ISH-DC resident scholars, alumni, members of the Board of Directors, and staff were welcomed to the Portuguese Ambassador’s residence by His Excellency Domingos Fezas Vital and Mrs. Isabel Vital on Tuesday morning, November 12.  The group was warmly greeted with coffee and a beautiful selection of Portuguese specialty treats, during which time our students had the opportunity to meet the Ambassador and Mrs. Vital.

The group transitioned from the coffee reception to a seated discussion.  During his presentation, the Ambassador discussed the background of Portuguese-American relations, Portuguese foreign affairs, and fascinating attributes unique to the country.  Ambassador Vital also spoke about his career in Foreign Service. He was gracious with his time, thoughtfully answering every question from our resident scholars and Board members, of which there were many.

Following the discussion, our students were invited for an after-reception of coffee and conversation before the dispersing to their various classes, internships, and studying.  We are exceptionally grateful to Ambassador and Mrs. Vital for opening their home to International Student House, as well as their continued friendship and support of our community of graduate students from around the world.

On Tuesday, November 12, at the Embassy of France, International Student House of Washington, DC (ISH-DC) joined over 40 embassy representatives and 25 educational institutions for the first Global Education Conference (GEC) hosted by The Washington Diplomat, an independent monthly newspaper that has served the diplomatic community in Washington for more than 20 years.

ISH-DC values its strong relationships with embassies in Washington, which enables it to provide residents with the opportunity to engage with diplomats from their respective countries. Our goal aligns well with the GEC purpose of providing opportunities for embassies, educational institutions, and other organizations supporting international students to come together, network, and learn from an impressive lineup of speakers on the latest trends in studying abroad.

Remarks by Caroline Casagrande, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Academic Programs in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational Affairs, revealed that the number of international students in the U.S. are at all-time highs. Other speakers provided insights to visa issues, trends in education, immigrant success stories, leadership, women and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), global outreach, and the embassy perspective.

With ample time for networking, ISH-DC’s exhibitor booth attracted a significant number of intrigued participants. We had the pleasure of hosting Minister Counselor Xinyu Yang of Educational Affairs from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China at our table, along with other embassy officials, including representatives from the Embassy of Portugal and the Embassy of Rwanda – both whom have had embassy interns reside at ISH-DC.

The conference also attracted participants interested in continuing their educations in international studies. A number of potential ISH-DC resident scholars visited to learn about residential opportunities. Coincidentally, one conference attendee representing the State Department stopped by and introduced herself as an ISH-DC alumna. She even pointed herself out in the ISH publication An Unforgettable Experience in International Living by former Executive Director, Paul Feys.

As global issues become more complex, the case for supporting international educational exchanges continues to grow. Events like this bring together organizations and leverage our collective strength in supporting student’s cultural understanding, leadership skills, and personal growth. ISH-DC was pleased to participate in the conference and would like to thank The Washington Diplomat for bringing together embassies, educational institutions, and other organizations supporting international students for a day of learning and networking.  

With ample time for networking, ISH-DC’s exhibitor booth attracted a significant number of intrigued participants. We had the pleasure of hosting Minister Counselor Xinyu Yang of Educational Affairs from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China at our table, along with other embassy officials, including representatives from the Embassy of Portugal and the Embassy of Rwanda – both whom have had embassy interns reside at ISH-DC.

The conference also attracted participants interested in continuing their educations in international studies. A number of potential ISH-DC resident scholars visited to learn about residential opportunities. Coincidentally, one conference attendee representing the State Department stopped by and introduced herself as an ISH-DC alumna. She even pointed herself out in the ISH publication An Unforgettable Experience in International Living by former Executive Director, Paul Feys.

As global issues become more complex, the case for supporting international educational exchanges continues to grow. Events like this bring together organizations and leverage our collective strength in supporting student’s cultural understanding, leadership skills, and personal growth. ISH-DC was pleased to participate in the conference and would like to thank The Washington Diplomat for bringing together embassies, educational institutions, and other organizations supporting international students for a day of learning and networking.

On the evening of May 30, the Board of Directors of International Student House of Washington, DC (ISH-DC) welcomed guests to our annual Spring Garden Party.  Despite the rainy afternoon, the House was filled with friends who joined us to celebrate the season and our mission of providing an exceptional residential experience for a highly diverse international community of graduate students and interns while here in Washington.

The Garden Party was once again a wonderful evening with our International Student House community as resident scholars from almost 40 countries had the opportunity to mingle with our many guests, including members of the diplomatic corps and prominent Washingtonians. This year the occasion coincided with a number of university graduations, giving our resident scholars who completed their studies another opportunity to celebrate their achievements.

We also welcomed back a number of ISH-DC alumni, all having gone on to exciting careers, and who are active in supporting our current residents in their professional pursuits.  We are delighted to have such a strong alumni presence join us every year at our Garden Party.

We remain grateful to our many advocates who help ensure our community is strong and vibrant, as well as a safe home for students from around the world to rely on for years to come.