their eyes and a similar fondness in their hearts for the time we have shared.
As I come to terms with the end of my time here, I look to cope through reminiscing and appreciating the work of the I-House Resident Council, Programs Office, Communications Office, Staff, and most of all the residents themselves in putting together an exceptional year – one which I will carry close to my heart for decades to come.
A truly eventful year for I-House residents ended with another edition of the annual International Cultural Festival, prepared by the Robertson Center for Intercultural Leadership and Programs team. On Saturday, April 27, we opened the door to welcome over 100 guests from outside the House and to our 600 residents, who joined us to celebrate the global cultural heritage. During 4 months of work, the Center’s Program Lead Team worked hard to put together the festival, with 16 student- or association-led cultural booths, 8 performances, and the participants’ countless smiles.
As a Program Lead, when I decided to take on the role of the Festival’s Coordinator, I knew that position came with a great set of expectations, set, and enhanced each week by all the Coffee Hours, which the residents prepared this year. I wanted our participants to have equal opportunities for cultural immersion as during DiversiTEAs but at the same time to enjoy the mosaic of cultures coming together on that day, and none of them dominating over one another. This certainly would not have been achieved without the work of my teammates, who recruited cultural booth hosts, invited professional performers, and gave them the space to express their cultures in the way they wanted them to be seen. They also worked relentlessly to promote the event, putting flyers all over the campus and creating promotional videos, to make sure everyone interested hears about the event in time. I cannot imagine a better end to the year of our cooperation which, in a similar way to the festival, leveraged multicultural diversity to create lasting memories for many.
Thanks to the generous support of the Edith S. Colliver Fund, the festival showed that there are multiple different ways to interpret the most common practices, such as coffee – freshly made by the Turkish and the Vietnamese hosts, dances – taught by the Romanian, Turkish and Moldavian performers and writing – with traditional calligraphy demonstrated by the Japanese and Iranian hosts. I am convinced that these simple and enjoyable activities expanded the participants’ ideas about how we can all learn from each other’s differences and be entertained doing so!
I am looking forward to seeing how the International Cultural Festival grows from year to year and hopefully attracts even more culturally curious students and friends of UC Berkeley.
On the 16th of April, International House welcomed back HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway for the ‘AI and the Future of Work; Norway in Conversation with California’ event in the Chevron Auditorium. HRH Crown Prince Haakon was an International House alumnus from 1996-97, when he completed his studies in Political Science at UC Berkeley. In his opening remarks, he shared with us his fond memories of living at International House – all the wonderful social events, interesting conversation in the lively dining hall and having the chance to meet people from all around the world. HRH highlighted the importance of understanding AI as he is also impressed by the popularity and the speed of development of this new technology.
In succession, before the discussion began, UC Berkeley Professor and distinguished AI expert: Stuart Russell provided his key notes on the future of artificial intelligence as a foundation for the discussion. Russell explained artificial intelligence is about making machines smart, which can effectively complete actions to achieve objectives. And the impact of AI will not be straightforward and easy, it will be varied and trying. The principal point is that inevitably, we humans will be faced with its existential problem and wishful thinking will not help us adapt to this new change. While we should be cautious with the advancement of AI, we should also stay optimistic about the benefits of AI on our labor market – AI empowered but not replacing humans, it automated but not taking our jobs.
The event panelists included the President of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO): Peggy Hessen Følsvik, CEO of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO): Ole Erik Almlid, the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry: Jan Christian Vestre and Professor Stuart Russell. Their conversation was moderated by UC Berkeley Professor Steven Raphael, the Director of the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment.
The discussion was centered around Norway and California’s work model in society in the wake of a rapid technological and digital revolution with artificial intelligence. Norway tripartite cooperation work model between the trade unions, employers and the government. Some highlights of their insightful discussion included, how AI can help with existing business models in Norway and alleviate labor shortage and move lower income group up on the social ladder. Their thoughts on AI and the labor market have reminded us of the importance of making AI benefit everyone in society and boosting productivity for society. AI, like many new technologies that were once new to us, has vast potential and unstoppable momentum. While we are embracing this new oil, it is also critical for us to avoid mistakes that we have once made.
The successful event was wrapped up by Dr. Robert Strand, Executive Director, Nordic Center at UC Berkeley and Center for Responsible Business at Haas School of Business.
Written by Marketing and Communication Leads, Suvi Valtonen Kim and Gilbert Chiu
Waking up in the quiet morning at Berkeley on the first day of Spring Break. Host families from Livermore Rotary Club came to International House to pick us up and kick off our exchange program. Our journey began with some casual chatter and laughter with the wonderful people from Livermore.
