I Came for a Dorm Room, I Left with American Grandparents

July 31, 2026
How Bridges to the Bay, I-House Berkeley's Host Family Program, Connects International Students with Local Families

By Diane Dinh (IH 2025-26)          

Diane DinhWhen I came to Berkeley, I expected a dorm room, a pile of textbooks, and maybe the occasional midterm-induced existential crisis. I did not expect to gain American grandparents.

Living at I-House already feels like being dropped into a mini-United Nations, with friends from every corner of the globe. But the Bridges to the Bay (formerly the I-House Host Family) program adds another layer. It quietly plugs you into everyday American life, beyond campus and beyond the Dining Commons. It’s where I stopped just observing the culture and actually started living it.

For me, that happened through Laurie and Chuck McClain: two I-House alumni who know Berkeley, San Francisco, and the Bay Area like the back of their hand and have stories for every street corner.

Bridges to the Bay: How I-House's Host Family Program Works

Before arriving, the Bridges to the Bay program was described very simply: you’re matched with a Bay Area-based host based on your interests and hobbies. Some are I-House alumni, some are simply local to the area, but they all have one thing in common: the desire to connect with an international student and give them a taste of American life. Together, you decide how much time you want to spend — low commitment or high, totally up to you! That flexibility was important to me. I was worried it might feel like a fixed obligation.

I filled out a form listing my interests, and that’s how I ended up with Laurie and Chuck, who love art and music. Very quickly, the “matching” started to feel almost magical. Symphony concerts, Monet exhibitions, and cultural events appeared in my inbox like perfectly tailored recommendations.

If I had to explain a host family in one sentence, I’d say it’s like having your own American grandparents – this chill, caring family you can see at I-House events and around town, full of fun stories and deep cultural knowledge about the Bay Area and I-House itself. Sometimes, it even feels more freeing to be with grandparents than parents. There’s warmth, wisdom, and zero pressure.

Meeting My Host Family at Edmonds’ CaféMeeting My Host Family at Edmonds’ Café

We first met at Edmonds’ Café during an alumni happy hour. The place was loud, bright, and buzzing with residents and alumni, but sitting with Laurie and Chuck felt surprisingly natural and calm.

We talked about my first month at Berkeley, how I was settling into I-House, and they shared their own story – how Chuck was a professor at UC Berkeley, how they met at I-House New York in the 1960s, and how much they love traveling to Europe (yes, France and Italy were very high on their list).

A memorable part of our first conversation was when they complimented my English. As someone who had only been in the US for a month, hearing that from locals felt like a huge boost of confidence. I walked away from that first meeting feeling optimistic and strangely anchored, as if the year ahead already had some familiar faces in it.

Celebrating Thanksgiving with My Host Family

Thanksgiving with my host family

"Host family" took on its full meaning when they invited me to my first Thanksgiving. I had no real idea what to expect beyond movie clichés: giant turkeys, dramatic family conversations, and a lot of food. The reality was a warm, intimate gathering that felt surprisingly close to a French Christmas dinner, except with stuffing, pecan pie, and pumpkin pie, instead of foie gras, smoked salmon toasts, caille, and very long lunches. Around the table, our conversation flowed from comparing holidays and family traditions to life and future goals. It felt less like a formal cultural exchange and more like friends getting to know one another over dessert.

We were sitting around the table when one of Laurie and Chuck’s granddaughters started showing us magic tricks she’d been learning. That was the moment I realized I wasn't just watching an American tradition – I was living it, welcomed whole-heartedly into their family. Needless to say, there was much to be thankful for!

How the Bridges to the Bay Program Shaped My Time at I-House

Laurie and Chuck made my I-House experience feel fuller and brighter. I didn’t just belong to the community inside the house. I felt connected to the network of alumni and I-House supporters who genuinely care about the experience of international students.

I loved attending events and randomly bumping into them, like meeting Laurie at the University Section Club Lunch in the Dining Commons, crossing paths again with both of them at the Amjad Ali Khan concert at the Freight & Salvage, or sharing Sunday Supper where I performed in front of them. And of course, the quarterly happy hours at Edmonds’ Café. Each encounter was a reminder: I was seen, heard, and cared for.

Emotionally, it made everything easier. I can truly call I-House “home,” in part thanks to them. And in terms of culture, actually living American traditions, not just reading or hearing about them, made a huge difference in how I understand this place!

picture of us at symphonic orchestra

Us at a Berkeley Symphony Orchestra concert

At the Gala with Laurie & Chuck

At the Gala with Laurie & Chuck

Sunday Supper

Sunday Supper

Tips for Joining the I-House Host Family Program

If you’re hesitating about signing up for the Bridges to the Bay program, here’s my advice:

  • You can only gain from this experience. You’re here once. Make the most of it!
  • Don’t be afraid to share. Suggest events you’d like to attend with them, talk about your life at Berkeley, give them updates. Host families choose to be part of the program with warm hearts. They genuinely want to make your stay the best it can be!
  • Give as much as you want to receive. Be kind, respectful, and open. The more you show up as yourself, the more your relationship will grow from “program” into something closer to a real family.

And this is not just for one type of resident. Whether you’re shy, very social, on your first trip to the US, or simply curious about culture, really, anyone can benefit!

Sign Up for the I-House Bridges to the Bay Program

If an email about the Bridges to the Bay program lands in your inbox, or someone at I-House mentions it during orientation, say yes. Fill out the form and let I-House match you. Worst case, you gain new stories and a few great meals. Best case, you gain American grandparents — and a whole new way of experiencing Berkeley.

Resident Application

Be connected with a host family!

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