The I-House Retreat – From Curiosity to Appreciation

Posted on January 30, 2024 by Essenam Ama Hannah Dorkenu

As a resident of I-House since August 2023, the fall retreat had slipped through my fingers, with tickets selling out in the blink of an eye. Determined not to let this opportunity pass again, I eagerly awaited the spring retreat and signed up immediately after tickets became available. A semester in, having already formed connections with fellow residents, I found myself questioning the potential impact of the retreat on my already enriched social experience within the House.

However, I was intrigued, so I delved into the I-House blog to read four posts recounting experiences at previous retreats. Among the various narratives, Sanidhya’s recent post caught my attention, offering a glimpse into a mosaic of activities – coordinated outdoor escapades, a presentation by Shaun Carver, a cultural contest, movie nights, Pictionary, board games, and the unexpected inclusion of bead-making. Gabriella’s blog post from 2014 provided additional perspectives, emphasizing the retreat’s potential for bonding with new roommates, exploration of lesser-known Bay Area gems, initiation into intercultural education, and indulgence in s’mores (I learned that it means ‘some more’). Joel’s recounting of the retreat intrigued me further. He discovered that after a breakout session, his small group spoke a combination of about 50 languages! Joel’s mention of forging new friendships that led to planned trips added an extra layer of fascination. Juan’s perspective, as a student worker, introduced yet another facet. The initial activity of his retreat had them discover the meanings behind residents’ names and set an engaging tone.

My expectations were a tapestry of cross-cultural activities, a deep dive into I-House history, engaging indoor pursuits ranging from movies to bead-making, and the much-anticipated s’mores. Despite a bittersweet revelation – there were no s’mores this time – my readiness for surprises and an eagerness to discover the unknown propelled me forward.

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I-House New York: Our Big Sister

Posted on January 17, 2024 by Sanidhya Rao
A view of the I-House NYC Entrance.

Founded in 1924 by the visionary Harry Edmonds, International House (I-House) in New York City stands as a beacon of cross-cultural exchange and understanding. The institution, constructed and completed in 1924, officially opened its doors in 1925, becoming a haven for international students and young professionals seeking a dynamic and diverse living and learning environment. Harry Edmonds, the charismatic and forward-thinking educator behind a long line of International Houses, conceived the idea of International House as a response to the challenges of a post-World War I world. The horrors of war had underscored the critical need for fostering global understanding and collaboration. Edmonds envisioned a space where individuals from different cultures, backgrounds, and nationalities could come together to live, learn, and exchange ideas, transcending boundaries and biases. The first International House, often referred to as I-House (though each subsequent I-House has co-opted the name since), was strategically located near Columbia University in Morningside Heights. The Gothic architecture of the building not only provided a distinctive physical presence but also symbolized the enduring values of education, community, and enlightenment. From its inception, the house embodied the belief that meaningful cross-cultural interactions could contribute to peace and unity on a global scale. 

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Gratitude for International House

Posted on December 19, 2023 by Oke Iroegbu

I’ll watch the sunset over the Campanile once more

I’ll pay attention to nature’s symphony—seagulls and breeze,

Close my eyes and take a deep, deeper breath

This beacon of hope—and this little light and voice of mine

I’ll let it shine and sing, wherever, whenever, I’ll remember where it all started

Now the greatest symphony is hearing diverse tongues

And the greatest view is seeing different cultures living together 

—Oke Iroegbu

Dear Friends and International House Family, 

Congratulations on making it to the end of the year! I know it was a long flight, but the storm is over. Not too long ago the semester started when we were all introducing ourselves to each other, but now we say our goodbyes. Now the sounds of clanging kitchenware and laughter in the dining commons can’t be heard anymore from my window. I sit reflecting on it all—better is the end of a thing than the beginning. Such a nostalgic feeling—how time flies!

Let us look back a bit. 

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California Dreaming: Chronicles of an Epic Road Trip

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Sanidhya Rao
Four I-House residents posing in front of a red sports car.

As the crisp autumn air settled over the West Coast, Thanksgiving heralded a time of gratitude and reflection, tracing its roots back to the early 17th century when Pilgrims and Native Americans joined in a feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest. Fast forward to the 21st century, and Thanksgiving has evolved into a cherished American tradition, where families gather around tables laden with turkey and pumpkin pie. However, for college students, this holiday signifies more than just a time for family reunions. It’s a golden opportunity to break free from the rigors of academia, as campuses empty out and friends embark on adventures together. This year, Thanksgiving took three of my fellow I-House residents and me through the picturesque charm of Santa Barbara, the sun-kissed landscapes of San Diego, and the vibrant streets of Los Angeles. 

