I-World Winter 2016

I - WORLD Winter 2016

Newsletter for Alumni and Friends of International House Philadelphia

International House Philadelphia

ta b l e o f contents 1

CEO Letter

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Philadelphia and Ihp are proud of their world heritage

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Ertan Ergezen

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resident life

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RESIDENT PROFILE: Minh-Anh Nguyen

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PROGRAM AND EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

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Class Notes

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IHP Alumni Ambassadors

Dear IHP Alumni, One of the things I love most about my job is meeting with International House alumni here in Philadelphia and around the world. Because each and every one of you has shared in the unique experience of living at I-House, you embody the spirit of the House and help carry a message of understanding, respect and cooperation among people of all nations.

In the past few months, I hosted a lunch with Martin Sotola (Slovakia, 2000s) and Pranam Shetty (India, 2000s) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where I had traveled with a friend of mine. In Hong Kong, I met Quy Cory Quach (USA, 1990s) and Stephanie Chan (Hong Kong, 2000s) while attending a conference with my husband. Back in Philadelphia, I had a chance encounter with Lilia Guzairova (Russia, 2000s) when we were riding the same train.

I-World Editorial Staff Founding Editor

Fatih Akay IHP alumnus (Turkey, 2000s)

Editors

Margarita Q. Mirkil Director of Development and Alumni Relations

With thousands of IHP alumni around the world, there are many opportunities for all of us to build connections with each other and with International House. I stay in touch with many of you on Facebook, and I always enjoy seeing you and hearing about your life journey when you return to I-House, where our doors are always open to alumni.

Shekeya Watkins Alumni Relations Manager Senior Writer

Matthew Doherty Director of Communications and Marketing

Graphic Designer Julio Perez Photographer

KOEUN KIM,

IHP Resident (South Korea)

Front cover image: Welcome Back Reception 2016 From left: IHP residents Aliou Yattassaye (Mali); Jaeyoon Jung (South Korea); Rafael Fuentes (Chile); Mohammed Alotaidi (Saudi Arabia).

Back cover image: Welcome Back Reception 2016 From left: IHP residents Naila Shahid (Pakistan); Sora Kim (South Korea); Jiaxin Chen (China); Sanjana Sundaresan (India); and Maria Adrianzen Ruesta (Peru).

If you’re planning a visit to Philadelphia for any reason, please let us know when you are coming. We can help you to organize a gathering with your friends from I-House, as we did recently when Pranam Shetty returned from Minneapolis to visit International House and Hasan Ayaz, PhD, (Turkey, 2000s) who is now working at Drexel University as an Associate Research Professor. I hope you can attend IHP’s Annual Alumni Reunion on June 4, 2016 in Philadelphia. You’ll be pleased to see your old friends, meet new ones, and connect with IHP Trustees, Delegates and other guests at this fun, family-friendly reunion.

If you can’t attend the reunion, please share your memories, achievements and personal milestones with us via email so we can publish them in I-World. Your stories are an inspiration for our current residents, staff and alumni worldwide. We are building a global alumni network to help you get connected with your friends, and to explore personal and professional opportunities through this network. We cannot build an alumni network without you.

You are invited to attend two other reunions. On June 30, 2016, International Houses Worldwide will hold an alumni reunion in London that is open to all alumni globally. Finally, there will be an IHP Alumni Reunion in Athens, Greece on July 8-10, 2016. Please let us know if you will be able to join us at any of these reunions.

Thank you for your continued support of International House Philadelphia, I love hearing from you!

Cordially,

Tanya Steinberg

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International House Philadelphia

Independence Hall

P H I LA D EL P H I A AN D I H P A R E P R O U D OF T H E I R WO R L D H E R I TAG E Philadelphia’s heritage as the birthplace of American democracy offers IHP residents, alumni and visitors a great opportunity to explore many inspiring historic sites, including Independence Hall, where both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were debated and signed. It’s only fitting that the first International House, which is dedicated to serving students from around the world while introducing them to America, was founded in Philadelphia in 1910, adding to the city’s illustrious history as a destination for the world, and the city of firsts.

Philadelphia’s growing stature on the global stage was highlighted in November 2015 when the city officially became a full member of the Organization of World Heritage Cities, an initiative in which

John F. Smith III, a longtime International House Philadelphia Board member, played a leading role. Philadelphia became the first U.S. city to be accepted into the organization, joining 266 other cities that are also designated “World Heritage Cities.”

“Being a member of the Organization of World Heritage Cities enhances Philadelphia’s global stature and its ability to attract international investment and talent, including students and scholars,” said Smith, who spearheaded the campaign as Chair of the Global Philadelphia Association, which partnered with Mayor Michael Nutter’s administration on the initiative. Smith, a former IHP Board Chair, was part of a delegation that traveled last November to Arequipa, Peru to attend the World Congress of the Organization of World Heritage Cities, where Philadelphia’s application was approved.

In a press release announcing the news, then-Mayor Nutter said, “Philadelphia is being recognized on the global stage for its wealth of contributions to the world as the epicenter of American democracy, and for its enduring commitment to preserving the unique historical and cultural assets in our diverse community.”

IHP President and CEO Tanya Steinberg said, “International House has a long and distinguished history as a welcoming ‘global’ community for international students and scholars that come to Philadelphia to pursue their studies. Reflecting IHP’s global reach, our alumni can be found in cities across the globe.”

