INTERNATIONAL HOUSE DAVIS Submitted by: Gloria St. John I never knew I had a daughter in China until Sherry became my friend last year through the International Friendship Program, administered by International House Davis and UCD’s Services to International Students and Scholars (SISS). As someone new to Davis I did not know many people. I considered the International Friendship Program a way to get to know at least one person. Sherry was a visiting scholar and a wife and mother whose husband and child were still in China. She was here for one year and expected her family to join her midyear – which they did. I met her for the first time at Davis’ Farmers Market. We shared lunch and got to know each other a bit. It turns out that she lived quite close to my home and rode her bicycle in the area quite frequently. Soon we took a bike ride – with both of us a bit vague about the lay of the land. We laughed as I laid down psychic string on the bike path – “Remember we turned left at this large oak tree,” and Sherry consulted her electronic device for map help. She was more successful in helping us navigate. Next we took a field trip to the Davis Food CO- OP. I explained how to buy food in bulk; how to sample sweets and how to buy granola and eat it for breakfast. Then we visited the personal care aisle and sampled several lotions and available in tester form. We rubbed on creams, sprayed perfume clouds and giggled like teenagers. I included Sherry in as many home and family events as possible. She was always at our table when my son came to visit, and we often had Italian food – a particular favorite of hers. At a small Christmas gathering, I introduced her to the strange custom of the white elephant gift exchange and she was a mighty force as she traded and bargained until she got the gift she wanted. Along with her roommates she hosted a Chinese New Year’s party where scrumptious food was plentiful as were the laughs when we had to play some games which apparently are part of the traditional celebration. Her son, George, was only three years old when the rest of the family arrived. One lovely spring day I invited her and her son to a ‘garden party’ where I hid plastic Easter eggs and introduced George to the absolutely enchanting – and baffling - custom of finding eggs, putting them in a basket, and hiding them again. Repetition is everything when you are three! Again, I was unable to explain this custom to Sherry who unsuccessfully tried to research it on her phone. We agreed that George did not require an explanation to have fun. What mattered were our family feelings and Continued on pg. 6 10 College Park, Davis, CA 95616 (530) 753-5007 www.internationalhousedavis.org December 2015 My Unknown Daughter Board of Directors Liz McCapes - President & Interim Facilities Committee Chair Robert Blake - Vice President Sharon Henn - Treasurer & Finance Committee Chair Koen Van Rompay - Secretary Easan Katir - Development Committee Chair Bob Halferty- Program Committee Chair Lorrie Bortuzzo Vinita Domier Kamal Lemseffer Phyllis McCalla Nathalie Minya Mary Philip Rahim Reed Krystyna von Henneberg Heghnar Watenpaugh Office Staff Lou Ziskind - Interim Executive Director Ryndie Azevedo - Office Manager Deb Killeen - Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator Scenes from International Festival Davis 2014 See insert for End of Year Giving Sherry and her family
Transcript
I N T E RNAT I O NA L H O U S E DAV I S
Submitted by: Gloria St. John
I never knew I had a daughter in China until Sherry became my friend last year through the International Friendship Program,
administered by International House Davis and UCD’s Services to International Students and Scholars (SISS).
As someone new to Davis I did not know many people. I considered the International Friendship Program a way to get to know at least one person. Sherry was a visiting scholar and a wife and mother whose husband and child were still in China. She was here for one year and expected her family to join her midyear – which they did. I met her for the first time at Davis’ Farmers Market. We shared lunch and got to know each other a bit. It turns out that she lived quite close to my home and rode her bicycle in the area quite frequently. Soon we took a bike ride – with both of us a bit vague about the lay of the land. We laughed as I laid down psychic string on the bike path – “Remember we turned left at this large oak tree,” and Sherry consulted her electronic device for map help. She was more successful in helping us navigate. Next we took a field trip to the Davis Food CO-OP. I explained how to buy food in bulk; how to sample sweets and how to buy granola and eat it
for breakfast. Then we visited the personal care aisle and sampled several lotions and available in tester form. We rubbed on creams, sprayed perfume clouds and giggled like teenagers. I included Sherry in as many home and family events as possible. She was always at our table when my son came to visit, and we often had Italian food – a particular favorite of hers. At a small Christmas gathering, I introduced her to the strange custom of the white elephant gift exchange and she was a mighty force as she traded and bargained until she got the gift she wanted. Along with her roommates she hosted a Chinese New Year’s party where scrumptious food was plentiful as were the laughs when we had to play some games which apparently are part of the traditional celebration.
