I recently had an opportunity to speak with a prospective ISH-DC resident who was weighing the options of seeking a graduate degree program here in Washington, DC as opposed to a university in another city in the US. I told him “if you want to stay in just another city, go ahead, but if you want to have an amazing experience in one of the most important cities of the world, come to school in Washington and stay with us at ISH-DC.”

My perspective was recently reinforced when a group of ISH-DC residents received a very special invitation to attend an event honoring Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel at Fort Myer, the US Army base adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery. Secretary Hagel’s wife, Lilibet, is a member of ISH-DC’s Board of Directors and has helped plan several visits for residents to the Pentagon and the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial.

When the invitation was issued, we were told by a member of Secretary Hagel’s staff that we were in for a treat, which I’m pleased to report, was incredibly true.

The ISH-DC delegation, which included residents from nearly 20 countries, was seated aside the section reserved for high-level US Government officials and senior members of the US military, as well as members of the Hagel family and their longtime friends. The tribute parade featured music by the US Marine Band, commonly known as the “President’s Own,” and the US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, which regularly performs at the White House for the welcoming ceremonies for foreign heads of state. The parade included honor guards representing all of the services of the US military. The participation of President Obama and Vice President Biden in the ceremony reinforced how truly fortunate the ISH-DC residents were to be included in such a remarkable event.

Official links to the event:

ISH Resident Scholars were on a mission in the National Mall during the @ISHwashingtondc #NationalMall Scavenger Hunt!  Each team raced to various museums, monuments and historic landmarks while taking photos and tweeting them to the ISHDC Twitter handle, @ISHwashingtondc.

A special congratulations to “Team One”. They were the team who collected the most points to win! To see all of the photos from this afternoon’s adventure, click here.

 

Click here to listen about ISH from Cynthia Bunton, Board of Directors and current ISH Resident Scholars!

Residents of the International Student House (ISH) have many opportunities to explore Washington, DC’s historic houses. On Sunday, August 10, the President Woodrow Wilson House, a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, officially received a group of ISH residents. There, the residents learned about Woodrow Wilson’s personal life, as well as his presidential legacy. As resident Satoko Shimada put it, “The guide of the Woodrow Wilson House tour was very nice, and the tour was very informative. Moreover, the House was very beautiful. The guide answered our every question, from Wilson’s political achievements to his private life. Participating in this tour, we learned about his great contribution to world peace.”

Declaveillère Florence, an ISH resident from France who is completing an internship at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, arranged the visit. Her thoughts on the house were quite positive: “I really appreciated the visit with Barbara Slavin (an ISH board member). She took the time for our international group to explain the context of the house in American history and gave us multiple details about how the Wilson couple used to live in this house. My favorite rooms were the library for its special atmosphere with all the international objects gifted to the ex-president and the winter garden for his light and opened view to the garden.”

For interested residents who want to see this historical gem, there will be a vintage game night and happy hour at the President Woodrow Wilson House on Wednesday, October 1, 2014 from 5:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Please visit their website for details and to purchase tickets.