John F. Smith III, Board of Trustee, IHP

As you will see on the next page, we talked with three alumni about their World Heritage Cities – Venice, Italy; Vienna, Austria; and Salamanca, Spain – and we would love to hear from other alumni, whether or not you live in one.

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Chiara Fecchio (Italy, 2010s) lives in a small town

that’s just a few miles from Venice, the famed World Heritage City in northern Italy. “Venice is a very special city. Since it’s built on the water, you can only get around by boat or on foot,” Chiara said. “It is also an ancient city, full of monuments and magnificent buildings. Being a World Heritage City helps people understand the value of the city where they live.” Chiara resided at IHP from 2014-2015 when she was accepted into a postdoctoral research fellowship at Temple University’s School of Pharmacy. She said living in Philadelphia was an “amazing” experience because of International House, which “creates a very special environment with open-minded people that live together and share their cultures.”

Chiara Fecchio in Venice, Italy Stephan Salzmann (Austria, 2010s) has a personal

connection to two beautiful World Heritage Cities in his homeland. He is from Salzburg originally and now lives and studies in Vienna. He enjoys the historic center of Vienna, which includes Baroque castles and gardens and the late-19th century Ringstrasse, which is lined with grand buildings, monuments and parks. Stephan is studying for his MD degree at the Medical University of Vienna. He resided at IHP in 2014 while taking a clinical elective at Pennsylvania Hospital, founded in 1751

by Benjamin Franklin (one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence) as the first hospital in the United States. “I think IHP provides an exceptional residential experience to people from all around the world. It promotes intercultural dialogue and fosters global citizenship,” Stephan said. “It was a great experience to stay in Philadelphia.”

Stephan Salzmann in Vienna, Austria

Ana Belén Sánchez García (Spain, 2010s) lives

in Salamanca, a World Heritage City in Spain noted for its Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque monumental architecture and its historic Plaza Mayor. It’s the home of her alma mater, the University of Salamanca, one of the oldest universities in Europe. Ana describes Salamanca as “a small, tranquil city that has been able to sustain its provincial charm and traditions while providing classic modernity.” She said that World Heritage City designation “is a way to preserve sites of exceptional importance to the common heritage of mankind.”

Ana resided at IHP in 2015 when she was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Drexel University’s A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, where she conducted post-doctoral research in early diagnostic tools for autism. “International House makes Philadelphia a more international city because when you live there, you come in contact with the traditions of different cultures,” she said.

Plaza Mayor, Salamanca, Spain

International House Philadelphia

AL U M N I S P OTL I G H T: ERTAN ERGEZEN IHP 2003-2010, TURKEY Ertan Ergezen, 36, moved into IHP in 2003 after leaving Turkey for the first time to pursue his doctoral studies at Drexel University.

Today, he is a Senior Systems Engineer at Roche Diagnostics Hematology, where he’s applying his training, and pursuing his passion, in Biomedical Engineering. His profession has taken him from Philadelphia to Boston, where Ertan enjoys going to the theater and biking along the Charles River. He loves to read, especially when it’s cold outside.

Where are you from originally?

I’m from Istanbul, the most populated city in Turkey.

What brought you to Philadelphia and International House?

I moved to Philadelphia to pursue my graduate studies in biomedical engineering at Drexel University. The head of the department happened to be Turkish, and I had met her when she traveled to Turkey. Inside my acceptance package from Drexel, I saw information about International House, so I decided to apply to live at I-House because it’s a short distance from the university. Since it was my first time in a foreign country, it was my priority to find a safe and convenient place to live during my transition to a new culture and a new environment.

Tell us about your experience at International House.

I-House helped me a lot during my transition to Philadelphia and it was a great learning experience. When I moved to International House, my English was really bad and I had never left Turkey before.

It was very exciting and everything was new to me. International House felt like a home away from home that also gave me the chance to experience life in the U.S. Did you stay at IHP for several years?

Yes, I became a Resident Advisor in my second year and then I was running the Student Café. I was going to move but Glenn Martin (now IHP’s Chief Operating Officer) asked me to stay an extra year because they needed a Resident Advisor. I’m glad it all worked out that way because I met many people and built friendships that continue today. I learned about different cultures, which helped me grow to be a global person. It was an exceptional experience and one of the best decisions I have ever made.

How did living at IHP impact your life? What did you learn here?

At I-House, I worked and lived with people from different cultures for so many years, prior to my professional life at a major corporation.

Now, at Roche, I work with international people, who often approach problems and communication differently than Americans. Therefore, I feel I have an advantage because I have been exposed before to different cultures. I believe this is very important to be successful in a global world.

What is your fondest memory of living at IHP? It would have to be meeting Prince Charles when he visited International House Philadelphia in 2007. It was like the Oscars.

Chestnut Street was blocked off and lined with black cars. The residents were all dressed up as we lined up to meet him. Prince Charles approached me and I shook his hand. I told him I was from Turkey and he asked me if my country would ever join the European Union (which it has not). I think it was the biggest thing that ever happened to me at I-House. Whenever I see him on TV now, I always remember the time I met him at International House.

Tell us about your career path.

