International House Founder’s Day: Welcome Candle Lighting Ceremony
TUE., OCT. 5, 2021
The Candle Lighting Ceremony is one of the oldest traditions at International House, dating back to before International House of Chicago was established in 1932. Today, this event continues to bring together our community and symbolizes sharing experiences and knowledge with friends from many parts of the world. Join us to meet and enjoy dinner together with the other 2021-2022 Graduate Fellows and Interns from 34 different countries. Registration is required.
Grad Kickoff Carnival
WED., OCT. 6, 2021
Kick-start the year and celebrate the return of in-person programming with us at this fun filled carnival themed event for grad students! Registration is required.
GRAD Book Club
WED., OCT. 13, 2021
Join us at International House for our next Book Club. In recognition of Latinx Heritage Month, we'll be reading the works from author María García Esperón and illustrator Amanda Mijangos, both from Mexico, and Mexican-American translator David Bowles. Their talents have woven this collection of stories from nations and cultures across our two continents—The Sea-Ringed World, as the Aztecs called it—from the edge of Argentina all the way up to Alaska. Registration is required.
Show Me Chicago: Pilsen Neighborhood
THU., OCT. 14, 2021
Come along to explore the colorful murals of Pilsen neighborhood and enjoy some food and beverages with other graduate students. We'll meet at the front of I-House to take public transport together and walk around the artwork that this neighborhood is famous for before stopping for food at La Vaca. Each attendee will need to cover their own costs. Registration is required.
Run ‘n’ Brunch
Weekly on Saturday throughout Autumn Quarter
Join us for Running Club! Whether you're a beginner or a big-time mega-marathoner, come run. Run from your homework. Run from your deadlines. Come run for fun. Brunch is included at Medici following the run. Registration is required.
[Virtual] International Cooking Club
SUN., OCT. 24, 2021
Join us for our virtual International Cooking Club! We're making baked tofu & carrot lentil salad with paneer & pepper skewers. We'll provide the ingredients for the first 20 students to register in advance. You must be able to collect the ingredients from International House between 10AM-4PM the Thursday before the event. Additional unregistered students can also join the demonstration! This program is exclusively for graduate students. Registration is required.
Halloween Mixer
TUE., OCT. 26, 2021
It’s spooky season at International House! Come along to mingle with other graduate students at this scary themed gathering with food and drinks provided. Costumes are strongly encouraged! Registration is required.
GRAD Book Club
WED., OCT. 27, 2021
Join us at International House for our next Book Club. For our next meeting, we're reading The Poetic Edda: Stories of the Norse Gods and Heroes. These amazing texts from a 13th-century Icelandic manuscript are of huge historical, mythological and literary importance, containing the lion's share of information that survives today about the gods and heroes of pre-Christian Scandinavians, their unique vision of the beginning and end of the world. Registration is required.
Watch Party for Inauguration of Paul Alivisatos as President of UChicago
FRI., OCT. 29, 2021
Join us at International House as we gather to watch the Inauguration of Paul Alivisatos as its 14th president beginning at 10 a.m. on Oct. 29 at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel. The ceremony, which will be webcast live on the inauguration website, will include welcome remarks from faculty, student, staff, and alumni representatives of the University community; a poetry reading by Prof. Srikanth Reddy, from his epic “Underworld Lit”; and musical performances featuring the work of Prof. Augusta Read Thomas. It also will feature guest speakers Carol Christ, chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley; and Prof. Steven Chu of Stanford University, former U.S. Secretary of Energy. Registration is required.
Diwali Celebration
WED., NOV. 03, 2021
Join us at International House to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, on November 3rd. Come for dinner, drinks, and performances throughout the evening. Registration is required.
Livestream of BECOMING: Michelle Obama in Conversation
TUE., NOV. 09, 2021
Join us over lunch to watch the livestream of Michelle Obama in conversation with students about themes in her memoir Becoming. The first 25 people to register and show up receive a free copy of Becoming. Lunch and drinks provided. Registration is required.