Her son, George, was only three years old when the rest of the family arrived. One lovely spring day I invited her and her son to a ‘garden party’ where I hid plastic Easter eggs and introduced George to the absolutely enchanting – and baffling - custom of finding eggs, putting them in a basket, and hiding them again. Repetition is everything when you are three! Again, I was unable to explain this custom to Sherry who unsuccessfully tried to research it on her phone. We agreed that George did not require an explanation to have fun. What mattered were our family feelings and
Continued on pg. 6
10 College Park, Davis, CA 95616 (530) 753-5007
www.internationalhousedavis.org
December 2015
My Unknown Daughter
Board of Directors
Liz McCapes - President & Interim Facilities
Committee Chair
Robert Blake - Vice President
Sharon Henn -
Treasurer & Finance Committee Chair
Koen Van Rompay -
Secretary
Easan Katir - Development Committee Chair
Bob Halferty-
Program Committee Chair
Lorrie Bortuzzo
Vinita Domier
Kamal Lemseffer
Phyllis McCalla
Nathalie Minya
Mary Philip
Rahim Reed
Krystyna von Henneberg
Heghnar Watenpaugh
Office Staff
Lou Ziskind - Interim Executive Director
Ryndie Azevedo - Office Manager
Deb Killeen - Outreach and
Volunteer Coordinator
Scenes from International Festival Davis 2014
See insert for End
of Year Giving
Sherry and her family
December Friday, Dec. 4: International Film Ser ies presents “Tangerine.” Doors open at 7:30, film starts at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9: Connections social group meets in the Community Room for conversation and coffee from 10-11:30 a.m. free, public invited. This week is a special Holiday Party! Wednesday, Dec. 9: The Davis Chapter of the United Nations Association holds a celebration of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Friday, Dec. 11: Art Exhibit: One Plus One Equals 3 6:00 p.m -8:00 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11: Club International holds winter potluck in the Activities room. 6:30pm. Wednesday, Dec. 16: Connections social group meets in the Community Room for conversation and coffee from 10-11:30 a.m. free, public invited. Friday, Dec. 18: International Film Ser ies return with “Certified Copy” Doors open at 7:30, film starts at 8 p. m. Wednesday, Dec. 23: No Connections this Week Thursday, Dec. 24: I-House closes to the public until January 4th. No classes will be held during this time! Sunday, Dec. 27: I-House Pre-New Year’s Celebration from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. January Monday, Jan. 4: I-House opens and regular business hours resume! Sunday, Jan. 10: Storytelling: “Imani’ Moon” Doors open 1:45 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15: International Film Ser ies returns. Film to be announced. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29: International Film Ser ies holds a 5th Friday showing. Film to be announced. Doors open at 7:30pm.
For additional events see our website calendar!
Dec 2015 & Jan 2016 Calendar
I-House In Pictures
Abbas Mohamed, left, taught a Pakistani/Indian cooking class at I-House. See pg. 5 for his recipe for
Matar Palao.
Ryerson Patio gets a much needed upgrade, ensuring that I-House can be enjoyed for years to come!
Storyteller Alan Candee leads the children during his program “American Songs from Many Lands”, which
mixed music and storytelling.
10 College Park, Davis, CA 95616 (530) 753-5007
www.internationalhousedavis.org
December 2015 Page 3
International Film Series Schedule (Now in its 19th year!)
Shown at International House, 10 College Park, on the first and third Friday nights,
Sept. - June
Sponsored by the UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF DAVIS and I-HOUSE
There is no charge, but donations are welcomed and gratefully accepted to help cover the cost of DVD rental or purchase, facilities use, cups, plates, etc. and the refreshments that are served at 7:30 p.m. Programs begin promptly at 8.