After I finished my PhD at Drexel University, I started working at 454 Life Sciences, a Roche company in Connecticut. 454 Life Sciences built the first next-generation DNA sequencing instrument in the world. As a systems engineer, I gained valuable experience and improved my skills. After three years at 454, I moved to Boston to join Roche Diagnostics Hematology as a Senior Engineer. Now, we are working to build the world’s first integrated hematology analyzer. I always had a passion for Biomedical Engineering, and I’m very happy and proud to utilize my skills to build instruments that have a direct impact on people.

What’s your best advice for international students that come to the United States to pursue their education?

America is a land of opportunities, so take every opportunity to improve yourself and to make a difference in life.

What would you say to international students that are graduating and leaving IHP to pursue their careers?

Utilize the experience and knowledge that you gained during your stay at International House. Living in an international community is a rare opportunity that many people never experience. It can be very beneficial in your professional life. Also, always keep in touch with the friends you made at I-House. One of my best friends is from I-House, Felipe Landeo (Peru, 2000s). We see each other about every three months because he lives in New York. I stay in touch with many other friends from the House. They’re all over the world – it’s amazing.

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?

Economic inequality. I read in the news that 1% of the world’s population will soon have more wealth than the remaining 99%.

That’s unacceptable, especially when there is so much poverty and hunger in the world.

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International House Philadelphia

Valentine’s Day Celebration

R e s id e n t Li f e As IHP alumni know, International House Philadelphia is more than a place to stay while pursuing your studies – it’s a truly unique community that enables residents to discover many different ways of experiencing and engaging with people of diverse cultures and nationalities.

IHP residents live and learn in a community that embraces cultural differences as a creative force to foster cooperation, mutual respect and understanding. At the heart of this experience are programs that you won’t find in ordinary student housing.

“The thing that really sets IHP apart is that we are dedicated to offering programs that broaden the horizons of our residents and enrich their stay with us,” said Ronaldo Ribeiro, Director of Program Development & Engagement. “While living at I-House, residents are invited and encouraged to share their stories, projects and dreams with each other. They find an inclusive environment where they learn from, and with, each other, and form relationships that may last a lifetime.”

Ronaldo highlighted some of the most recent initiatives that International House has taken to continue to engage our residents.

Free Courses in nine languages More than 44 residents signed up for foreign language courses this January in what was a program record enrollment of 115 students. “The response from residents has been very encouraging and class enrollment has increased,” Ronaldo said.

“We’re offering 20 different courses, taught by dedicated teachers that are volunteering their time and talent.”

Languages being offered this year include Arabic, Farsi, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese and Spanish. All classes meet twice a week for one hour in the program’s office on the Sixth Floor of the House. IHP’s language courses are offered throughout the year and are open to IHP alumni, members, residents, staff and the public. For information on registration, classes and tuition, visit www.ihousephilly.com/classes or call 215-895-6592.

Leadership and Discussion Opportunities This year, we have revived the Resident Council by creating a Board of Residents, which has an important role in helping to create, design and implement Resident Life programs and build community at IHP. Felipe Cesar, a PhD candidate in Chemistry at Temple University, is currently serving as Chair of the six-member Board. He’s a second-year IHP resident from Poços de Caldas, Brazil. The Board meets weekly and has three committees: Arts, Communications and Finances. Currently, the group is working on developing an IHP Blog to share their stories and projects with past, current and future residents.

Separately, residents were invited to participate in a discussion that enabled them to share their views, concerns and feelings about the terrorist attack in Paris and related global issues. The program was offered as part of IHP’s Voices of the House series for residents, another initiative led by the Board of Residents in conjunction with Resident Advisors.

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Spoken English and Foreign Languages Programs’ Monthly Talk Series

Weekly Conversation Tables

Celebrations and Fun

The learning extends outside the classroom setting with two new language programs: The Weekly Conversation Table, which brings IHP residents and others together in a relaxed social setting to practice their conversation skills; and the Monthly Talk Series, which features scholars discussing Language and Culture topics.

Resident life at IHP also offers many chances to make new friends and share conversation, experiences and laughter with students from around the world through an array of social programs.

English is often the preferred language of choice at the Weekly Conversation Table. Many residents are focused on improving their command of the English language, and some of them are in Philadelphia just to learn English. Many times this is a first step in pursuing a degree in the United States. Other popular languages at the conversation table are Spanish and Arabic. Current resident Tomomi Saikari, a student at the University of Pennsylvania, is taking Portuguese in the Language Program. “It’s a fun and relaxed environment where I can meet new people while practicing my English and my Portuguese,” Tomomi said.

Sharing Their Talents: IHP’s Creative Ensemble Last fall, with Ronaldo’s guidance, a group of residents came together to create the Creative Ensemble, which offers residents a chance to share their passion for the arts and to perform.

Through this program, residents foster their creativity and get together to share ideas, experiences and practices related to music, photography, storytelling and art.

“Working hand-in-hand with residents, we will continue to explore new ideas for programs that are aligned with IHP’s mission and our commitment to providing a truly unique residential experience that you won’t find anywhere else,” Ronaldo concluded.

Residents filled the Galleria for IHP’s Annual Holiday Party in December 2015, where everyone enjoyed festive foods and desserts, warm conversation and photo opportunities with a jolly visitor from the North Pole. IHP celebrated three holidays – Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa – at the event. It was a chance to share season’s greetings and gather in friendship, including residents who were saying farewell to IHP and returning to their countries as the Fall semester ended.

