During my time as a graduate student at Oregon State University, I had the remarkable opportunity to serve as the live in House Director (house “mom”) for iHouse, an extraordinarily diverse living community with 60 residents from over 30 countries any given semester. If any of you out there are college students looking for a different college experience, I strongly encourage you to explore if your university has off campus cooperatives, or similar program houses where international and domestic students share a living community.

iHouse Spring 2013

Can you guess what they are spelling…? I must say, I do take credit for this brilliant cinematography/choreograpy 🙂

Students from Fiji, Singapore and Taiwan during the Crater Lake trip

Creating a yoga/prayer/meditation/dance room

One of many students who painted their faces with their country’s flag preparing for the Harlem Shake video

Getting ready for the Harlem Shake!

Preparing for the Red Dress fundraiser party

Baking cookies during finals study week

Middle East presentation during International week, where students presented about their country, family, and culture. Regions/presenters ranged from Africa to Asia, Europe and Latin America.

Baking cookies (for this Fijian’s student’ first time!) as a break during finals study week

The one and only iHouse Harlem Shake!