International House Berkeley

Program Office Director Valerie Ong and her team created another virtual project called, "I-House Snapshots." e project was created to celebrate I-House and to highlight the importance of vibrant communities during this difficult time. Residents submitted a special photo and included a short message about its significance; these were posted weekly on social media and by email to lift everyone's spirits and later compiled into a virtual scrapbook. You can find snapshot stories from residents on our website. e Program Office also continued their From All Corners podcasts with an off-shoot series called "Under the Dome." is program was created to provide residents with a continued sense of community, as if they were still living under their I-House dome, even though many had moved home to places across the globe. e podcast features 15 residents sharing I-House memories, laughter, and stories of coping during quarantine. You can listen to all episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast. Visit ihouse.berkeley.edu/fromallcorners for more details. I nternational House has always been a place where community is cultivated and lifelong friendships are forged. This especially has been evident in spaces like the Dining Commons, where residents meet and mingle as they enjoy cuisine from around the world and at events like Sunday Supper, where residents and staff come together to celebrate the extraordinary experience of being a student at UC Berkeley and living at I-House. Coming together to live and learn is how I-House has created a sense of community for 90 years, but as the spring and summer of 2020 progressed, life at I-House had to adapt quickly to a strange new normal as COVID-19 continued its relentless advance around the globe. With countries closing borders as a way to prevent the further spread of the virus, many I-House residents returned to their countries of origin. The Dining Commons had to close and residents were given their meals in to-go boxes. As the hallways got quieter by the day, I-House staff came together to organize virtual activities to keep residents engaged and reduce feelings of anxiety and isolation that can occur with enforcement of a mandate to stay at home, wear a mask, and socially distance. The Program Office Creates Virtual Programs to Help Residents "Get through this together" One of the first long-standing traditional I-House events to pivot to digital was Coffee Hour, normally held in the Great Hall every ursday evening, hosted by the Program Office. e first virtual Coffee Hour, pictured below, was open to all of the 2019–2020 I-House residents, including those who were back in their hometowns. Residents tuned in from around the world to participate and to share how they were coping during quarantine. Getting Through This Together 4 International House Times Residents enjoy a meal while socially distancing Greetings at Virtual Coffee Hour "I-House Snapshots" virtual scrapbook

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