The ISH garden looks best in the summertime. This has been my last summer here at International Student House.  After my stay for more than two years, the day has come to say goodbye to this beautiful place. I have thought about it many times and I wondered what made ISH such a happy place? What aspects of ISH can I take with me to recreate the same happiness?

I decided to interview fellow residents (mostly long timers) to find out what made ISH so special for them.

Here are some of my favorites:

“ISH gives you the option to stay alone if you chose to and slide into any group whenever you want to. This fluidity clearly is unique, because the outside world is either solitary or communal.”

“There is a greater level of tolerance within the ISH community. Due to the model of prolonged stay (at least a month), we tend to forgive and forget quickly.”

“A legacy of kindness exists. When you come here new, someone more experienced would assist you. Then you are reminded of the same thing when someone new arrives and[you] help out the new resident. This becomes a chain of kindness passed over from semester to semester.”

 

I also feel a very important aspect of ISH living is to focus more on our similarities than our differences.  After several discussions, it became clear that even among different opinions, the core beliefs of community, love and family stay the same.

In a hugely diverse community like ISH, the topic of race comes up occasionally. I remember this conversation about racism once. We unanimously agreed that anytime anyone assumes supremacy based on something that the person was born with (color, financial status, parental status, etc.) it falls close to the category of racism. I find that in ISH, over a period of time, we are taught to overlook these differences and begin to connect to the human identity.

Usually, over the stay, your original identity of nationality soon becomes something cool you are known for. For example, if someone was ‘Fernando from Ecuador’ at the beginning of the stay, towards the end, he would be ‘Fernando who loves ketchup’, or Chris becomes ‘Chris who has a particular affection for minions’. You become known as ‘Jakub the amazing violinist’, or an articulate writer, an intriguing storyteller, the resident mother, the improvisational comedian or a scientist. You will be known for what you are instead of where you are from or what you do. Isn’t it a Utopian concept for a perfect world; where your color or nationality or your gender is not your first point of identification? This is what ISH teaches you, apart from the many other lessons you receive. To see another person for what he/she is.

As one of my favorite fellow residents, (who is an idealist like many of us here) mentioned a few days ago, “After staying in ISH for such a long time, it feels like we have graduated from a very prestigious university and now it is our responsibility to take what we have learned here and use it for the betterment of the outside world.”

Of the millions of students around the world, I was one among the many to experience this privilege. I am very thankful to ISH which also encompasses  our  ever enthusiastic Board Members, Executive Director Tom O Coin, our Resident Managers Bob and Jen; Jill, David, Katie and all other equally important staff members who work together to ensure that the brand of ISH stays.

Goodbye ISH and good luck to all the current and future residents. ISH will change your life, if you let it.

This Saturday the best thing to do in DC was to stay indoors. The rain was pouring down and while the dreary feeling embraced the city, a warm and cozy feeling filled the indoors. It was time to make the most of this weather and ISH was the perfect setting. In a rainy day like that, we all (about fifty of us) gathered together under one roof – literally. It was time for talent night in ISH.

The night began with an exhibition of one of the resident’s paintings, with classical music as a backdrop. After this visual treat, music was next on the menu.

An American resident had the whole crowd burst into laughter when he started singing, “If you are looking for trouble, you came to the right place”. We sipped our wine as the rain fell and classy American Rock n Roll and Jazz filled the great hall.

 

After the painting and music, it was time to see some moves with traditional dance forms, which included elements of storytelling. Before the dance form began, a short explanation with valuable knowledge about the culture and history of East Timor was presented to the community. It was inspiring to hear about a nation’s struggle for freedom against many odds and its victory in 2002. The dance form represented the East Timori community’s struggles and showed us how men and women worked together as a strong team to achieve their common goal of independence and freedom.

Performances went on to include dancing and singing. Chants of “Aloha” echoed in the hall with a contagious cheer.

Rain outside, fireflies glowing amidst the raindrops of ISH garden, the art induced feel of community and togetherness inside – the visually enthralling evening was completed with delicious food and tasty wine. What could make it better?

Art, community, food and wine – life is good at ISH.

Living within an international community here at ISH-DC, the New Year is celebrated at different times of the year. At ISH-DC, we have had a New Year celebration every month, including both Chinese and Persian New Year celebrations!

 

  

Chinese New Year (Xin’Nian)

Chinese New Year’s is one of the most important festivals in traditional and modern China. The ceremony focuses around families getting together by giving gifts such as hongbao or eating delicious mooncakes. Since we are a family of international cultures here at ISH-DC, we didn’t want our five Chinese residents to feel left out of this amazing celebration. Our event consisted of many activities relating to Chinese culture including origami, Chinese calligraphy, and the “chopstick challenge” – a game of dexterous proficiency where we used chopsticks to pick up M&Ms. The one who picked up the most M&Ms would win the game.

We also had a massive projector in the Great Hall playing Chinese music and shows while female residents were dressed in their traditional attire. The Chinese residents who hosted the party actually managed to make us feel like we were all in China.

 

Persian New Year (Nowruz)

 

Just when we thought that the New Year had come to a close, we had another New Year celebration by the end of March.  This time it was the Persian New Year (Nowruz). One of our Iranian residents cheerfully planned the Persian New Year in the house. As the Persian’s New Year’s celebration grew closer, the residents walked into the lobby to find a beautifully decorated table with unique decorations including aromatic hyacinth, beautiful fragrant flowers, fruits, coins and best of all, a fish bowl with five goldfish! The centerpiece of the Nowruz celebration is the half sin table.  It includes at least seven of the items listed that refer to new life and renewal.  Although the custom has regional variations, in Iran each of the seven items begins with the “s” in Persian.  Obviously, it aroused curiosity among the residents. There was a flier next to it explaining the significance of each of these objects. Most of these signified beauty, love, sweetness and wealth.

We also had delicious Persian sweets. The highpoint of the Persian celebration was the amazing Persian food prepared by the house chefs. We had kebabs for dinner and it was delicious. The dining hall was authentically decorated to capture the most of Persian ambiance to ISH-DC community.  Both events highlighted the true essence of ISH-DC – the strong sense of Global Citizenship!