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Support I-House on Giving Tuesday

Posted on November 28, 2023 by Laurie Ferris

Dear I-House Community,

Giving Tuesday is one of the biggest giving days of the year. Will you give today to I-House to support the development of empathetic leaders?

In a world that seems increasingly divided, cultural humility and empathy have emerged as fundamental attributes we urgently need to instill in our future leaders. Our world needs leaders who can work together to find solutions to the pressing, collective challenges we face across the globe today.

Please Make a gift today for a more peaceful tomorrow.

I believe, and I hope you do too, that the I-House experience has the power to broaden minds and create global citizens.  

That’s why I’m asking you to support I-House this Giving Tuesday. The I-House experience is truly transformational, and your gifts help make it possible.   

Your gifts help I-House open its doors to students from around the world–and from a variety of economic circumstances–providing the opportunity to live immersed in a vibrant cross-section of cultures, languages, and traditions.  

On this global day of giving, please help us cultivate engaged listeners, thinkers, and leaders by making a generous gift to I-House now. And, if you’ve recently sent a gift our way, thank you for your generosity!

Watch these short videos of I-House residents expressing their gratitude for the I-House experience:

With gratitude and hope for our shared future,

Shaun Carver, I-House Executive Director
Shaun R. Carver, Ed.D., MBA
Executive Director and CEO
International House at UC Berkeley

PS – Due to potential mail delays, you may prefer to make your gift to I-House online at ihouse.berkeley.edu/donate, contact us at philanthropy@ihouseberkeley.org, or call (510) 642-4128 to speak with us about other ways of giving, including making a legacy gift in your estate plans.

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Berkeley’s Bountiful Bears – A Self-Guided Tour of the Berkeley Bears on Campus

Posted on October 11, 2023 by Sanidhya Rao

The UC Berkeley website has a visitor services section, which lists the available campus tours. Within this list is a section of self-guided tours, ranging from entire schools within the University to tours of design and art around campus. 

A walking tour of the bear statues and other bear artwork on campus piqued my interest. There were 23 bears listed. I decided to undertake the curious expedition over a span of three days. I wanted to take photos of all the bears that I could spot and to pen my experience. It was one of the most pleasing times that I’ve had walking through campus, and exploring the nooks and crannies within! 

Below are two images of what the walking tour entails. It includes a map of the bears located on campus and the corresponding photographs and location details. 

A map of the bear statues, sculptures and art on campus and around it.
A list of the bear statues, sculptures and art on campus and around it.

You can download the PDF at: https://stories.lib.berkeley.edu/bear-map/# 

I had the idea for the tour as a result of a dear friend of mine choosing to bestow some interesting trivia on me. I was told that the smallest bear statue on campus was located in South Hall, out in the open, but was overlooked by many Berkeley students. Once I saw the first bear statue, I wanted to see them all and capture them on camera. My supervisor at I-House was kind enough to direct me to the self-guided tour, making my job infinitely easier than scouring the depths of Reddit.

I began my quest on the 19th of September, 2023. That day I hadn’t decided to go through all of the bears. I only wanted to put the one at South Hall up on my Instagram story. So, I ran to my room, grabbed my cameras, and zoomed right at the bear to get a good shot. For reference, that’s item #3 on the tour.

A photograph of the front entrance to South Hall.
A zoomed in image of the balcony railings, where the smallest bear is visible in one of the rungs.

Located extremely discreetly, on the balcony of the front of the building, this little bear is outrightly the smallest of the statues on campus. Installed in 1997, it sits sneakily on the third ring from the left. It’s a great piece of trivia to have in one’s arsenal while walking across this part of campus with friends. I’ve personally had the pleasure of asking my peers to look for it after telling them they’re looking right at it! Faces constantly go from determined to flustered as they fail to locate the statue. It is sure to make someone smile when they see it. I got my shots in and was done for the day. 

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The I-House Cookbook 3.0: Chef’s Delight!

Posted on September 28, 2023 by Oke Iroegbu

Dear Friends and Residents,
I know that many of you have been waiting for this, and we have worked hard to get it out. I am happy to present the third chapter of the I-House Cookbook. This time, we feature recipes from our amazing I-House Chefs. These mouth-watering recipes come from England, The Philippines, The United States, and Iran.

