Erin Andrews (IH 1989 - 1991)
Erin lived in I-House for several years and remembers it fondly. Erin writes,“I opened the first bean to bar chocolate factory in Pike Place Market in Seattle this summer. I founded indi chocolate in 2008 and travels the world and looking for great tasting cacao to make chocolate. If any I-House folks know good cacao farmers please contact indi chocolate and let me know.”
Read Letter From Erin Andrews (IH 1989-91) “Sweetness in Seattle” I-House Times Fall 2013 (PDF file)
Sara Bakhtary (IH 2004) and Augusto Giovanni Gonzalez (IH 2003 - 04)
My wife, Sara Bakhtary (Iran/US) and I (Guatemala/US) met at the I-House during the first coffee hour of the semester. I invited her to a trip to Cancun I was organizing with a few friends from I-House but she could not join us. Instead, I had to wait to court her during ping pong games and I-House parties in the Game Room, during the salsa class I used to teach in the auditorium (she was my student and I would make sure to pay extra attention to her among the 120 other students).
Mirarman Jalali (IH 1999 - 2002)
The months leading to my first year at I-House were awful. I had so many problems that I missed out on the orientation camps and other initial activities as I struggled to cope with the fallout from a bad break-up and health concerns. Sometime in early October, I took a seat at a long table across from two unassuming residents seated side by side, not knowing or having met anyone but my withdrawn roommate.
Neil & Marloes Smyth (IH 1996 - 97)
Milos Petrovich (IH 1999-02)
(Featured in I-House Video: If These Old Walls Could Speak(link is external) )
The first time that I made a relationship with anybody who is disabled was with Victor and I didn’t know how to handle him. I didn’t know how to talk to him. I didn’t know how to physically handle him. As a matter of fact he would ask me, “Lift me here, lift me there, can you help me brush my teeth?” or something and I thought to myself, “Now how do I do this without looking clumsy?” I was uncomfortable and the people who lived in I-House with us for those three years, I think were, for the first time, exposed to that.
Victor Pineda* (IH 1999-02)
(Featured in I-House Video: If These Old Walls Could Speak(link is external) )
I remember when I had no way to get from my wheelchair to my bed and I remember that I felt so stuck and alone but I could knock on Milos’ door and he would be like, “Alright! Let’s get you into bed.” It became almost a regular routine that in the middle of the night, I would wake Milos up and so without even opening his eyes, in his pajamas he would just go across the hall and turn me around and go back. And it’s that kind of friendship that makes you realize that you can do anything if you have a good person who’s watching your back. And people like Milos and other people at I-House actually show me that I have so much to share with the world.
*Read more about notable alum, Victor Pineda’s appointment by President Barack Obama to the United States Access Board on page 15 of our Spring - Summer 2016 I-House Times Newsletter.
Hasan Diwan (IH 1997 - 98)
I first came to know about Berkeley growing up as my mother had a PhD from its Chemistry Department. I have a few other relatives who've been through Berkeley. To a man, all have had positive things to say about the environment, the school, and the academics. At age 16, a physics instructor at school suggested I apply to a summer research program at the Livermore Lab. I ran this by both my parents. After much haggling and bargaining, I arrived at San Francisco Airport in June of 1998. Upon walking into the International House, I realized this is one special place unlike any other.
Laurent Desbois (2004-2005)
My time in Berkeley, and especially at I-House, has totally transformed my life and the way I see the world. I arrived at I-House not knowing anyone. It was a strange feeling at first. This huge cozy house, with an enchanting smell and beautiful shiny tiles, welcomed me as a family member—even though I was a stranger to all, and they were all strangers to me. Not for long though! I remember meeting people from all corners of the world, around every corner at I-House.