I returned from the winter holidays to the International Student House, and found new residents at the breakfast table. The House is a transitory space where old residents return and new ones come in and out. I have met so many new people in the past three weeks from: Italy, Peru, Japan, Sweden, Spain, Germany, France and even the U.S. But I also said goodbye to a good friend from Finland who stayed for over 6 months. The great news is that I now have so many more couches to sleep on when I travel around the world.

I find it fascinating how much foreigners know about the domestic politics of our country, and how up to date they are about world news and American foreign policy. This past week I watched the State of the Union Address in the living room of ISH, and the residents’ comments surprised me. Someone from Sweden talked about the Secretary of Education, DeVos, by name and another mentioned the latest government shutdown and how Senate Majority Leader McConnell and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan had to push through the temporary bill to fund the U.S. government for a few more weeks. Someone from Italy talked about our DACA program for illegal immigrants, and someone from Spain pointed out the difficulties that the State Department has faced with the hiring freeze. I know that the United States is an important country in the world, but I was still impressed by the level of detail these international students knew about U.S. policies.   We passed around chips, chocolate chip cookies, and even pretzel sticks during the debate while listening to everyone’s reactions. I learned about new views from other countries I hadn’t even considered. It was a great experience.

       

Residents watching the State of the Union Address at ISH

This month, I became a new Peer Orientation Assistant (POA) for ISH and have been paired with five new residents. As a POA, I give tours of the house to new residents, answer any questions they might have about the House or D.C. in general, and even grab a meal with them to learn more about their background and what they are doing in D.C. It felt nice to be the house expert and point of contact for these new residents, and it reminded of how I was in the first weeks.  I was excited to practice some of my French and German skills with some of the new residents, and even brush up on some Spanish words from Spain (I am from Colombia). I have also continued my front desk shifts, and checked in a new resident for the first time.

I went to the Inter-American Development Bank for the first time in January to visit a lead specialist on block-chain technology projects in Latin America. The specialist had given a talk at Georgetown University last semester, and I followed up with him afterwards to learn more about this new technology. The Bank is located in the center of D.C. and I was blown away by how beautiful the lobby is. After my visit I went home to ISH for dinner, and as I told a new resident about my experience she mentioned that she was currently interning at the Bank. We ended up talking for over twenty minutes about how the Bank operates and the cool projects they have lined up. There is never a dull moment at ISH!

Several changes have come with the new year at ISH. Many residents moved out in December after completing semester study abroad programs or internships. While familiar faces remain, there are a lot of new additions to the ISH community. As introductory questions and conversation start up again between new and old residents interesting discoveries are made. For some who recently moved in this isn’t their first time living at ISH DC others have lived at international student houses in other cities around the world.

One of the first questions I tend to ask after the preliminary name, nationality and reason for being in DC is whether or not this is the first time someone has been to the United States. Responses range from people having completed their undergraduate in the U.S. to participating in an English immersion exchange program during high school to being first-timers.

In addition to getting to know the new residents, January has been a month of many opportunities to share U.S. political culture. For example, one of our Sunday dinners was soul food themed in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day. There was also an ISH game night, which involved a variety of well known board games and card games. Several weeks later on the night of the state of the union address, several of us gathered in the TV room to watch the speech. Experiencing these historical, political moments with international company is a unique experience as an American. Talking about U.S. politics in a house with so many people interested in foreign affairs and global politics never fails to be interesting.

State of the Union watch party

One of the new residents decided to take advantage of the chatty, internationally minded nature of the ISH community by starting a new discussion group. Once a week a group of us will be meeting to discuss articles on issues of global importance. The first article is Susan Sontag’s “Regarding the Torture of Others”. The new readings series in addition to our weekly “salons” (a similar venue for talking about global affairs and culture) continue to make ISH an intellectually stimulating place to call home.

 

Today I return to ISH for what will be the fourth semester in a row. As much as this may sound like graduate school routine – it is actually quite a miracle to me. The last time I left ISH to return home, it was utterly uncertain that I would return.  As I am writing this, from a plane over the Atlantic, excitement and gratitude leave butterflies in my stomach.

Why the fuss for a student home, in which you share a room and have no more than a cupboard, bed and desk, you may ask. Well, it is such a fortune, to be able to study across the world from home. Dozens of helping hands and scholarships have brought to life formerly foolish dreams.

But in this moment, the joy is particularly centered on my specific destination: 1825 R Street is my direction for the supershuttle, once I pass customs.  “To ISH” as drivers confirm by now, will mean “to my best friends in Washington”.

Every semester at this house has held a gift box of its own: New faces became the gate to beautiful hearts and minds, awkward introductions gave way to invigorating (late) dinner talks. Some tears were shared and victories celebrated, stress was danced away and dreams serenaded on the piano.

It always began just like this: A visa, a flight, a shuttle from the airport- and ISH filling with new and old residents for another term. What will the House have in store for us this time?

Beloved friends left ISH over winter break and are dearly missed. But a few of us, who, shared the very first day at ISH, embarking on the journey of graduate school, have stayed for three semesters. We will now share the final stretch to graduation. The old crew, “running mates”, and cherished friends.

A former Housemate say goodbye at the end of the fall term.

To us, the house will be as familiar as a home, while also brand-new, with dozens of residents arriving for the first time.

Together we will once again travel the world in Sunday salon talks from politics to pop culture. The cozy Great Hall will give refuge with its patient piano, after tough days. The study room will be our shared space for academic workouts. We will visit new embassies and welcome guests from across D.C.’s society. Such rich experiences- I would not want to miss it.

Whom will I share dinner with this semester, and with whom my room? Tonight, when I arrive, will be the quiet beginning of new friendships.

