My name is Arthur (pictured on the left with Peter who is from Egypt) and I wanted to share my thoughts on the 2 months I lived at the I-House. It has been a wonderful experience to me, both social and human that made me grow and evolve a lot.

At first, it was difficult for me to live with a lot of people and especially to share a room. I wasn’t used to it at all. Indeed, I have been living by myself as a student for 2 years now and to share a room with someone that I didn’t know was quite something new for me. This is the first insight of the “I-House experience” - you learn about others and their cultures.

You learn that everyone may not live as you live and it is a good way to open your mind.

The I-House is a cultural melting pot. I have met incredible people throughout my stay and I had the chance to make friends from all around the world: Egypt, Japan, South Korea, Lebanon, Brazil, the US, Israel… and more.  Even though I came back to France sooner that I was supposed to due to the pandemic, I know that if someday I go to visit a country, I will be welcomed by a friend that I made at the I-House. That’s the power of this House. It links people from all around the world forever. That’s something beautiful, precious that I will forever feel grateful for having lived it.

When I left the House and came back to France, it was hard because I was living alone again. I spent more than 2 months living around people every day. There was always someone on the first floor to talk to or to do something with. It was full of experiences to share with others and it took me a couple weeks to adjust myself to living alone again.
I really wanted to share my feelings with you and I hope it will help future international students to have a clear understanding of the I-House better and how much of an amazing adventure it could be for you.

If you would like to live near the SJSU campus with 70 enrolled, exchange, and ESL students who come from around the world, you will definitely enjoy living at I-House.

I-House accommodates residents from 20-35 countries worldwide each semester. In general, our residents range in age from 17 to 35 years of age, study in a wide variety of programs offered on the SJSU campus, and enroll in graduate, undergraduate, and English language programs. As much as possible, roommates are matched according to compatible interests and personal habits. After the first semester at the I-House, residents have the opportunity to choose a roommate and designate a preferred room.

The I-House is also available for use by conference groups and organizations.

"In the I-House, my roommates and neighbors came from different parts of the world. We became good friends. I travelled in Japan, and met FIVE IHouse friends there! Then I headed to Europe, and I hung out with my I-House neighbors there as well. In a word, with the I-House friendship, I will never feel lonely when traveling the world. "

-Mengyuan Ren, China