From Bangkok to Berkeley: My Journey to International House

I was weary from my 24-hour journey from Bangkok to Berkeley across two flights, three airports, and two car rides when I arrived at the tiled steps of I-House for the first time. Suddenly, any sign of weariness melted away as the building gleamed in the afternoon sun, what I now know as a familiar sight each time I return after a long day of classes. Buzzing with anticipation, I dragged my two suitcases behind me and from the moment I first walked through its doors, I-House exceeded my expectations and continues to surprise me. Less than a year ago, I couldn’t have imagined living under the same roof with students from 82 different countries. Yet, each step of my journey has led me to this moment.

Growing up, I have continually built cross-cultural bridges as my background branches from country to country. My parents’ backgrounds are spread across Taiwan, Thailand, and Australia, and we speak English mixed with Thai, Cantonese, and Mandarin at home. On the other hand, I was born and raised in the bustling international city of Hong Kong until I was eleven years old. My family and I then left to travel for a year on an incredible journey across 30 countries that forever shifted my worldview. The privilege of travel gave me a deep appreciation for intercultural exchange as I discovered the endless commonalities we have with others even without sharing a language or a country.

After our year-long journey, my family moved back and forth between Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, and the small countryside town of Minakami in Japan. While I navigated two starkly contrasting places and cultures, I continued my studies by attending American online middle and high schools. Especially amid the pandemic, I held tight to a community of peers whose backgrounds were very different from mine, as the physical distances between us forced us to build a sense of belonging with effort and intention.

Exposure to different cultural understandings and norms has given me an open mind and an eagerness to learn from new perspectives. It instilled in me a sense of home and community that is unconstrained by physical boundaries, and I soon found myself in a new home at UC Berkeley. 

Being at Berkeley has fostered my appreciation for diversity as Cal has allowed me to meet and learn from so many people from unique backgrounds. There is always something happening in the campus community in every area of interest as people come from all walks of life and perspectives. This experience has only been epitomized when I came to I-House this year.

As I struggled to drag my suitcases through the I-House doors and make my way through the historic corridors, someone stopped to hold the door for me. After a warm introduction, I mistakenly assumed they were an undergraduate student and asked, “What year are you in?” To my surprise, I found out they were actually one of the 264 graduate students living at I-House—a group I never imagined I’d have the chance to share a roof with. Before I had even stepped into my room on my first day, not only had I experienced the hospitality and camaraderie that distinguishes I-House, but the constant shifts in my expectations and understanding that one is bound to encounter here.  

The unity and spirit of I-House have only continued as I have settled in. I constantly find myself sharing meals with new faces in the Dining Commons, our conversations ranging from topics about our home countries to naval infrastructure and astrophysical theories of extraterrestrial contact. In only the first month, I have attempted American line dancing and Punjabi Bhangra, and I am blown away by the variety of different accents and languages I hear each time I walk down the corridors. Now, I am honored to serve as a Global Community Ambassador where I get to weave my experiences and love for intercultural exchange together to capture I-House life and engage with our extensive alumni network.  

At I-House, I hope to continue expanding my horizons and make lifelong friendships with people from around the world. The opportunity to engage with new people, perspectives, and backgrounds I have never encountered before is unlike any other that I am certain will be a pillar of my undergraduate experience at Berkeley. Living here has made the world feel a little smaller as I meet people from across the globe who have been brought together with a shared vision of mutual respect and intercultural exchange. I cannot wait for what I-House has yet to offer and the opportunities to come. 

To I-House alumni: as someone who is at the beginning of my journey at I-House, I would love to hear about your experiences here. Did I-House surprise you and do you have any advice for new residents? I look forward to reading your comments below!