December 2015 Schedule December 4, 2015 Tangerines (2013, Estonia/Georgia, written and directed by Zaza Urushadze, 87 min.) The film takes place during the 1992-93 conflict between Georgia and Abkhazia that displaced numbers of people, among them many Estonians who lived in the area but returned to their homeland during the war. Two Estonian men remain in a village to harvest the season’s crop of tangerines. Ivo (Lembit Ulfsak) makes the wooden crates for Margus’ (Elmo Nüganen) tangerines. Before the harvest is completed, two wounded survivors from opposite sides of the war end up in Ivo’s home: Ahmed (Giorgi Nakashidse), a Chechen mercenary on the Abkhazian side and Niko (Mikheil Meskhi), a Georgian volunteer. Initially the soldiers are determined to kill each other once they recover, but Ivo secures a pledge from both that they will not carry out this vengeance while he shelters them under his roof. As they share daily meals and stories with each other and the two Estonians, their belligerence softens and they begin to recognize each other’s humanity. Nominated for 2015 Best Foreign Language Oscar. (#388) December 18, 2015 Certified Copy (2010, France/Italy/Belgium/Iran, directed by Abbas Kiarostami,106 min.) Set in Tuscany, the film focuses on a British writer, James Miller (opera singer William Shimell in his first film role) and a French antique dealer, Elle or She (Juliette Binoche) who meet as a result of his conducting a lecture and book signing for his new publication titled “Certified Copy,” which argues that in art issues of authenticity are irrelevant, because every reproduction is itself an original and even the original is a copy of another form. During the afternoon they spend together in a beautiful landscape their relationship transforms itself in several dimensions, leaving the viewer puzzled to determine which is the true reality and which is the certified copy. Also with Jean-Claude Carrière as the Man in the Square, Agathe Natanson as the Woman in the Square, Gianna Giachetti as the Café owner, Adrian Moore as the Son, Angelo Barbagallo as the Interpreter, Andrea Laurenzi as the Guide and Filippo Troiano and Manuela Balsimelli as the Groom and Bride. (#389)
Volunteer Opportunities
at I-House!
International House Davis is
always ready to welcome
volunteers to help with
various events, programs,
and class instruction. Here
are some of the many ways
in which you can help.
Cooking Class Instructors
Language Class Instructors
Facilities maintenance and gardening
Special Events
International Festival Davis
If you are interested in any of these volunteer opportunities, please contact I-House at: [email protected] or 530-753-5007.
The International Film Series will take a break for the holidays and resume on
Friday, January 15th, 2016. There will also be a movie on the fifth Friday,
January 29th, 2016.
Check our website or weekly e-newsletter for information about the January titles.
I-House Thanksgiving reminds us all how grateful we are for our community
F riendship and fellowship highlighted International House’s celebration of
Thanksgiving on Saturday, November 21st . With a room full of people a sharing of good will and fun accompanied the delicious dinner. Our volunteers were extraordinary and we wanted to say THANK YOU for all they did to make the dinner so successful. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize and say thank you to the wonderful sponsors of our Thanksgiving Dinner: THE BUCKHORN RESTAURANT IN WINTERS OUR HOUSE RESTAURANT DAVIS UCD'S DINING SERVICES/SODEXO PEET'S COFFEE IN DAVIS
THE MANY, MANY VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO CONTRIBUTED FOOD DISHES FOR OUR DINNER OUR INCREDIBLE STAFF AND THE INTERNATIONAL HOUSE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
During our Thanksgiving dinner we were honored to have Andrew Kim, District Project Director for Congressman John Garamendi, present a Congressional Commendation to Liz McCapes, Board President, in recognition of International House Davis and in honor of
International House's Board of Directors. Please plan on joining us next year on November 19th for a truly engaging celebration of friendship and goodwill! ■
News in Brief
I-House Closed Dec. 24—Jan. 4
I-House will be closed for the winter holidays beginning Thursday, December 24th and will reopen on Monday, January 4th. No classes will be held during this time. For questions or concerns please email staff as usual. Happy holidays and happy new year!
Thank you for supporting us during Giving Tuesday!
On behalf of our Board of Directors thank you to everyone who participated in Giving Tuesday by donating to International House. Louis and Georgette Grivetti, Anne Duffey, Sharon Henn, Donald Palm, Liz McCapes, Jeannette Hogan, Steven Mok, and Sherry Jeng, your generous contributions have helped I-House continue to present programs, activities, language and movement classes and community engagement. We so appreciate your invaluable support to our vital organization.
