哈尼法·达维什，22岁，a 社会学 和 教育研究 喀布尔双学位, 阿富汗, is part of the public relations team on the executive board of the 国际的房子 (iHouse) at 信誉最好的网投十大平台. 她是三位一体的导师 合资企业 leadership conference for first-year women 和 as an ambassador for the 职业与生活设计中心她是信誉最好的网投十大平台的学生作家 通讯办公室. Below, Darwish reflects on her experience with the iHouse during her four years at Trinity:
When I accepted an offer to study at 信誉最好的网投十大平台, I was thrilled. But when it was time to leave home, my heart was pounding. The only thing I was sure of was my resolve to do everything I could to succeed 和 find my place in this new world.
Yet, I could not have predicted half of the challenges I would face. Besides learning a completely new way of life 和 dealing with homesickness 和 culture shock, socializing 和 making friends can be an overwhelming experience for incoming international students.
三位一体的 国际的房子 (iHouse)是我能找到支持的地方. I was able to overcome some of the initial challenges of starting college abroad with the help of other international students at Trinity who had gone or were going through a similar experience. 作为大四学生, I now feel honored to be part of the iHouse executive board 和 to provide guidance 和 support to students who leave their homes in order to get a world-class education.
The iHouse helps international students adapt to life at Trinity 和 introduces all Trinity students to international cultures through hosting events, 讨论, 还有校外旅行. 信誉最好的网投十大平台的国际学生顾问, 凯瑟琳•克莱尔, who has been an important figure to me throughout my undergraduate career, said that the iHouse serves as a home for the international 和 “globally minded” students on campus. “这个组织非常重要, as its goal is to inform the general Trinity campus about the world 和 the cultures of our students, 教师, 和工作人员, 但也要超越这些,克莱尔说. The iHouse also aims to provide a safe space for growth, 创造力, 和 building lifelong friendships for all students. “What I love most about the 国际的房子 is that it becomes what the students build each year with a new group of leaders, 和 it is always evolving along with Trinity as a college,克莱尔补充道。.
Vidhi Vasa ' 22, an economics major from India who is president of the iHouse, reflected that joining the iHouse was one of the best decisions she has made at Trinity. “Not only was I able to be a part of a group that was as passionate as I was in celebrating 和 sharing different cultures 和 identities with other students on campus,瓦萨说, “but it also provided me with the opportunity to meet students from different countries that I would not have necessarily met otherwise.”
Some of the things the iHouse does which have impacted me during my time 在这里 are the events! The Festival of All Nations takes place in the fall semester 和 the iHouse sponsors snacks 和 drinks from any country represented at the event. Students from that country, or who have ties to it, prepare the food 和 an informational poster. 当事件发生时, it is so beautiful to see all the Trinity students talking 和 laughing, 尝试新食物, 打板球和踢足球, 和 learning to write their names in different scripts.
The next event, 和 my favorite, is also the iHouse’s biggest. The 国际展览 happens in the spring semester 和 is an opportunity for any student, 或者一群学生, 来展示他们的文化! We almost always have groups doing K Pop 和 Bollywood dances 和 students will also often sing, 读诗, 并展示其他文化习俗. This event is held in the biggest room on campus, which is always packed—it feels like a concert with students cheering from wall to wall.
The events on campus sponsored by the iHouse are just one way that cultures are celebrated at Trinity, 和 I have enjoyed being a part of the planning process during my time on the executive board. 除了这两个主要事件, iHouse全年都有节目, 在卡拉ok, 放映国际电影, hosting speakers to promote awareness or discuss global issues, 总是尝试新的食物.
And the space supports more than just events: it serves as a place w在这里 international students can store their belongings during the summer break. 虽然这听起来微不足道, imagine only being able to take one suitcase with you when you leave in May. 其他的东西都去哪了? The iHouse has carts to help you bring your things to its location on Vernon Street 和 everyone knows that your belongings will be safe until you return in September.
The iHouse is a physical space of comfort for so many students who are so far from home. 各种各样的事件, 机会, 和 general body of the organization have meant a lot to me during my time 在这里 和 I am grateful that Trinity has a place like it.
Learn more about 三位一体的 Office of International Students 和 Scholars 在这里.