In January 2016, IHP ushered in the New Year and the end of winter break with a Welcome Back Reception for residents. They were greeted by Glenn Martin, IHP’s Chief Operating Officer, and other staff, before enjoying appetizers, wine and cheese.

February brought a blizzard of fun social activities to the House.

Residents enjoyed a Super Bowl Party with pizza, wings and beverages while watching the game on the big screen television in the lower-level lounge; a Valentine’s Day Party with sweets and dance music; a Social Hour with pasta and refreshments; and a Red Carpet Oscars Viewing Party in the Ibrahim Theater.

International House Philadelphia

R ES I D ENT P R OF I LE : M I N H -AN H N G U Y EN IHP 2015-2016, VIETNAM As a young child in Vietnam, Minh-Anh Nguyen, PhD, never imagined that he would become a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Drexel University, where he is combining his lifelong passion for families with his clinical psychology training to create innovative art therapy programs for children.

His journey to Drexel and International House Philadelphia has been a long and arduous one, inspired by his mother, and driven by his determination to make a difference in the lives of children so they have a chance to pursue their dreams.

“I was the baby in our family of six children and the only one born after the Vietnam War,” which ended in 1975,” says Minh-Anh. “Our family lived in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), and it was a very difficult time for us after the war ended. My father lost everything when his design business closed, so became depressed and started drinking heavily. We were struggling financially, so my mother started working as a cleaner at the high school. She also sold lottery tickets, which was one of the lowest jobs in our country, because we needed money for rice and fish.”

Minh-Anh, 38, holds back tears as he describes his mother’s sacrifices for her children. “My mother went from having everything to having nothing after the war, but she accepted reality and never gave up. She taught me that if you want, you can do anything, but you must never give up,” he recalls. “It has been the biggest lesson in my life, bigger than my PhD. Being born to my mother was the greatest gift.”

Minh-Anh’s path to Philadelphia was not a straight one. After excelling academically in public school in Vietnam, he became the first member of his family to attend college when he enrolled at a university in Ho Chi Minh City. Once there, Minh-Anh became a top student and was accepted into a prestigious university program that would take him to Russia in 1999, where he received a full scholarship and studied for the next nine years, culminating with his PhD in Psychology.

“Studying in Russia was difficult and challenging, but it was an opportunity to experience a totally different culture,” he says. “It also taught me how to be very independent.”

After completing his studies in Russia, he received a scholarship to attend a one-month program offered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Israel, where he learned, among other things, leadership skills and how to resolve conflicts. “I met teachers, school managers, and professionals from 15 countries around the world and we’ve remained friends through Facebook,” he says.

His next stop was Denmark, where Minh-Anh accepted a teaching and research position in 2014 at University College Zealand, where he would spend two years in the Program of Aesthetic Learning in Childhood Education.

Minh-Anh’s academic career finally brought him to the United States last year after his third application to become a Fulbright Visiting Scholar was approved, following an interview at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi. “I had applied two times before, but I didn’t give up,” he explains. “When I received the good news in an email, I cried when I read it.”

With the Fulbright acceptance in hand, the next step was to choose a university where he could continue his research focus on art therapy for children.

“I hadn’t planned on coming to Philadelphia, but a professor at College of New Rochelle, New York forwarded my proposal to Drexel, which had an art therapy program. I decided to go with Philadelphia because it’s the fifth-largest city in the U.S. and the birthplace of America.”

With assistance from Drexel’s Office of International Programs, Minh-Anh looked at various housing options before choosing International House. He moved into IHP in September 2015.

“From the bottom of my heart, I’m so happy that I chose to live at International House,” he says during a recent interview at the House. “My neighbors here are from Germany, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Mali, Korea, China, Japan and upstate New York. We cook together in the kitchen and share our favorite foods. I’ve made great friends here and everyone treats me like a family member.

Most of all, this is a place of friendship, tolerance and peace. I treasure that.”

Minh-Anh has been invited to lecture and share his art therapy research and results this year with faculty and students at John F. Kennedy University in Berkeley, California, and the University of Hawaii in Honolulu.

A seasoned world traveler, Minh-Anh is looking forward to returning to his homeland after he completes his Fulbright Scholar program at Drexel in June 2016. When he returns to Vietnam, he will lead a team of researchers at the National College of Education in Ho Chi Minh City and continue his work in developing art therapy programs for children and families.

“I want to help children and families have better lives and really positive relationships. That is my passion,” Minh-Anh says with a warm smile.

When he returns home, he says, he will have someone special waiting for him – his mother – who lives in the family’s rebuilt house in the city where Minh-Anh’s amazing journey began with her love and support.

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International House Philadelphia

Culture and Cuisine

Lunar New Year Celebration

Program and Event Highlights From enthralling cultural celebrations and films to concerts and special events, International House Philadelphia offers engaging programs that broaden cultural horizons and make our House a unique destination. Here are some recent highlights.

Culture and Cuisine Friends, members and residents of IHP gathered in January 2016 at the Sang Kee Noodle House on Chestnut Street to enjoy a meal and conversation in an intimate setting. Sang Kee owner Hugh Kong provided an overview of the specially prepared menu of authentic Asian cuisine, as well as insights on Asian culture.