Board of Directors begins Strategic
Planning International House Davis has recently begun a strategic planning process to assess its current programs and to develop a three to five year plan of action. The process will take place in 2016 over a period of four days and will include I-House board members, staff, community and UCD representatives. I-House is keenly aware of the need to be responsive to both our international and local communities and the planning process is being designed to identify how best to fully utilize our resources.
Ryerson Patio is being renovated Ryerson patio is being renovated for better drainage and accessibility! This renovation will allow more people to use I-House for years to come. Please use the parking lot entrance to access the Hagan Room for classes.
Sunday(s) @ I-House Pre-New Years Celebration Dec. 27th, 7pm
Please join us Sunday, December 27th, to mark the end of the fourth year of Sunday(s) @ I-House with a Pre-New Year's Celebration. The festivity will commence at 7pm as Chris Pilon, Eileen Jaffe, and Michael Ann Pedone Five Three Oh! take us on a musical excursion through pop and rock songs of the '60s - '70s; with stops at original, personal tunes, as well. Then JW & Friends - Ron Goldberg, Wendy Silk, and Rocky King will bring our commemoration of the year into fine focus through a liberal mix of jazz, r&b, and message songs of the 60s. Suggested donation for this family friendly event is $5 - $20. Any size donation is appreciated. Hot and cold beverages and desserts will be available to purchase. Doors open: 6:45pm.
Thanksgiving Dinner 2015
Elisabeth Sherwin, recently retired Execu-tive Director, came to visit! (From left:
Sandy Holman, Sharon Henn, Elisabeth Sherwin, Koen Van Rompay
10 College Park, Davis, CA 95616 (530) 753-5007
www.internationalhousedavis.org
December 2015 Page 5
cultures, the vendors, a bake sale and representatives of our business community all added to a magnificent and unforgettable day. Thank you to our sponsors of the event: The City of Davis, Brown Construction Company, The UC Davis Office of Campus Community Relations, the UC Davis
O n October 4th, 2015 International House Davis proudly hosted its fifth annual International Festival
in Central Park, Davis. As always, the International Festival celebrated ‘unity in diversity’. The music, the dancing, the parade of flags, the fashion show, a wonderful assembly of
5th Annual International Festival brings the world to Davis
Matar Palao by Abbas Mohamed Recipe 4 cups of rice 4 oz onions 1 cup oil 2 tablespoon crushed garlic 2 teaspoon white whole cumin 2 cups frozen peas 6 cups of water 2 cubes of chicken stock 4 teaspoons of salt
Method Soak rice in water for 2 hours. Bring oil to medium heat, and add finely chopped
onions until they turn golden brown. Once brown, turn off the heat, and add the
crushed garlic. Then, add the white whole cumin and turn the heat back on. Mix
well, and then add the peas, followed by water and chicken stock. Add salt, and
bring to a boil. And the drained rice and bring to a boil once more. Keep on
medium heat until holes appear. Then cover with a tight lid and keep on lowest
heat possible for 15 minutes. Enjoy!
Recipe from I-House Pakistani/Indian
Cooking Class
Confucius Institute and Wells Fargo. And thank you to the I-House board of directors, the staff and all of the 100+ volunteers who made the Festival possible and so successful! ■
Please mark your calendars for next year when the sixth
annual International Festival will be held on
October 2, 2016!
Scenes from International Festival 2015
Scenes from International Festival
Artists’ Statement:
T he “meaning” of a piece of art is not fixed but varies depending on the artist’s circumstances, the medium,
and the perspective of the viewer. In this exhibit we show pairs of art work done in our respective media. We feel that the art seen as pairs inspires feelings different from those of the individual pieces seen alone. By this we hope to demonstrate for each pair that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts – that “One Plus One Equals Three”.
