International Student House of Washington, DC was thrilled to once again open our doors and welcome friends of the House - alumni, board members, supporters, and special guests - to join us for our Garden Gatherings, our first of this scale since March 2020. Thanks to the generous support of Board Member Janet Blanchard and Governor Jim Blanchard who hosted the nights, we were delighted to hold the evenings in person, and, even moreso, pleased that our greater community here in Washington could meet our incredible resident scholars, many of whom have been with us throughout this extraordinary year.

Left to right: (photo #1) Daniel Bremer-Wirtig, Executive Director; Lisa Barry, Board of Directors; Garden Gathering Hosts Janet Blanchard, Board of Directors, and Governor Jim Blanchard; (photo #2) Resident Scholars greeting guests.

As we welcomed our guests back to the House, we hosted two gatherings, the evenings of Monday, June 28 and Tuesday, June 29. Resident scholars from Canada, Zambia, Egypt, and the United States shared remarks during the gatherings alongside International Student House leadership. 

Left to right: (photo #1) Linda Harper, Board of Directors; Annette Aburdene, Board of Directors; McGrath Jean Thomas, Board Associate; (photo #2) Scott Fleming, Board of Directors; Sarah Hugner and Hanna Almoaswes, Resident Scholars; (photo #3) Paul Wonnacott; Garden Gathering Host Governor Jim Blanchard; Selby McPhee, Board Associate; Roemer McPhee; Donna Wonnacott.

Muhammad Ezzat, a resident scholar from Egypt and recent graduate from Georgetown University, shared with us his experiences as an international student and the importance of finding community among his fellow residents from around the world. Katherine Kemp shared that she is a ‘second generation’ resident of the House. As the daughter of diplomats, her childhood was full of travel and movement through different countries. Her unique experiences growing up around the world meant the House is where she feels most at home, once again in a multicultural community among international residents.  Katherine also detailed the cultural exchanges that are commonplace among her and her housemates and how this signifies that one of the greater missions of the House, cultural exchange, is alive and well, even in the most casual moments.

(photo #1) Akram Elias; His Excellency Domingos Fezas Vital, Ambassador of Portugal; Isabel Fezas Vital; Tonija Hope Navas, Board of Directors; His Excellency Geir Haarde, Alumnus, former Prime Minister of Iceland and former Ambassador of Iceland; (photo #2) Katherine Kemp, Resident Scholar; His Excellency Geir Haarde; Johannes Dopsch, Counselor, Embassy of Austria; Angela Lintner, Resident Scholar; Jorrit Becking, Resident Scholar.

Daniel Bremer-Wirtig, Executive Director, also expressed his thanks for the incredible support our guests have shown us over the years, and particularly this past year that has challenged international exchange beyond our expectations. Daniel shared his confidence that the House’s mission will continue on for decades to come, especially with our donor and alumni support. Eric Melby, President of our Board of Directors, closed the program by emphasizing the incredible role of our Board of Directors, whose dedication and significant support is unparalleled.

Left to right: (phot0 #1) Ambassador Michele Bond, Board of Directors; Resident Scholars; Garden Gathering Host Janet Blanchard, Board of Directors; (photo #2) Alexandra de Borchgrave; Didi Cutler, Board of Directors; Kevin Chaffee; Lisa Barry, Board of Directors; Lynda Webster; Janet Pitt; (photo #3) Garden Gathering Host Governor Jim Blanchard; Ambassador Walter Cutler; Akram Elias; Mrs. Elias; Ambassador Kenton Keith; Jan Du Plain.

On Tuesday evening, we were honored to welcome His Excellency Geir H. Haarde, International Student House alumnus, as well as former Prime Minister of Iceland, former Ambassador of Iceland to the United States, and recently retired as Executive Director of Nordic and Baltic States at the World Bank. He shared the story of his own involvement with the House, and expressed how it was an incredibly formative experience for him. He has kept in touch with the House for years because he knows first hand how beneficial it can be for the future of young students and interns.

Left to right: (photo #1) His Excellency Domingos Fezas Vital, Ambassador of Portugal; Isabel Fezas Vital; Nina Pillsbury; Ambassador Esther Coopersmith; (photo #3) His Excellency Ashok Mirpuri, Ambassador of Singapore; Daniel Bremer-Wirtig, Executive Director; Melike Yetken Krilla.