Culture and Cuisine is presented by IHP’s Board of Delegates.

Concerts Intercultural Journeys presented a concert in January 2016 featuring two Silk Road ensemble members – Syrian composer and clarinetist Kinan Azmeh and Syrian-Armenian visual artist Kevork Mourad – who offered an impressionistic reflection on the Syrian revolution and its aftermath by interweaving live illustrations, visuals and original compositions. Under a partnership with International House, IHP residents are admitted free to all concerts presented by Intercultural Journeys in the Ibrahim Theater.

Annual Lunar New Year Celebration More than 300 people from International House and the Philadelphia community attended IHP’s 16th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration in February. It was a record turnout for the event, where people of all ages enjoyed authentic Chinese cuisine followed by a captivating 90-minute program of Chinese music, dance and martial arts performances in the Ibrahim Theater. IHP President and CEO Tanya Steinberg and IHP Board Chair and alumnus Ludo Scheffer (The Netherlands, 1980s) chatted with residents and guests, including people that were visiting the House for the first time to celebrate “The Year of the Monkey.”

The celebration generated extensive media coverage for IHP, including a televised report by 6ABC Action News. “It was an amazing evening that brought people of diverse cultures together, and it meant so much to our residents from China, who are far away from home as they pursue their studies in the United States,” Tanya said.

World Cinema IHP’s acclaimed film program presented the UCLA Festival of Preservation series in January, showcasing newly restored, seldom-seen American classics by directors such as John Ford and Anthony Mann, with screen legends including Mary Pickford, Bela Lugosi and John Wayne. Other IHP cinema highlights included screenings celebrating the life and work of experimental filmmaker and feminist Chick Strand; and the film series, Pop: On Screen and Around the World, which began in February in collaboration with the Philadelphia Museum of Art and its International Pop exhibit.

UCLA Festival of Preservation

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CLASS NOTES 1950 s Enrico Lamet (Austria) reports that he and wife Cookie recently enjoyed a month long trip in Italy. “I left Italy for the first time on February 2, 1950 and happened to arrive in Italy decades later on February 2, 2016,” he said. Enrico spent two weeks in Sicily enjoying cousins he had never met and rekindling relationships with family he had not seen in years. While in Italy, he also found time to visit Naples to reunite with childhood friends. “It was nice to see everyone I had not seen in a very long time. We really enjoyed our time there,” he shared. Enrico, who plans to attend this year’s Annual Alumni Reunion in Philadelphia, is also hoping he will have the opportunity to reconnect with old I-House friends this summer.

1960 s Howard L. Cort (United States) is retired and living at the Brookdale at Lakeshore senior facility in Chicago.

Since moving from New York to Chicago nine years ago, Howard says that he is enjoying being closer to family and networking in the area. Howard reports that he has taken up a strong interest in the fight against carbon emissions after being inspired by Amy Goodman’s coverage on the topic. He recently formed a small group, made up of fellow seniors at Brookdale, to help the facility take steps to reduce carbon emissions.

With his new advocacy work in carbon emissions, he plans to live until at least 100! Howard is also a member of the Jewish Voice for Peace, and has an extensive library that covers the history of the Israeli and Palestinian conflict. He would like to donate his library to anyone interested in studying or working in those countries.

Abraham Marthan (Morocco) resides in the Philadelphia area and is retired after 40 years of teaching at Gratz College, where he also served as

Chairman of Graduate Studies. Although retired, Abraham continues to conduct research in his field, Biblical and Hebrew studies, and gives occasional lectures. In his spare time, he enjoys writing poetry, and has published some of his work.

Abraham says he has fond memories of International House, and is very grateful to have benefited from the opportunities IHP provided him and his friends.

1970 s

after serving 36 years in its business management department as Director of Matsumoto. During his career, the former Fulbright Visiting Scholar has served as a visiting professor for various universities around the world and published many books and papers in Japanese and English.

2000 s

If you lived at I-House in the 1970s, we’d love to hear from you! Reconnect with I-House and your fellow alumni today by sending your news to Alumni Relations Manager Shekeya Watkins at shekeyaw@ihphilly.org or by calling (215) 895-6598.

1980 s Jonathan Gaev (United States) is engaged to Mariluz Gonzalez. No date for the wedding has been set as they’ve been busy planning their move to Philadelphia from Cherry Hill, N.J. Jonathan continues to work at The ECRI Institute, a nonprofit organization near Philadelphia that is dedicated to bringing the discipline of applied scientific research to healthcare to discover which medical procedures, devices, drugs, and processes enable improved patient care.

1990 s

Yukou Beppu (Japan) resides in Tokyo with wife Michiko. He has retired from his professorship at Seikei University in Tokyo, where he taught business management and finance at the Graduate School of Business. Yukou also retired from Textile Trading Co, Ltd.,

Jose Jorge Canales Martínez (Honduras) has been very busy working and traveling since leaving IHP in 2006.

Currently, Jose is a cameraman and satellite television technician at ENLACE Honduras, a Christian television station, and works in electric energy efficiency at Electric Energy Utility. Because of his work with the Honduran Institute of Norms designing energy efficiency norms, Jose had the opportunity to represent Honduras internationally at the Pan-American Institute of Technical Norms and at the International Electrotechnical Commission in 2015. He is also a virtual Ecology professor at Central Technological University. When he’s not working, Jose enjoys traveling.

