International Student House Washington DC

Providing an Enriching Experience for Student Residents

Welcome to International Student House – by Tiger Li, Guest Resident Blogger

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Welcome to International Student House! The most vibrant and enthusiastic community you can ever dream of.

 My name is Tiger, originally from China and a graduate student at George Washington University majoring in Legislative Affairs. I have a strong passion for American congressional politics and presidential studies. I worked in China, Indonesia, and Nigeria for 10 years and traveled to more than 30 countries across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. I served as a Director of International Relations in 26th Summer Universiade, and Chief Government Liaison in Nigeria United Resource Cooperation and Abaldeen Farms Company.

I love reading and watching politics, spirituality, and extraterrestrials. They are always prompting me to search the panacea for society amelioration as well as to understand the deep meaning of life itself. 

I have been at ISH for eight months, and it is undoubtedly my best experience in the United States. Our residents, in DC and now all over the world, have become a genuinely loving family. Our library, great hall, dining hall, basement, and gym are full of laughter, joy, and love sharing.

In the midst of a pandemic, ISH turns into the oasis of tranquility and serenity, the intimacy and bond between our residents become more robust: we share our dreams, we encourage each other, and honestly we realize:  we are the oneness, we are each other, and a friend in need is a friend indeed.  

If I can only use one word to express my genuine appreciation for ISH, it would be “Serendipitous.”  Thus, I am expecting to meet you at ISH as part of our dynamic community, and all together, we will share the stories of life and the world. I am waiting for you to déjà vu your serendipity here.

Sincerely,
Tiger

International Student House and Black Lives Matter

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The International Student House of Washington, DC was established in 1936 by individuals who believed that action was needed to address segregation in the nation’s capital, which shut the doors of most rooming houses to people of color. It has been 85 years since we opened our doors, and systemic racism continues. We unequivocally denounce racism and any form of discrimination that would place the life of anyone above the life of another because of the color of their skin.  We will continue to be a House where discourse on challenging and dismantling racism is welcomed and expected. As we consider what we have done to be a part of this conversation, we are engaging in honest reflection of what we can and should be doing better. In the future, we will continue to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion in our scholarship programs; and serve as a platform to highlight the contributions that minorities and people of color make to promoting peace and understanding through our programming and events. Additionally, while serving as a space for difficult conversations and much needed learning, we will look to partner with organizations and causes that are leading the efforts to combat racism and inequality. We will also focus on ensuring our vendors, team, and leadership are as diverse as the society we work and live in. The foundation of our mission is to be a "highly diverse community," and we must ensure that our actions are reflective of our words.

Virtual Spring Garden Party

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The evening of Wednesday, May 20, 2020, International Student House of Washington, DC (ISH-DC) welcomed guests to a Spring Garden Party unlike any before in our 85 year history. Almost 100 Resident scholars, Board members, alumni, and friends joined us virtually to celebrate the mission of the House.  We were also delighted to welcome Ambassador and Mrs. Wouters of Belgium, Ambassador and Mrs. Jaeger of Liechtenstein, Ambassador Ellertsdottir of Iceland, Minister Counselor Yang of the People’s Republic of China, and Ambassador Geir Haarde, Executive Director of Nordic and Baltic States at the world bank and Mrs. Thordardottir, among many other distinguished guests.

Top left to bottom right: ISH Executive Director Daniel Bremer-Wirtig; Pamela Tripp-Melby and ISH Board President Eric Melby; Board member Janet Blanchard and Governor Jim Blanchard; Ambassador Walter Cutler and Board member Didi Cutler; Minister Counselor Yang of the People's Republic of China; Ambassador and Mrs. Wouters of Belgium; ISH Alumnus Ambassador Geir Haarde and Mrs. Thordadottir; and Ambassador and Mrs. Jaeger of Liechtenstein.

The virtual reception opened with remarks by Eric Melby, President of our Board of Directors, who then introduced Daniel Bremer-Wirtig, the House’s Executive Director who began his appointment this past March.  One of our most illustrious alumni, Geir H. Haarde, Executive Director of Nordic and Baltic States at the World Bank, former Prime Minister of Iceland, and form Ambassador of Iceland to the United States, shared delightful remarks about his time at the House as a student while studying at Johns Hopkins University.

Resident Scholar Varsha Thebo from Pakistan - newly graduated with her Master’s degree from Georgetown - also graciously spoke of the significant importance the ISH community has had on her life these past few months.