Frank Roe
P hotography has been a love of mine for over fifty years. During my graduate school struggles I could
escape to my darkroom and listen to classical music and the gentle trickle of water rinsing fixer from my prints. Black and white images had magically appeared on paper, revealing strong composition and impressive tonality. Ultimately, I took up color photography, with its wide range of creative tools and
One Plus One Equals Three by Frank Roe and Jeffrey Granett
(Photos and prints interacting one on one) December 11th, 2015—February 8th, 2016
immediate visual feedback. But I still occasionally preferred shooting in black and white. To me, it avoided distractions that overwhelmed character seen in people’s faces. Each has a purpose. The photos I present here were ones I took in the early years of my photographic voyage. With new and inexpensive ways to convert color slides and black and white negatives to digital files I was able to revisit many powerful experiences that I had forgotten.
Jeffrey Granett
I have been making prints since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Most of the pieces are linoleum block prints. However, since
retiring I have been exploring drypoint intaglio prints using Plexiglas or polystyrene as the worked surface. Although I sometimes print in multiple colors, I also often brush colors on individual prints as well. I am learning to use textures, light, and dark to create visual compositions. Currently most of my prints are abstract pictures. Although identifiable objects may be difficult to find, I often draw the beginning sketches for them based on my experiences. ■
My Unknown Daughter— Continued from pg. 1 shared laughs and concern for each other. This closeness and mutual appreciation permeated all our times together. We
loved each other and said it often. We knew our time together was short, but we never held back from deepening our friendship and connection.
Sherry has returned to China, and it is unlikely I will see her again, but we email at least weekly. I am her American mother and she is my Chinese daughter. Without the International Friendship program we would never have met. But we did meet and our lives are infinitely richer because of it.
Note: The International Friendship Program aims to build long lasting cross cultural friendships between international students/scholars/visitors and members of the Davis community. Building bridges across cultures and making students and visitors feel welcome are the primary goals. There are no home stays involved. For more information: www.internationalhousedavis.org. Look under “Programs” ■
Gloria St. John is a Davis resident
Sherry
Have your say in the I-House Newsletter!
Submit articles for consideration by January 15th for the February Newsletter. Send articles to Lou
Individuals The Vanderhoef Family Marian Shackel Iradj Mahrouzadeh Chris and Chrisy Dewees John and Regina Hamel Georgette and Louis Grivetti Anne Duffey Ray and Verena Borton Elmer and Arlene Learn John and Johanna Stek Helen and Captane Thomson Fred and Mary Bliss Andrew and Judith Gabor Mitzi Aguirre Myra Ann Gable Claire Bradley
Clarence Van Hook James Shackelford Anne Lincoln Mark Kropp Jeffrey and Sandra Granett Douglass Underwood Greg and Pamela Sparks Donald and Joanne Nielson Frank Roe Les and Mary DeWall Arun Sen James Murphy Sean Johnston Eina and Thomas Dutton Elisabeth Sherwin Mary Philip Liz McCapes
THANK YOU to all who recently renewed memberships and welcome to our new members. Every membership is very
important to the daily operation of I-House. The following individuals, businesses, and organizations have recently given
$100 or more to I-House. Your generous support is much appreciated.
Lorrie Bortuzzo Robert Blake Businesses/Organizations Talon Entertainment A Grand Affair Davis Enterprise United Nations Association, Davis Chapter Edward Jones –Michael Clark Avantpage, Inc. Moore and Moore Attourneys at Law Schoenleber & Waltermire Law Office Tandem Properties Yolo Federal Credit Union
Western States Endurance Run CBM Wealth Management Sycamore Lane Dental Care Davis Food Co-Op Fleet Feet Sports Wells Fargo Bank Thomas Dental Care De Luna Jewelers Davis Swim and Fitness The Progressive Business Exchange Buckhorn Restaurant in Winters Our House Restaurant in Davis Sodexo/UCD Dining Services Peet’s Coffee in Davis
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. Postage Permit No. 147
Davis, CA 95616
International House Davis
promotes respect and appreciation
for all people and cultures. We
encourage a global community by
providing many opportunities for
cross-cultural interaction and
exchange.
I-House Davis is a non-profit, community-based organization whose activities are largely supported by membership dues and donations. I-House is a 501(c)3 organization. Federal Tax ID #94-2822-342.
dates and times** Capoeira English Conversation English Writing Farsi French German Italian, Advanced Japanese Korean Portuguese Sacred Circle Dancing Salsa Spanish Tai Chi Tango Yoga