In 2013, he visited Antarctica to witness climate change, ozone layer degradation, fossils and wildlife. He says he has visited all seven continents and 40 countries. Jose also enjoys satellite television and the Internet, research about natural sciences, and exercising.

Jose says he is happy to host alumni that are traveling to Honduras, and he hopes to visit Philadelphia this summer.

International House Philadelphia

Gustavo Ciarelli (Brazil) is excited to report that he, wife Manuela and four-year-old son Nicolas are doing well in Rio de Janeiro. Gustavo is an Analyst at the Brazilian National Film Agency – ANCINE, a regulatory body that oversees the promotion, regulation and inspection of the film and audiovisual market in Brazil. He also serves as Deputy Coordinator of a team that works with direct federal investments in the audiovisual markets. In addition, he teaches economics and managerial strategies postgraduate courses at SENAC, a technical college in Brazil.

Gustavo says that upon returning to Brazil, he finally decided to pursue his love of music: “I had always been interested in music, especially classical music, but had never found the motivation or the time to seriously pursue a deeper knowledge about it.”

After decisively taking the plunge to study and practice music, his new passion is playing the cello, which he loves playing for son Nicolas, who he hopes will share his love for music.

Babak Mahdavi Damghani (Iran) is the founder and head Quantitative Analyst at EQRC, a consulting company specializing in Electronic Trading & Machine Learning, Quantitative Finance & Volatility Modeling, Risk Management, Compliance & Control and Cognizant Social Engineering & Game Theory.

Earlier, Babak worked in vast areas of the financial industry. Well regarded by industry peers, he is an author of numerous publications and has been featured in quantitative finance journals.

Today, some of Babak’s models are used by practitioners in the quantitative finance industry and taught in Certificate in Quantitative Finance courses.

IHP President and CEO Tanya Steinberg hosted an intimate lunch at a quaint restaurant in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 7, 2016 for alumni Martin Sotola (Slovakia) , Pranam Shetty (India), pictured in the center, and Pranam’s wife Shilpa. Tanya introduced the two alums, who had never met prior to the lunch, and shared old photos of them during their time at I-House. “Tanya shared a special gift with me that brought back many beautiful memories from I-House. I am really looking forward to a reunion in the near future,” said Pranam. The trio enjoyed the afternoon catching up on old times and learning about current I-House news.

Cigdem Ogutveren Knebel (Turkey) is proud to announce that her first E-book, Sam is Stuck, will be released on Amazon this May. The book is inspired by her son Sam, who was diagnosed with dyslexia at age six. Cigdem, who serves on IHP’s Alumni Council, says Sam’s passion for reading led her on a quest to search for low-level/highcontent books. After much research, and then learning that low-level/high-content books did not exist, she was inspired to write for her son and thus project Simple Words Books was born. Sam is Stuck, the first book released in the Simple Words Books series, is about two children whose family day trip on the water turns into a fun adventure after meeting a fish in need of help. The book targets early beginners and young dyslexics. A Sam is Stuck Comprehension Question E-Guide will also be available for purchase in May.

Namrata Poddar (India) moved to Southern California after leaving IHP and graduating from University of Pennsylvania with a PhD in French in 2010, to teach at Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Faculty in Transnational Cultures at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is currently teaching at UCLA’s English Department and pursuing an MFA in Fiction at Bennington Writing Seminars. Her writing – short stories, critical essays, book reviews, and translation – has been published across the world. She lives with her husband in Huntington Beach, California and is currently working on her first short story collection. When she’s not teaching or writing, Namrata procrastinates on social media, travels, and adulterates family recipes in her kitchen. Carrot payasam, anyone?

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Nicole Shea (Germany) is Director of the Council for European Studies at Columbia University in New York. Prior to that role, she served as the Executive Director of the Eisenhower Leadership Center at West Point, where she helped shape the center’s interdisciplinary programs and global operation. She completed her undergraduate degree at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität in Germany, and earned her MA and PhD from Binghamton University in Comparative Literature. Nicole is a former Rotarian Ambassadorial Scholar and has published works focusing on German Modernism, Translation Studies, Gender Studies and Leadership Education through the Arts.

Pranam Shetty (India) says “life is good” in Minnesota since moving there in 2012. He is working as a Principal Systems Engineer with the Diagnostics Cardiac Rhythm and Heart Failure (CRHF) Group at Medtronic, Inc., and runs SmartBP, his own mobile application business. He reports that SmartBP, which is available in iOS and Android, has more than 1 million users and is ranked number one in over 114 countries in the medical category of the App Store. “I have some ideas how to scale it further and hopefully realize my dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur,” he says. When he’s not working, Pranam indulges in family time with his wife, Shilpa, and their toddler son, Samay. “We are having great fun and the time of our lives enjoying him,” he said. The couple has purchased a home in Plymouth, Minnesota and recently celebrated their 8th wedding anniversary. On February 18, 2016

Pranam visited IHP while on business near the Philadelphia area. During his visit, he reunited with IHP Chief Operating Officer Glenn Martin, IHP Leadership and Community Center Manager Deborah Houda and former Resident Advisor and alumnus Hasan Ayaz (Turkey) . The group had dinner at Sang Kee Noodle House near International House, where they bonded and caught up on life events.

