Chinatown – One of DC’s Best Neighborhoods

In an effort to become more familiar with some of the neighborhoods in DC that are outside the Dupont Circle neighborhood, a small group of fellow International Student House residents, including myself, decided to check out Chinatown.  

On this visit we decided to visit Tony Cheng’s which serves both Mongolian and Chinese food, and our dining experience was incredible! I would definitely recommend checking this place out if you are ever in the Chinatown neighborhood!

Following dinner, we went to Chinatown’s friendship archway, which are traditionally referred to as paifangs. The friendship archway in Chinatown in Washington, DC is the largest ceremonial archway that is outside of China. While our visit may have been limited due to restrictions in place as a result of the pandemic, I am very excited to go back to once the pandemic is over so that I can truly take part in all this area has to offer!

A Trip to the International Spy Museum!

A few days later, we decided to take a trip to one of the most talked about museums in DC, the International Spy Museum! Not long before the pandemic, a group of resident scholars got to join a special behind-the-scenes tour, and while I couldn’t join then, I was excited to visit recently.

This place houses an impressive collection of cool gadgets and gear used by spies throughout the world. One of the most unique weapons in this museum had to be a tube of lipstick that was disguised as a handgun. Known as the “kiss of death” this weapon was used by KGB operatives during the Cold War and is a 4.5 mm single-shot firearm.

Another interesting item was the pigeon camera. Prior to the invention of hot air balloons, satellites and drones, spies would attach cameras to pigeons and then have these pigeons fly over military sites taking photographs of enemy equipment.  While the unique gadgets that are in this museum are definitely cool, my favorite exhibit had to be James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5. The car was absolutely stunning and looked as if it rolled right off the movie set!

A final artifact in this museum that you should definitely check out is George Washington’s letter to Nathaniel Sackett where he asks Sackett to create a spy network that would spy on the British. 

Overall, this museum was one of the best that I have visited, and I would highly recommend checking it out if you are ever in the DC area! I can’t wait to share more of what I am up to in the coming months; until then, be well!

This is the story of how International Student House became International Student Home for me. It all started on a sunny July morning, one of those mornings your life changes greatly and you are so happy to wake up, like your wedding day or your graduation. For me, I was going to Turkey after a long time, to attend my best friend's wedding as maid of honor for a week, just to return back to the U.S. to start my new job in California. Everything in my life was going according to the great plan in my head; graduate, have a little vacation with my family and start my professional life in the U.S. I had no idea that in a few hours my life would turn upside down.

Gizem with fellow housemates celebrating her birthday, and Gizem with housemates at our annual Garden Party (2015)

We agreed that I should talk with Jen, the Resident Manager.  I believed my home for the last two years would not leave me alone in my darkest hour. So I dialed Jen and explained the situation. I could not even talk straight from crying at that point. She talked to me calmly and like the pro-problem solver that she always is. She said 'Get your luggage, come back home. You can stay as long as you need in this emergency'.

Without having a country to land at that moment, at least I was not homeless. A tiny bit of hope knowing that my parents were also safe in a smaller city, I grabbed my luggage and headed back downtown, which I had just arrived from with a big smile on my face and filled with hope only a couple of hours ago. Arriving back at International Student House, everyone welcomed me at the door, helped me resettle and gave me much needed emotional support. I was so grateful and love all of them.

Turkey did not have a coup that night. Lots of people died but soldiers who attempted to take over the government failed and the government restored the order a week later. Life turned back to normal at a shocking speed and I left the House a week later, as well, to visit. It was maybe still dangerous, but I needed to see and be with my family. The wedding was postponed to the next week and I could not go back to California for that new job, so I missed that opportunity, however, a better one came just a week later and I got a great offer from a Wall Street Capital Market firm in NYC and I moved to the International House in New York two weeks later.

Rempee (myself) on a lawn of flowers

Samuel in a Japanese Garden

At ISH, there’s residents studying or working all day, all night, and all morning (we love books!). This is a usual sign that the Fall semester is in session. Today, you will find us reading, writing, attending class/meetings virtually throughout all hours of the day. A new normal in 2020 comes with new ways to study, new snacks/foods to try and various social distanced events that help us get through the semester strong (and happy!). DC’s weather is, of course, in unpredictable ways, but we love it because it gives us humans a chance to go outside to participate in some outdoor activities that are admirable. Samuel and I were lucky to enjoy some fresh air above as we headed to the Hillwood Estate (for my birthday) and appreciated the woodlands in Forest Hills. Only greens and flowers surrounded by the sound of nature, how refreshing!

On my way to pick up a laptop, during the lonely metro hour

Don’t get me wrong, October can get a little spooky, boo! Above, I traveled through the metro for a special laptop pick up and was pleased to see everything in covid-19 regulations. As you can see, no one was traveling that rainy day but me (smart choice world!), but I managed to pick up my item without attracting any ghosts on my way back. So, what’s the real autumn goal here? For starters, it must be pumpkin carving! In the U.S., this is one of the trendiest traditions where you choose the best pumpkin of your eye and carve a design into it. It was a unique first time for some residents, but fun without a doubt because we helped each other clean the hefty pumpkins. We were a little competitive with the happiest pumpkin face, but I think we all won here! 

Residents participate in Pumpkin Carving

Abdul and Francoise

(Note: All residents go through a two week quarantine period prior to shifting to the main building and participating in any small group activities that take place outdoors)

Hmm, is it hot? Cold? Is the heat on, yet? 😛 We continue to enjoy different cultures within the house as the weather is changing. Sometimes it's sunny, sometimes raining, but that doesn’t stop us from enjoying festivities, am I right? The Mid-Autumn Festival is something we observed at the house with our delighted resident, Tiger. Tiger took us through the importance of the festival while we enjoyed mooncakes and hot tea. Fun fact: A moon cake is essential for the Mid-Autumn Festival! (Thank you, Education Office of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the USA!) It was the yummiest part.

Tiger sharing knowledge, tea, and mooncakes with residents.

Colors are changing and better days are coming. There’s nothing more exciting than the holidays. While activities will be different from the past, I think we can conclude that we’re ready to try new things and give new traditions a chance? It can’t hurt! Below, Matthew, I, and some residents attended an outdoor game of croquet. It was new to me, different from the ordinary, but boy was it fun!! For myself, I feel like we are living in different years at times, but then I spend time with my fellow residents and I am reminded that the good times are just beginning to roll in! 

Matthew at The President Woodrow Wilson House

Embassy Row during Golden Hour

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