Of course, with the semester well underway, the stress of grad school is already omnipresent.

But first: pure joy of coming home.

« Bonjour! » said my French friend Sixtine when I entered the Great Hall that had been transformed into a Parisian soirée. The walls of the Great Hall had signs of the different streets in Paris like the Champs Elysées, while the music of Stromae blasted in the background. The tables had different types of cheeses labeled for residents to try out and one of our residents, Atem, was serving both red and white wine to complement the cheese. When I walked into the room I realized people stuck to the French night dress code, with black and white stripped shirts, French beret hats, and the other colors of the French flag— blue, white and red. There were also French themed balloons covering the ceiling. The projector was showing some pictures of France, and the Christmas tree was nicely decorated next to the lighted chimney. ISH French residents organized the French night as both an opportunity to showcase some of their own culture, and to bid farewell to the fall semester and the residents that had to depart in mid December. Residents danced and laughed together, and I had a great time with the friends I had made over the course of four months from living here. It was a night to remember, a « petit au revoir » to my fellow housemates with whom I had created so many memories.

French Night hosted by our current French resident scholars

The first semester at ISH flew by. I remember when I first visited the house in July of 2017 while I was searching for a place to stay in D.C. The resident assistance at the front desk greeted me politely and asked if I was a new resident, but I told her I just wanted to have a tour of the place and she graciously offered to give me one. I thought the building had a Hogwarts theme, and after talking to a few people and staff I decided I wanted to live there. I moved in on August 15^th, a few days before the start of my first semester of my Masters at Georgetown University. I remember feeling excited and a bit nervous to meet the residents. I quickly realized that everyone else was on the same boat, and even met people who were also in my masters program. In the past four months I have bonded with residents through numerous late nights in the study room, over a cup of tea in the dining room, at events the house organizes, while watching the newest season of Game of Thrones in the living room, and going out to bars and restaurants with the many crazy Italians living here.

Embassy Series concert at the Czech Embassy

I enjoyed all the Sunday lunches, Saturday brunches, early breakfasts and daily dinners filled with talks about international relations, traveling tips, and foreign language practice. I liked the fact that residents were able to showcase their culture by organizing themed nights: Italian night, Mexican night, Brazilian night, French night and even Finnish night. I learned so much about the world without having to step foot outside the House. Because of ISH (as guests fo the Embassy Series), this past semester I got to go to the Czech Embassy for their public diplomacy initiative of “Uniting people through Music” starring the famous violinist Jaroslav Sveceny and pianist Vaclav Macha. I witnessed Joe Biden, the 47th Vice President of the United States, receive the Global Leadership Award in the ISH garden while volunteering for the event. I represented the Argentine Finance Minister at the Model G20 Summit hosted at American University with the rest of the ISH Argentina team. I learned about different types of whiskey because one of our residents, Alex Beck, organized a whiskey tasting event at the House.

Whiskey tasting hosted by resident scholar (and whiskey enthusiast) Alex Beck

ISH team representing Argentina at the Model G20 Summit at American University

At every Sunday lunch, one of the residents stands up and asks if there are any new residents present or any residents that are leaving that week. I can’t help but feeling a bit nostalgic whenever I see some great friends depart, but I know that in the future I can go visit them wherever they might be. I joined the front desk resident assistant team in November, and I sense its come full circle since that sunny afternoon in July of 2017 when I walked in through the front doors of the House. Since then, I have made so many new friendships, traveled with ISH residents to New York City, and even played Ping-Pong in the game room for study breaks. I am looking forward to the New Year and new semester at ISH. Who knows what great events and new adventures await?

Working at the front desk

Holiday trip to New York City with fellow ISH resident scholars

One of the benefits of being an ISH resident is the opportunities to attend cultural events, including concerts, musicals and art shows, thanks to the connections of our ISH community. 

Picture taken at concert “In the Land of Northern Lights”

In November, ISH offered tickets to several amazing concerts at The Choral Arts Society of Washington, as well as a concert at the Mexico Cultural Institute just up the street from the House, thanks to the Embassy Series. I was lucky to attend the concert “In the Land of Northern Lights”  together with other ISH residents. Soon the magic began as Artistic Director Scott Tucker and the Choral Arts Chamber Singers took us for a musical tour of Finland, Norway, and Sweden. This a cappella concert featured Finnish folksongs as well as music by Sibelius, Rautavaara, Gjeilo, Sandström, and more. For most of us, it was a first to attend a choral concert and we were amazed by the stunning team collaboration and top-notched choral skills.  

Picture taken at Embassy Series, Mexico Cultural Institute

Another unforgettable art experience was the Embassy Series concert “Paisajes Sonoros” at the Mexican Cultural Institute. The Embassy Series is a wonderful member of our ISH community.  The concert was held at Mexican Cultural Institute, the former residence of the Ambassador of Mexico to the United States, with beautiful murals and decorations. We had a chance to meet with a famous Mexican artist and enjoyed a musical interpretation of the Mexican sceneries throughout time and space. The artist used western musical instruments to present Mexico traditional music, such as the music used for prehispanic rituals, the music from the Mexican rural area, and the warmth of the Mexican people.

As I used to live and study Anthropology in Mexico, I was able to connect with the music and the story behind it and I was very impressed by the idea of combining prehispanic culture with western music. There was a reception after the performance, and I had a chance to talk one-on-one with the musician, where my Spanish came in hand, which helped quickly establish a base for conversation. Throughout the conversation, I learned more about the story behind the music, what message the music tried to convey. At that moment, I felt the power of music that transcends borders and countries and cultural barriers, just like our home at International Student house here in DC.