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Sukhi’s – A Delectable Desi Delight

Posted on September 19, 2023 by Sanidhya Rao

Most international students will think of food if you ask them what they miss most about home. I’m very much a part of that contingent. There’s nothing quite like the kick of food that’s made with the love, attention, and heart that comes with home-cooked food.  

I was stuck in a class on dreary legal issues when I was delighted to get a text from Laurie informing me that there was an Indian food company that had set up samples in the Dining Commons of I-House, and that she wanted me to speak to the entrepreneur and write about the food and the experience. I accepted this special assignment instantly and asked my roommate to charge my cameras. I hurriedly made my way to the International House immediately after class. Thankfully, Berkeley Law is located right across the street from I-House! 

A pair of tables is set up in the dining hall, on which the cloth on the table, reads ‘Sukhi’s, Taste Irresistible Indian Food. Placards showcasing the list of products offered by Sukhi’s rests on the table. Sanjog, the owner stands animated speaking to her associate. There is another associate in white on the right, serving a sample of the samosa and chutney to a resident

I’m still relatively new to I-House, so it was a nice surprise to see samples of food in addition to the abundant offerings of the daily lunch menu. There were banners of Sukhi’s’s logo and colorful tables with aloo gajar matar (a dish made of carrots, peas and potatoes), vegetable samosas (a savory pastry, traditionally with a potato based filling), chhole (chickpeas cooked in Indian spices), rice and the piece de resistance, a mint-coriander chutney. 

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Welcoming Alumni from the 1980s Back to I-House

Posted on September 14, 2023 by Carina Samson

Over the summer, I had the pleasure of giving a tour to a group of six I-House alumni who lived at I-House in the 1970s – 80s, as well as a few of their friends. I’ve given I-House tours before as a Resident Assistant, taking residents around the building and coming up with little facts and stories along the way to keep them entertained. However, during this tour, I found myself gladly taking a bit of a backseat as the alumni enthusiastically recounted their time at I-House.

Alumni on front steps waving and smiling, from left: Jimmy Lo (in grey pants), Daisy Loh (in green shirt), Howard Leung (with a Cal cap), Judy Chu (in a floral dress), Louisa Ho (with white hat), John Hwa (in khaki pants).

I-House alumni pictured from left: Jimmy Lo (IH 1980-81), Daisy Loh (IH 1979-81), Howard Leung (IH 1980-81), Judy Chu (IH 1978-81), Louisa Ho (IH 1978-81), John Hwa (IH 1980-81). 

I enjoyed learning about how they all met—Louisa and Judy were roommates and Daisy lived two doors down from them. The group joked about how they were the “pioneers of younger undergraduates living at I-House,” as I-House used to house mostly graduate students. I-House was also where Louisa and Daisy met their husbands, John and Jimmy respectively! John lived in the hallway by the elevators on the other side of the 3rd floor, while Jimmy and Howard lived on other floors.

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I-House Resident Orientation Retreat – A Vibrant Affair

Posted on September 1, 2023 by Sanidhya Rao

One of the many I-House traditions, the Resident Orientation Retreat is a fantastic opportunity to get to know fellow residents and to learn about the history of I-House and the alumni that have made their way through its prestigious doors.

I attended the Fall 2023 Resident Orientation Retreat as a resident and a Global Community Ambassador. The orientation took place at the Green Mountain Retreat in Los Gatos in the South Bay Area. I came to I-House from India with no acquaintances and I’ve had that change over the course of the weekend. It was an opportunity for all residents, including myself, to meet people, interact with cultures from across the globe, and make connections for life.

Preparations began at 10:45 in the morning, as the residents who’d signed up for the retreat lined up to check into the three buses parked on Piedmont in front of our iconic steps. Halfway into boarding the buses, we were fortunate enough to realize that we had space for more residents. This led to a hurried hullabaloo of every signed-up resident calling friends of theirs that hadn’t been able to get tickets to pack their bags and take a seat on a bus. 25 minutes later, and after pure bedlam, we were on our way. The bus ride was a breezy one hour from door to door. Most of us chatted along the way and shared our excitement for the weekend  to come.

Residents gather outside I-House on the steps and prepare to board the buses.

Residents gather outside I-House on the steps and prepare to board the buses.

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