The drive from Berkeley to Livermore wasn’t long, especially when our host families were so eager to share with us their stories and lives in Livermore. The drive was pleasing as we travelled from the hustle and bustle of the East Bay to the peaceful city of Livermore. We had a very fruitful schedule in this exchange program: meeting with the Mayor of Livermore – John Marchand, who shared with us the vision and mission of the city council, a tour at the Livermore Police Department where we learnt more about their daily operations and the role of technology in assisting their work, learning the key scientific discovery of the Livermore National Laboratory, wine tasting session in one of the sixty plus wineries in the city, potluck dinner with the members of the rotary club as well as having the horsing riding session in the next day!
So much to learn and so much to enjoy!
More Thoughts from Gilbert Chiu
I feel grateful to have the host family program with Livermore Rotary Club. It was a precious experience that evokes a mix of excitement, anticipation, and a touch of nervousness. Special thanks to my host parents – Evonne and Dave, for showing me around the city and taking good care of me. The genuine kindness of the host families of the club enabled all of us from International House to feel the vibrant culture of Livermore. This activity surely amazing that has allowed me to fully immerse into the American life! I love it!
More Thoughts from Jingwen Yang
What I enjoyed and cherished most was the time with my host family, fellow housemates, and the local community. My host parents (Mr. Lynn Sephora and his wife Mrs. Joann Sephora) were both incredibly open, sharing insights into their careers and personal passions with me and my pair housemate Nandni. I was touched by their enthusiasm toward their careers, interests, and life. As a youth student who really wants to pursue a career in academia, I was really inspired by the story and words of my host father, Lynn, who worked for 37 years at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory as an optical designer. I still remember that he told me the resonant quote he liked most, “Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment,” and I believe these words will keep having a great influence on my life and career.
More Thoughts from Nandni Sinha
It was a great experience to join the Livermore Trip. We received a very insightful speech on city planning and public administration, the amazing technology displayed in the Livermore police station, and the strong research work by Livermore National Laboratory! It was also great for me to learn that Livermore has more than 60 wineries!
More Thoughts from Oke Iroegbu
My experience with my host was enlightening, and I learned more about American culture. The day I arrived, I played golf with Riko and Favor with my host, my first-time playing golf. Later, we went to the airport to see my host’s airplane. On Saturday evening, I watched an exciting TV series with my host family. It was like a small family gathering.
Summary, I had fun with the exchange experience. I am thankful to I-House management for organizing this event and my host for welcoming me into their home.
More Thoughts from Riko Okubo
From my homestay experience in Livermore, the most treasured aspect will always be the people I met. While I enjoyed interacting with fellow housemates of similar age, generation, and interests in International House, it was through joining the dinner-time Rotary club and engaging with my host parents that I truly broadened my horizons.
My host parents shared their life stories with me, encompassing their upbringing, education, backgrounds, and how they navigated their careers in the 60s and 70s – a time vastly different from today. By delving into their life narratives, I not only gained personal insights into a new world but also, as an exchange student studying sociology, had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of their individual lives. This allowed me to view the broader systems and history of American society from a more comprehensive perspective, inspiring me to contemplate what can be done for the future. As an exchange student from Japan, returning to Livermore might pose challenges, but I am genuinely grateful to have now a place I can “come back”.
Yesterday was incredible and will go down in the International House history books for many years to come. Current residents, alumni from all over the world, staff members, and friends from Berkeley and the surrounding areas came together for the International House Berkeley Gala.
I-House residents sit on the front steps with Shaun Carver at the purple carpet entrance to the Gala. Photo by Bill Howley
The lovely evening began with stand-up networking, mingling between attendees, and a purple-carpet photo shoot. Sharing life stories and experiences with people from all generations and cultures while residing at the International House was a lovely experience.
Gala reception in the Great Hall. Photo by Laurel Anderson-MalinovskyContinue reading →
On March 8th, International House’s signature annual Lodestar Speaker Series was held in the Chevron Auditorium. This year, I-House’s executive director Shaun Carver hosted Eric Schmidt, the former CEO & Chairman of Google and they discussed ‘The Promises and Perils of AI’ in the context of the I-House mission. We had the pleasure of attending this fruitful and compelling event!