Andrea Thies (United States) has remained in the Philadelphia area and is working in real estate for Greenzang Properties and Big Realty. Andrea was recently named to the Board of Trustees of the Rotary Club of Philadelphia. She says that she has remained in touch with alumnae Marieke Horn-Pennings (The Netherlands) and Marleen Kok (The Netherlands) . Andrea is excited to report that she and Marleen have already made plans to meet sometime this year.

Hiroki Tsunatori (Japan) says he is enjoying life in London, which he believes is similar to IHP in many ways: “I think London is the city most bustling with excitement. But, I know of a similar place rich in diversity, vitality and excitement, and that’s I-House!” Hiroki works for the Japanese Financial Institute in London as a Manager in the trade sector. Through his work, Hiroki conducts business with people from all over the world. He credits his experience at I-House with giving him relationshipbuilding fundamentals that he uses in his daily life: “Now I understand that I-House was my starting line for everything.”

Umut Yesilmen (Turkey) returned to Turkey and is working for Simsoft, a software company, as a Project Manager. He says he misses all of his IHP friends and thinks his “I-House experience is as important as a university degree.” Umut is happy to host anyone that plans to visit Istanbul.

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Kerina Khiudin (Malaysia) is happy to report that she gave birth to son Raymond LeGrande DeMaurez III in June 2014. She also celebrated her one-year wedding anniversary in February 2016 with husband Raymond II. Kerina and her family recently moved from Seattle, Washington to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where she works as a Patient Care Coordinator at a dental clinic. Kerina has also started her own business, MY-USA Study Abroad, which recruits and guides Malaysian high school seniors in applying to universities in the United States. Kerina also plans to create a short-term study abroad program for American students that would like to study and experience Malaysian culture.

International House Philadelphia

Carolina Jaquenod De Giusti (Argentina) returned to Argentina in 2013 to complete her PhD in Biological Sciences after her three-month research experience as a Fulbright Scholar at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Carolina is working as a researcher at the Faculty of Medical Science in Cardiovascular Research Center in Argentina. “My experience in Philly and in I-House was so amazing,” she says.

Carolina remains in touch with many of her I-House friends, some of whom are pictured above, from left: Marta Vigneri (Italy), Unknown, Pien Van Der Meijs (The Netherlands), Carolina Jaquenod De Giusti (Argentina), Nico Wertheimer (Argentina), Carmina Guirtart (Spain) and Aina Brunet Garcia (Spain). She plans to meet with alumnae Cecilia Da Rosha (Brazil) and Camille Schvester (France) this summer in Stockholm, Sweden.

Stephanie Finnel (United States) has remained in the Philadelphia area. For the past three years, she has worked in the Marketing Intelligence office at BAYADA Home Health Care, where she was recently promoted from Senior Manager to Associate Director. BAYADA Home Health Care provides medical and companion services at home to 26,000 clients in 21 states. Stephanie says she recently visited Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and had the opportunity to reunite with IHP alumnus Jose Antonio Alonso–Pavon (Mexico), also known as “Pepe” to his friends. It was the first time the pair had seen each after leaving IHP four years ago.

Niloofar Gholamrezaei (Iran) is pursuing a PhD in Fine Arts: Critical Studies and Artistic Practice, at Texas Tech University. She’s working hard on her art works and research in interdisciplinary of history, philosophy and art theory: “My research topic is the question of modernity, specifically in the Middle East. I’m also working on the idea of metonymy in the visual arts.” Niloofar is also a Teacher’s Assistant. After obtaining her degree, she plans to continue her career as an artist, teacher and researcher.

Cleiton Leandro (Brazil) says when he left IHP and returned to Brazil, he thought his life would remain the same, but new opportunities arose for him because of his ability to speak English, which he attributes to his time in the United States and at IHP. Cleiton now works as a Chemistry Analyst at Protheus Consultoria Química. “My experience (at IHP) was so important in my professional career. It improved my values and my respect for different points of view,” he says.

Mateus Macedo Quintano (Brazil) reports that he’s working on completing his undergraduate degree in Chemistry, and plans on attending a graduate program in the United States or United Kingdom. Mateus says he wants to

devote his academic life “to the study of theoretical approaches of chemistry and physics, to elucidate some of the microscopic phenomena of our universe.”

In 2015, Mateus got together with fellow IHP alums Felipe Cesar (Brazil), Michele Tonet (Brazil) and Livia Finoti (Brazil) in Felipe’s hometown, Poços de Caldas, Brazil. They had become friends while attending the University of Pennsylvania’s exchange program, Science without Borders. “I have precious memories of us spending plenty of hours in the I-House ‘basement’ on Fridays and Saturdays nights, which led to becoming best friends,” he adds.

Inhye Seo (Korea) says that after leaving IHP, she had the time of her life traveling through Europe before returning to Korea. Her recent travels took her to Germany, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Belgium, Holland, the United Kingdom and Spain. Though she faced some “small hiccups” along the way, like a broken carrier, and getting completely lost in Amsterdam, Inhye says she had a wonderful time meeting new people from different countries. She is happy to be home, but misses traveling.