After enjoying the wonderful remarks, guests mingled throughout the evening. Our resident scholars took advantage of the amazing opportunity to network and meet our many incredible friends, including alumni with whom residents could mutually reflect on their shared connection to the building itself. Meanwhile, donors, board members, and visitors got a taste of what the House is like through the eyes of our resident scholars and left with a renewed appreciation and understanding of the House and our incredible mission. 

Thank you to everyone who attended and made the House feel so alive and vibrant. We cannot wait to have you back with us soon!

You can find more photos from the gatherings here.

I was named Executive Director of the International Student House of Washington, DC on March 16th of 2020, just days after COVID-19 was declared a National Emergency in the United States.  While our response to the global pandemic has predominated my tenure at the helm of the House, it has not defined our vision and plans for the future.  Quite the contrary - it has reinforced our resolve to deliver on our mission to foster inter-cultural exchange, life-long connections and global citizenship at a time when the world needs it the most. And our most important, consistent and reliable source of support throughout the pandemic has been our community - you.  Thank you.  I humbly hope you will continue to support our mission by donating here.

My journey to the International Student House actually started over six decades ago and came about because of international exchange. My father, born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, ventured across the Atlantic on a ship in the 60’s to Germany.  My mother, who grew up in Würzburg, West Germany, volunteered at the International Working Group (Internationaler Arbeitskreis – IAK), an organization dedicated to fostering understanding through education and exchange, not unlike the International Student House.  Both in their early twenties, little did they know they were bound to be transformed by international exchange.  This was only the beginning of my long history with international exchange, even before I knew it was “a thing.”

At home in Mexico, our family spoke German and Spanish, later adding English, when we moved north from Mexico City to Monterrey (not the one in California).  And, our home was always open and ready to host -family, friends of family, friends of friends- from all over the world.  I have some of the fondest memories of my childhood learning about the world, other cultures and hearing other languages over a shared meal.

International exchange, in its more “traditional" definition, also had a tremendous impact on my life, specifically in my education and career.  To connect more deeply with my German roots/heritage and strengthen my German-language skills, I took gap year working for an IT firm in Germany.  I could write volumes of the things I learned about the world and myself, the sights I took in, the friendships I made and unforgettable experiences I had.

After living and working near Frankfurt for a year, I returned to Monterrey, Mexico, where I started my degree in International Relations.  Half-way through college, I secured a summer internship at the Embassy of Mexico in Washington, DC.  Fascinated and amazed by DC’s cultural, political and social life, I turned the summer internship into another "gap year” experience to work on U.S.-Mexico education, training and exchange initiatives.  Ultimately, I returned to Mexico after a year in DC to conclude my university studies.  And, as soon as I walked off the stage after graduation, I was on a plane back to DC, where I started a family and spent most of my career working on and around education and international exchange. 

International exchange has made me who I am today, personally and professionally (also, quite literally had my parents not met!).  It has been ever present in my life, at home, in my education, in my career, and now, in my own family. This is why the International Student House is so much more than “a job” for me - the House is a space where international exchange happens, where relationships are made, where lives are transformed and where future young leaders are shaped.  International exchange did this to my parents.  And, it did so to me, too.

However, I’m not writing this to share my story.  This is really just one story of the life-changing experience international exchanges provide.  Just look at the roster of our alumni.  Over the past 85 years, the more than 15,000 alumni of the International Student House have become Prime Ministers (past and present), found the loves of their life, have become successful diplomats, government officials, and private and nonprofit sector leaders, and even celebrated their graduations in the most unlikely of times - see Resident Scholar Varsha Thebo's photograph featured in Buzzfeed News, “56 Most Powerful Photos of 2020”. The House is here for them.  It is their home.  We become their community, their family even.  And, your support will help us keep it that way for many more years to come. 

The finances of the House were significantly impacted due to the low number of residents living at the House in 2020.  We implemented important cost-saving measures and secured local and federal relief funding, however, these challenges will continue well into 2021. 

As you consider your final gifts of the year, I humbly ask that you continue to give to the House. Your meaningful support is needed and we couldn’t do this work without you.

The leadership and generosity of our Board of Directors, donors, alumni, friends and family made a tremendous difference this year when we needed it the most, and I am deeply grateful to you for your support.  My very best wishes to you and your family as we begin a New Year, and we look forward to having you with us at International Student House for many years to come.

Warmly,
Daniel