Schmidt is an I-House alumnus, he spent four years in the house from 1976-80 and this is where he met his wife! He shared with us how I-House had inspired him in terms of cultural diversity, encouraged him to engage in deep conversations that foster better understanding between people from different cultures and backgrounds. In particular, he described the interactions between him and his I-House mates in the dining hall to be the most unforgettable moments during his time at I-House. We believe many of the I-House residents can relate to the magic in our dining hall, right?
Get ready to show your blue and gold spirit, because UC Berkeley’s Big Give starts tonight! This annual 24-hour fundraising marathon unites our entire campus community – students, faculty, staff, and alumni – in a wave of generosity. It’s a day to celebrate all the incredible things that make Cal such a special place, and to fuel the initiatives that shape the Golden Bear experience.
International House has been an integral part of the Cal community since 1930, fostering global understanding and enriching lives of students and scholars from every corner of the world. Each year at Big Give, we’ve welcomed the opportunity to participate and have been grateful for the enthusiasm of the I-House community. This year we’re raising funds to support the I-House Scholarship Fund so we can make an even greater impact on the community at I-House. We hope you’ll unleash your inner Bear spirit and get ready to make a difference – together!
At UC Berkeley, the International House (I-House) serves as a focal point for promoting global leadership and intercultural understanding. As part of its purpose, I-House recently welcomed former Google CEO and I-House alumni Eric Schmidt (IH 1976-80) to speak at the Lodestar Executive Director’s Speaker Series. The topic of discussion during the event, “The Promise and Perils of AI,” was the intricate connection between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the I-House goal of fostering a more just and peaceful world.
Current residents, graduates, board members, faculty, staff, and even some of Eric’s I-House friends packed the Chevron Auditorium, which was buzzing with enthusiasm. Chancellor Carol Christ kicked off the conversation with some thought-provoking words.
Given how quickly AI is changing the world, the discussion focused on how this might affect world peace and the principles of I-House. After four years of proudly living in I-House, Eric reflected on his experience here. He talked about how living at I-House made him aware of the world outside of America, influenced his career at Google, and even brought him and his future spouse together!
Living the Global Dream: My Journey at Berkeley’s International House
Imagine stepping onto a campus where breakfast is reminiscent of Tokyo, lunch plans involve a Brazilian friend, and evenings are spent swapping stories with your Kenyan neighbor. That’s not just a daydream; it’s everyday life at the International House (I-House) at UC Berkeley, and it’s where my Mastercard Foundation Scholarship adventure truly took flight.
I wasn’t just signing up for a dorm; I was joining a vibrant community of over 600 students from 70+ countries. The Fall of 2023 brought together a tapestry of cultures and perspectives, weaving a unique experience unlike any other.
I-House isn’t just a place to rest your head; it’s a cultural melting pot. Imagine yourself immersed in different traditions, languages, and viewpoints, soaking up the richness of the world right from your doorstep. This isn’t just about proximity but forging lifelong friendships and connections that transcend borders.
What truly sets I-House apart is its people. As a fresh Global Community Ambassador, I have had the privilege of sharing this beautiful space with the world. From managing social media to blogging and video production, my days are filled with promoting diversity and intercultural understanding.
But my most impactful project yet? Highlighting Black History Month through the lens of I-House residents and alumni. Interviewing current and former residents, I delved into their stories, exploring how the African diaspora has shaped their culture, identity, and even the very fabric of I-House itself.
From remarkable leaders from Africa to inspiring African Americans, each story revealed the transformative power of I-House. It’s not just about sharing meals or living under one roof; it’s about building lasting connections and fostering a space where understanding and unity flourish.
Chan’Cellore Makanjuola (IH 2019-20), of African American and Nigerian descent, shared how her experience at I-House led to her current job, highlighting the impact of the relationships and conversations nurtured within these walls.
As the UC Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholars Representative, one of my duties is to represent the scholars at UC Berkeley at any Mastercard Foundation meetings across the globe. This time, this year’s meeting took place in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, from January 26th to 29th, 2024. It’s always been a dream to travel to East Africa and this presented a great opportunity. The annual meeting brings together scholars from all Mastercard Foundation partners around the world. The objectives included fostering transformative leadership mindsets and skills among the members; promoting a sense of community; providing a platform for the Scholar Reps to collaborate; sharing knowledge; strengthening connections; and enhancing the brand and ethos of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program among the scholars’ community. More important is the opportunity given to me to serve, to impact positively on others, and to be a role model for youth around the globe. I hold that dear to my heart.
Mastercard Foundation: Scholar Reps during one of the sessionsContinue reading →
I-House: Where UC Berkeley Meets the World 