Sun Han, ISH Alumna from China
Joshua Hellinger, ISH Alumnus from Germany
Jorrit Becking, ISH Resident Scholar from the Netherlands

While we could not host our guests in our garden as we have done for many years, we utilized the opportunity to ensure the celebration was truly special by showcasing talented alumni and residents around the world.  Alumna Sun Han, currently home in China while completing her PhD in International Economics at American University, played beautiful pieces on the piano, while alumnus Joshua Hellinger, who stayed at ISH in 2019 while studying International Politics at George Washington University, shared his favorite piece on the violin from his home in Germany.  The evening ended with a final piece from Jorrit Becking, a resident scholar from the Netherlands who played from our Great Hall.

If you missed the evening or simply would like to re-live the night, you can do so by enjoying the video below. The password to view is:  ISHGardenParty2020!

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate our mission in this special way, and we look forward to once again welcoming you to our Garden in the future!

Virtual Conversation with His Excellency Ashok Mirpuri, Ambassador of Singapore to the United States

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The afternoon of Wednesday, April 8, International Student House of Washington, DC (ISH-DC) welcomed His Excellency Ashok Mirpuri, Ambassador of Singapore to the United States, to join us for our first virtual program, an off-the-record conversation on Singapore-United States relations, geopolitics, and opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region. Ambassador Mirpuri also spoke about Singapore’s efforts to manage COVID-19 and how the country is working with international partners, including the United States, to limit the global spread of the virus. While we very much look forward to the day when we can once again gather in our Great Hall as we had originally intended, we were grateful for Ambassador Mirpuri’s willingness to participate in our Ambassadorial Dialogue Series as we adapted to an online platform. The discussion was exceptionally well received with a number of resident scholars, Board members, and friends of the House participating in the dialogue. We were also pleased to have members of the Association of Women in International Trade (WIIT) join the program. An unexpected benefit of holding the conversation virtually was the ability to welcome ISH-DC alumni from around the world. Former resident scholars joined us from Argentina, Austria, England, France, Germany, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland. Our alumni where able to join the conversation from afar and asked a number of questions during the discussion. Thank you to the Embassy of Singapore and Ambassador Mirpuri for such an excellent opportunity, and to all our guests for joining us for what we plan to be the first of many such programs before we can once again convene together in our historic house in Dupont.

International Student House Welcomes New Executive Director, Daniel Bremer-Wirtig

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The International Student House of Washington, DC (ISH-DC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Bremer-Wirtig as its new Executive Director.  While the timing is truly something we could have never anticipated, Mr. Bremer-Wirtig’s term started on March 16, 2020 and he has proven to be a dynamic, decisive leader as we navigate these unprecedented times. Before joining ISH-DC, Mr. Bremer-Wirtig was Director for External Affairs at Global Ties U.S., an international non-profit organization based in Washington, DC that promotes citizen diplomacy through international exchange.  Citing Daniel’s extensive experience in promoting cross-cultural and global understanding, ISH-DC Board President Eric Melby stated, “We are delighted to have an individual with Daniel’s background and proven ability leading ISH-DC.  His years of experience in internationally-focused organizations and aiding students make him uniquely qualified to lead ISH-DC into the next decade.”  In addition to his internationally-oriented work experience, Daniel received his BA in International Relations from the Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico and boasts a tricultural heritage.  He is fluent in English, Spanish and German. “I’m honored to assume the leadership of the International Student House of DC – I look forward to working closely with the Board of Directors and staff to move the organization and mission forward, while celebrating the House’s legacy and history advancing global citizenship” said Mr. Bremer-Wirtig, the incoming Executive Director. Since its founding in Washington, DC eighty-five years ago, ISH-DC has provided a diverse and highly motivated group of young scholars and professionals with an exceptional residential experience, preparing them to become dynamic global citizens and leaders.  Residents enjoy numerous substantive and cultural events, as the House regularly hosts business, diplomatic and government leaders who engage with them on a broad range of public policy issues.  Cultural evenings showcasing various countries and concert recitals are also a fixture in the Great Hall. Characterized by one former resident as “the world under one roof, “ over 15,500 graduate students, interns and scholars from the US and 140 countries have passed through its doors, living and dining together, making lasting friendships with other young people from throughout the world in a safe, supportive environment.  Board member and alumna Annette Aburdene shared that she is, “looking forward to Mr. Daniel Bremer-Wirtig continuing and enhancing our mission to foster global understanding one student at a time.” Support the International Student House of DC Investments in our mission are critical to ensure that residents receive an exceptional experience while living in the U.S. Please consider making a donation (https://www.ishdc.org/donate/) today to help us foster cross-cultural dialogue, promote global citizenship, and building lasting connections. For additional information contact:  Jill Holcomb, Director of Development at 202.232.2007 ext. 204, or by email at [email protected]

International Student House of Washington, DC | 1825 R Street, NW | Washington, DC 20009

International Student House of Washington, DC (ISH-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.