International Student House Washington DC

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Aakriti Thapar

About Aakriti Thapar

Country: India
Internship: Video Journalist Fellow at BBC News

Aakriti Thapar is a journalist from Mumbai, India. She completed her Masters in Journalism from Columbia Graduate School of Journalism in New York, and is now a video journalist fellow at BBC News in Washington, DC. Before coming to the United States, Aakriti was a producer in the BBC Mumbai bureau. She's passionate about telling stories from multiple perspectives and representing the often underserved audiences. Her work regularly appears on the BBC News website, television channels and social media platforms, and she has written for leading Indian publications like Forbes India and Outlook magazine. She's a movie buff, Netflix lover and social media junkie. Aakriti loves good music, live gigs and participating in talks, panels and social events.

A Trip to Annapolis

March 11, 2019 by Aakriti Thapar

Another weekend, another getaway. This time Raghu, Max, Kalika, Rashi, Kalina, Kristin, Rike, Susi, Erpeng, Wanny, Wansoo and I (ISH residents from different corners of the world) decided to explore a city on the Chesapeake Bay - Maryland's capital city, Annapolis. After a short 45-minute drive from ISH, we were in Annapolis' historic downtown, surrounded by 18th-century brick houses, and famous inns and delis. And so our adventure began.

Our first stop was the United States Naval Academy. In a 90-minute walking tour, we saw the academy's training facilities, and learnt about its history and how it has evolved over the years (but with its core traditions and values intact).

Everyday motivation? "Don't give up this ship" was the dying command of James Lawerence in 1813.
A model ship in the US Naval Academy Museum.
A photograph of what used to be an armory.
A look inside the armory.
Inside Bancroft Hall. Fact: Only those with permission can enter through the main door. Everyone else has to use the two side entrances.

After a greatly informative tour, it was time to rest and refuel. We ate at "Chick and Ruth's delly" an Annapolis landmark.
Where's our food? We're hungry!

How can you leave Annapolis without trying their famous crab cakes?
Crab omelette.
Anyone for traditional fish and chips?

A walking tour of our own - Next, we pulled out a map of Annapolis (more like Google and Trip Advisor) and walked to each site.

A street in Annapolis.
Annapolis waterfront.
Brick homes and cobbled streets.
Annapolis, the capitol of Maryland.
Still walking!
The Old Treasury Building in Annapolis.
The Governor's residence.
Maryland State House. Trivia: It's the oldest US state capitol in use and it has the largest wooden dome in the US, constructed without nails.
Hello from our explorer (Raghu)!!

Abstract & Art in Annapolis:

A florist outside a cathedral.
Treasure: garden pebble.

Annapolis at night. We stayed to see Annapolis through a different lens (night vision).

A private club for members only.
Back to where we began.

ISH Tip: Never eat/drink at a chain or known restaurant when you're traveling to a new city. Skip the Starbucks and find a local cafe. So much so, that we even drank our goodbye coffee, tea and hot chocolate at a bar!

Annapolis is definitely on the ISH list of MUST VISITS. This half/full day trip takes you away from the DC work life and is a trip good for the heart, mind and pocket. A mind full of information and a heart filled with memories, we're on to the next adventure!

The ISH Oscar Jury

February 14, 2019 by Aakriti Thapar

“International Student House is full of resident scholars from around the world who come to Washington to pursue incredible educational and career opportunities.  While the majority of our time is spent studying and working at all hours of the day (residents can be found in the study room at 3pm or 3am), we all need a bit of a break, and some residents find enjoyment in films, specifically the top films of the year.  With awards season officially upon us, it is only fitting that the library (i.e. TV room) be transformed into a screening room for the serious (or not so serious) ISH critic…” We're just three weeks away from the big day. The winners will soon be announced on the opposite coast. It'll be a glitzy and glamours night and we honestly can't wait to see photos. The Oscar jury aside, the verdict from our very own ISH residents is in. Last month, ISH movie buffs started screening Oscar nominated movies in the TV room. Here's what our residents had to say about some of the movies they've watched: Ralph Breaks the Internet IMDB rating and 89% rotten tomatoes rating, this animated movie goes beyond fun and entertainment. It has a strong message. A resident said "It was better than I expected it to be. I particularly loved the modern and contextual twist on Disney princesses." BlackKklansman This film has a high 95% rating on rotten tomatoes. "Fascinating. This is an important part of history that we should all know." ISH critics argue that this film would have been better as a book. "Strong storyline and important subject, but the visuals don't do justice to the story. The story takes long to develop. On the flip side, it's a sparks a conversation and highlights how we as a society haven't moved forward. We're still grappling with issues of discrimination, intolerance and inequalities.” Green Book 8.3/10 on IMDB and 81% on rotten tomatoes. “This is the best movie ever. I’m rooting for Vigo Mortensen (Tony Lip, the cab driver in the film) to win best actor.” “The performances were powerful and so was the direction. Everything about the movie was spot on.” We still have a long list of films to watch before the important night. And if anyone has any suggestions, get in touch with the informal ISH movie planning committee and get your popcorn ready!

