International House Berkeley

L ife at major universities, such as the University of California Berkeley, can be full of daunting experiences. At International House, we have residents from nearly 75 countries studying in some 90 areas of academic inquiry. On their educational journeys, our residents are often confronted by academic challenges the likes of which they have never seen or experienced before. ey are also surrounded by highly talented peers who push and prod them in sometimes uncomfortable or challenging directions intellectually, culturally, and relationally. International House plays a significant role in assisting our residents as they deal with the myriad pressures encountered daily as they go about their lives at the university. We know that when one is plunged into a foreign environment and dealing with significant cultural differences, there will be times when the world appears to be awry. ankfully, I-House has a highly trained and experienced staff who help our residents deal with such instances of cognitive and social dissonance. Our most essential task is to welcome our residents home daily and make them feel like this is a convivial place that will give them a sense of belonging and purpose as they go about their academic pursuits. More often than not, our residents go through various stages of adaptation to the Berkeley environment. First, they are amazed by the beauty of the surrounding campus and its stunning location overlooking San Francisco Bay. en, they are both simultaneously appalled and enthralled by the many cases of wild and crazy behavior they encounter on the streets of Berkeley and the overall sense of pandemonium they experience walking around the city. Finally, as they adjust to the stark differences between the campus and its surrounding environment, they start to see how this can be a very potent learning atmosphere because it does not paper over the many challenges that our society must deal with as we strive to be both more inclusive and just. Given the sensory bombardment that our residents deal with on campus and in its surrounding environs, I-House's role as a welcoming community is critical to their emotional stability and sense of balance. We strive to be a place that our residents feel enthused about coming back to and finding friendly faces who make them feel both comfortable and accepted. e fact that all of our residents live and dine together creates a strong sense of camaraderie and warmth that cannot be easily replicated in other places at the university. With the amount of turnover that we have in our resident body as individuals come and go, we constantly aspire to be an ever more welcoming community. is requires careful attention and focus on enabling this to be a place that is both accepting and inspiring to all those who walk in our front door. As life in Berkeley is replete with such challenges, there is a resulting need for a space that is conducive to love and laughter, support and guidance, acceptance and embrace. International House is truly that place! n 2 International House Times Executive Director's Message Aspiring Towards a More Welcoming Community "What would you like to change or preserve in the world?" — Tracy Gary, Author of Inspired Philanthropy T hank you for your continued support of International House at UC Berkeley! In these challenging times, the I-House mission is as important as ever. As the new director of philanthropy, I very much look forward to meeting you, and learning from you how I-House has made a difference in your life. In answer to Tracy Gary's important question, changing the age-old patterns of distrust, lack of mutual respect, and the attendant societal ills of conflict, racism, and intolerance inspires all of us to preserve and to expand the I-House movement. I-House's mission to foster intercultural respect, understanding, lifelong friendships, and leadership skills to promote a more peaceful world is indeed both a powerful catalyst for change and a set of ideals worthy of preservation. I-House relies on philanthropic support from alumni, foundations, corporations, and friends to provide room and board scholarships for students with financial need, to preserve our historic home, to strengthen program offerings, and to position for the future. I-House is such a powerful idea, with an almost 90-year track record of compelling excellence in opening minds and broadening perspectives among the next generation of leaders from throughout the world. As a key part of my new position, I have the pleasure of listening directly to the residents, alumni, friends, and supporters who visit I-House or write in with their valuable insights, remembrances, and gifts to keep the I-House dream alive today, tomorrow, and forever. I look forward to listening to you as well! n Meet Bill Howley, Director of Philanthropy Hans C. Giesecke, Executive Director

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