Hasti Atashi Shirazi (Iran), pictured here with IHP Board of Trustees member Marc Duey, moved to Baltimore, Maryland after leaving IHP this year to pursue her research work in neurologic disorders at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. While at IHP, Hasti was a research scholar in the Department of Neurology at Thomas Jefferson University and a Multiple Sclerosis International Federation grantee. Though she is currently very busy working on two major research projects at Johns

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Hopkins, Hasti reports that she is adjusting well to her new life in Baltimore. She still finds time to enjoy interests including gemology, jewelry making and design. She says that she’s looking forward to warmer weather to have the opportunity to further explore her new city.

Juan Manuel Villa Carrero (Colombia) reports that he is currently in Barcelona, Spain working on his Theory and History of Architecture PhD dissertation at Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Superior Technical School of Architecture of Barcelona. Juan plans to return to Colombia in April to complete his dissertation, and resume his position as an Associate Professor at Francisco de Paula Santander University in Cucuta, Colombia.

Meg Wolensky (United States) graduated from Drexel University’s Arts Administration Master of Science Program in March 2016 after earning a Bachelor in Fine Arts from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in June 2014.

In the past year, Meg’s paintings were featured in several exhibitions, including the annual Emerging Talent Exhibition at Seraphin Gallery, the Philadelphia Sketch Club’s 152 Small Oils Exhibition, where she was awarded Best in Show, and the first exhibition of emerging female artists, Paper Dolls, at the Philadelphia Sketch Club. Her paintings were also featured at Rodger LaPelle Galleries in the “Reflections” exhibition in March 2016.

Meg reports that she was recently elected Arts Advocacy Director at Drexel University’s Arts Administration Graduate Association, and hired by the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, working in their visitor services and communications divisions.

From left: Roshini Ponnamperuma (United States), Alexandra Demetriou (Greece), Evangelos Demetriou (Greece), Kaori Hayashi (Japan), Ludo Scheffer (The Netherlands), Rachel Kirzner (United States), Antoine Rotival (France), Luisa Saffiotti (United States) and Paul Durand (Ireland)

A lu m n i R eu n i o n i n At h e n s , G r e e c e

J u ly 8 - J u ly 1 0

You are cordially invited to join IHP for an Alumni Reunion Weekend in Athens on Friday, July 8 – Sunday, July 10, 2016. Alumni and guests are encouraged to stay at the Royal Olympic Hotel, which is located in heart of Athens and walking distance to nearby attractions like the Acropolis and Plaka. Native alumnus Evangelos Demetriou (Greece, 1980s), his daughter and alumna Alexandra (Greece, 2010s) and his wife Katerina will join us in hosting the weekend’s festivities. More than 10 alumni are already committed and there is a list of other alums that may be joining in the fun!

In conjunction with this Reunion Weekend, Evangelos and his core group of I-House friends are also reuniting to honor the memory of Athens native and fellow IHP alumna Polyxeni “Jenny” Bougia (Greece, 1980s), who passed away two years ago. Evangelos and his I-House friends are still very close and hold informal reunions whenever possible.

For more information and detailed plans on the Alumni Reunion Weekend in Athens, please contact Alumni Relations Manager Shekeya Watkins at (215) 895-6598 or shekeyaw@ihphilly.org.

Call for Authors Have you written a book recently? If so, we want to help you spread the “word” to your fellow IHP alumni. To have a brief synopsis of your book featured in our next issue of I-World, please contact Alumni Relations Manager Shekeya Watkins at shekeyaw@ihphilly.org or (215) 895 - 6598.

International House Philadelphia

Residents Victor Bondaruk (Ukraine) and Carolyn Chua-Aguilera (Philippines) enjoyed the Welcome Back Reception

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I H P A lu m n i Ambassadors Needed Would you like to reengage with International House Philadelphia?

Would you like to reconnect with alumni around the world? Are you the type of person who enjoys contributing your time and talent to a worthy cause? If you answered yes to those questions, we’ve got a wonderful opportunity for someone like you!

We’re looking for enthusiastic alumni volunteers that would be willing to represent IHP in various geographical regions as Alumni Ambassadors. Alumni Ambassadors support the IHP Alumni Relations Department in bridging the gap between International House Philadelphia, alumni and potential residents.

If you found living at IHP to be a life-changing experience that broadened your horizons and helped you forge lasting friendships with fellow residents, we hope that you will consider joining our team of IHP Alumni Ambassadors.

Our Ambassadors:

Our Ambassadors:

• Correspond regularly with alumni to encourage engagement in planned activities; • Spearhead alumni initiatives in their geographical region, including planning reunions and outings; • Serve as a point-of-contact and resource for IHP alumni living in or visiting their region.

Ambassadors are still needed in Buenos Aires, Beijing, Colorado, London, Sao Paulo, Sydney and Toronto.

Please contact Shekeya Watkins, Alumni Relations Manager, at shekeyaw@ihphilly.org or by calling her at 215-895-6598 to learn more.

IHP Annual ALUMNI REUNION IN Philadelphia

Saturday, June 4, 2016

IHww Alumni Reception in London With Tanya Steinberg Thursday, June 30, 2016 IHP Alumni Reunion in Athens, Greece Friday, July 8 - Sunday, July 10, 2016

3701 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

www.iHousephilly.org Follow us on: International House Philadelphia – 3701 Chestnut Street – 215.387.5125 – www.ihousephilly.org