December @ ISH

December 31, 2018 by Aakriti Thapar

A cup of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows, a snuggly couch, a rom-com or one of the good old favorites, and great company from around the world. That's how I'd describe a perfect December, and that's how we spend the holiday season at the International Student House in Washington, DC. With no deadlines, assignments, or late work nights, plans are made galore and the primary difference between 'regular' plans and holiday plans are that the latter actually see the light of day. Ice-skating at the National Sculpture Garden, and late night zoo lights and panda spotting are some of my favorites. Every night becomes a movie night in the TV room and the different 'Home Alone-s' and royal Christmas movies are screened to get everyone in the holiday spirit. I must say I do have major 'FOMO'. I came back to Bombay (India) for my Christmas break in the last week of December, and my ISH friends were sending me photographs of 'spa nights' and 'face mask' nights in the house. The house turns into a tight-knit home with just 10-12 residents roaming the hallways in holiday PJs and Christmas fuzzy socks. Creativity is at its peak during this period. My friends spent a couple of days rehearsing for, and filming an excerpt from the first episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S and personalized it to make it our very own ISH version. (Ask a resident for a private google drive link 😉 ) While in jolly spirits sipping on our hot chocolates next to the Christmas tree in the Great Hall, it's a bitter-sweet feeling as we bid farewell to some of our friends and dear fellow residents. With the semester coming to an end, a large number of residents make their way back to their respective home countries and leave us with fond memories. That being said, the few of us left behind (now 'old residents') eagerly look forward to making new ISH friends in 2019!

ISH takes Philly

December 3, 2018 by Aakriti Thapar

At ISH, you never do anything alone. Be it a ping-pong doubles match, a film screening in the library, an NBA match, or a weekend dinner plan to try a new cuisine, you will always find volunteers. Road trips (sometimes flights across the country) are no exception. ISH residents are always up for any kind of adventure. What makes these trips even more exciting, is planning and budgeting. All of a sudden you have Pythogras, Archimedes, Netwons, Lovelaces and Germains gallivanting around ISH. As students, interns, and early-career professionals, most residents aim for the 'explore more, pay less' goal. This time, six of us decided to explore Philadelphia. We logged onto our computers and found the cheapest AM bus tickets available. At 5 AM on an unusually cold November morning, we met in the ISH lobby. "I have dry fruits," said one of us and "I have a pair gloves, my beanie, scarf, and an extra pair of everything," laughed another. There began our day as tourists and explorers. Our bus driver entertained us during our three hour bus journey with his wisecracks. While demonstrating safety procedures and giving us emergency instructions he said, "If you see me sleeping behind the wheel, don't disturb me!" Another one that we remember laughing about was while we were getting off the bus at 30th street station, Philadelphia. He said," Don't forget to take your belongings. If you want them back, you will find them on E-bay tomorrow!" We started our day at a quaint little cafe in the heart of Philly. Warm sausage muffins, cups of hot chocolate, and we were ready for the day. As an avid traveler, I have always maintained that the best way to see a city, is by foot. And going back to my point about budgets, truth is, we had no budget for anything other than our limbs! We started at 30th street station, and soon we found ourselves in the centre of the city. Quite literally, Philadelphia’s City Centre. Historic monuments and photo spots, we spent time reading guides and information stones. We visited all the major Philly sites - Reading Terminal Market, the old seat of the parliament, the famous Liberty bell, Independence Hall and the Benjamin Franklin bridge. We had our photo ops, and of course, how could we leave Philly without tasting the famous Philly cheesestake! Recommendation: We ate at Sonny's and everyone enjoyed their cheesecakes and fries. After a freezing day, donuts and hot coffees, we were back at the station to board our bus to D.C. We left with postcards from the station, souvenirs for friends and bags full of memories. Not only was it a great day of fun and adventure, it was also an enriching experience to travel with residents and friends from different countries/cultures. On this trip, we represented 4 different countries - Finland, Italy, Austria and India. The moment we got back, we were already planning our next day trip. Maybe, Ocean City?

An ISH Food and Culture Affair

October 22, 2018 by Aakriti Thapar

Dear Residents, With Food and Love, From ISH.  And… within the boundaries of the four walls, there were no treaties, summits, enemies, allies, politics or power dynamics. Nigeria, Italy, USA, Germany, Serbia, Bangladesh, Iran, and Uruguay, all came together to share their culture with residents from different parts of the world - an ideology central to the International Student House’s being, and the edifice on which it is built. The event not only brought together an eclectic mix of cultures, it was an opportunity for residents (old and new) and board members to mingle with one another over a traditional drink from Iran, Californian margarita or Serbian cherry liquor.   My favorites from the cultural cookout: Nan-E-Nokhodchi:  Little Persian cookies shaped like flowers that melt in your mouth. The core ingredients used to make this Iranian delicacy are chickpeas and pistachio. Pasta:  This simple dish won everyone’s heart (and tummy). What made this a winner for me was that it was homemade, you could taste the love, and *wait for it* the two letter word we all want to hear today - NO ADDITIVES!     Uštipci: Who doesn’t love a little something fried? These golden-brown donut like fried bread balls will transport you straight to Serbia where this dish a staple. You can eat this with strawberry jam and preserves, or if you’re feeling Serbian, you can dip these in Ajvar, a dip made principally from red peppers and oil. Sweet Boondi / Bengali Bonde: Being the cookie/sweet-tooth monster that I am, I was naturally drawn to this sweet from Bangladesh. These tiny bead-like balls are made of gram flour, cardamom, saffron and sugar. (Full disclosure: this is a common Indian sweet and it’s eaten during festivals/special occasions). Perfect weather, perfect company. This fall event was a huge success with residents enjoying the day and learning something new about a culture/country. While the event lasted a couple of hours, the spirit of sharing, learning, and loving is always in the air, and ISH’s love affair with food and culture continues.
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International Student House of Washington, DC | 1825 R Street, NW | Washington, DC 20009

International Student House of Washington, DC is a private, non-profit 501(c)3 organization located near Dupont Circle in the heart of Washington, DC. Donations will help support our mission to provide an exceptional residential experience to a highly diverse international community of graduate students, interns and visiting scholars. The House promotes inter-cultural dialogue, encourages life-long connections, and fosters global citizenship.

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