International House Berkeley

6 International House Times International House T he mission of International House is to foster intercultural respect and understanding, lifelong friendships, and leadership skills for a more just and peaceful world. ese days when there is crisis around the globe, the vision of a "more just and peaceful world" may seem unattainable. And yet, I-House alumni across the generations still find hope for peace from their I-House experience. Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with alumni to discuss the I-House vision. As an I-House alum myself, I found these conversations truly inspiring, reminding me of the profound impact the I-House experience can have on an individual's perspective, relationships, and behavior in the world. Here's what my fellow alumni had to say. A Place for Peace Melvin Pomerantz (IH 1953-55) is a retired physicist who lived at I-House less than ten years after the end of World War II. He fondly remembers his time here, especially the folk dancing, Sunday Suppers, and language tables in the Dining Commons. As do most I-House residents, Mel became friends with people from all over the world: "Iranians, French, Austrians, and then the Americans from the Midwest—to a kid like me who was raised in Brooklyn, it really felt like meeting people from a foreign country. Their lives and upbringings were so different from my own." "I also got to know people from Germany and Japan at I-House," he says. "It was remarkable. People who eight years earlier were my 'enemies,' became my friends." Mel remarks, "That's the thing about I-House. You have the opportunity to have first-hand encounters with people from different countries and cultures. As you get to know these people as individuals, it makes it so that you cannot fall for the nonsense of national, cultural, or racial prejudice." Zahwa Amad (IH 1982-86) lived at I-House for four years in the 1980s while pursuing her Ph.D. in infectious diseases at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. She was a very active member of the I-House community—working at the front desk as a receptionist, in the mailroom sorting mail and delivering packages, in the Dining Commons, and even as a "librarian" in the I-House library. She also participated in the Host Family Program and remained close with her local host for many years after leaving I-House. At one point during her stay at I-House, Zahwa presented to fellow residents a slide show about sites in Jerusalem that are considered sacred by Christians, Muslims, and Jews. "I was born in Kuwait, into a Muslim family, though my family was non- religious. I spent most of my youth in Kuwait but I spent many summers with my uncle and cousins in Beirut, Lebanon. And sometimes I would go back to Jerusalem to see my grandmother. And all the while, I was a Jordanian citizen. "I was nervous about giving the presentation, but I was relieved that I had the support of then I-House Director Mr. Sheridan Warrick. I just wanted to share with other residents some of the cultural sites from back home. And these sites were important to many faiths." Zahwa spent her winter holidays at I-House and remembers cooking and eating with residents who had remained in town. "There were always other residents there, and we had such a wonderful time. I learned Christmas songs—I had never heard them before. And I really love the song, 'The Little Drummer Boy'!" "I think finding community and commonality is really at the core of the I-House experience." Melvin Pomerantz Zahwa Amad 6 International House Times

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