GRAD Book Club
WED., NOV. 10, 2021
Join us at International House for our next Book Club. For our next meeting, we're reading Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others. The myths collected here, originally written in cuneiform on clay tablets, include parallels with the biblical stories of the Creation and the Flood, and the famous Epic of Gilgamesh, the tale of a man of great strength, whose heroic quest for immortality is dashed through one moment of weakness. Registration is required.
Deusi-Bhailo
WED., NOV. 10, 2021
Join us for our first Nepali event, Deusi-Bhailo, as part of the festival of Tihar. Bhailo and Deusi are traditional songs that are sung during the festivities as people go to various homes in their community, collecting money, sweets, and food and giving blessings for prosperity. Bhailo is generally sung by girls, while Deusi is sung by boys, and both will be followed by a traditional meal! Come along to learn more and to experience the Nepali culture together with other graduate students! Registration is required.
GRAD Book Club
WED., NOV. 24, 2021
Join us for our last meeting of the quarter as we explore African Myths of Origin. Gathering a wide range of traditional African myths, this collection offers tales of heroes battling mighty serpents and monstrous birds, brutal family conflict and vengeance, and desperate migrations across vast and alien lands. From impassioned descriptions of animal-creators to dramatic stories of communities forced to flee monstrous crocodiles, all the narratives found here concern origins—whether of the universe, peoples or families. Together, they create a kaleidoscopic picture of the rich and varied oral traditions that have shaped the culture and society of successive generations of Africans for thousands of years, throughout the long struggle to survive and explore this massive and environmentally diverse continent. Registration is required.
[Virtual] International Cooking Club
SUN., DEC. 05, 2021
Join us for our virtual International Cooking Club! We'll provide the ingredients for the first 20 students to register in advance. You must be able to collect the ingredients from International House between 10AM-4PM the Thursday before the event. Additional unregistered students can also join the demonstration! This program is exclusively for graduate students. Registration is required.
Christmas Around the World @ Museum of Science and Industry
WED., DEC. 08, 2021
Join us for a trip at the Museum of Science and Industry to see the Christmas trees from around the world! We'll meet at I-House at 09:30AM and plan to walk over to the museum together to arrive by 10:00AM and end at 12:00PM. We'll have hot chocolate waiting for you at I-House for the walk too! Please meet in the foyer at the door on South Dorchester Ave. Registration is required.
Zoo Lights with International House
TUE., DEC. 14, 2021
Come along to check out one of Chicago's must-see holiday attractions with other grad students! We'll meet at the front of I-House at 4:15PM and take public transport together to Lincoln Park Zoo to wander through the glow of millions of lights. The cost of transport to and from the zoo is covered by International House but you may wish to make additional purchases (including food/drink). We plan to return to Hyde Park by 8PM. Registration is required.
The Nutcracker by Joffrey Ballet
WED., DEC. 15, 2021
Come along to enjoy this beautiful performance of the famous story about a young girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on Christmas Eve and wages a battle against the evil Mouse King. We'll meet at the front of I-House at 5:45PM and leave promptly at 6PM to take public transport to the theatre (cost included). You may wish to bring money to make additional purchases such as drinks and snacks. Spaces at this discounted price are limited! Registration is required.
Holiday Skating Extravaganza
FRI., DEC. 17, 2021
Join us for a day of ice skating surrounded by the Chicago skyline, exploring the enchanting Christkindlmarket, and caroling by The Bean. We'll start our day by meeting in front of International House at 1:45PM (1414 E 59th St). Together we'll travel by Metra to Millennium Park for ice skating surrounded by the beautiful Chicago skyline. We'll have a chance to explore the delicacies, knickknacks, and festive hustle and bustle of the German Christkindlmarket before ending our evening at The Bean for the Millennium Park holiday sing-along at 6PM. We plan to return to International House by 7PM. Registration for discounted skate rental has already sold out! Additional students can still register to join the group, however, you will need to purchase your own skate rental in advance for $15. Registration is required.
[Virtual] International Cooking Club
SUN., JAN. 16, 2022
Join us for our virtual International Cooking Club! We'll provide the ingredients for the first 20 students to register in advance. You must be able to collect the ingredients from International House between 10AM-4PM the Thursday before the event. Additional unregistered students can also join the demonstration! This program is exclusively for graduate students. Registration is required.
[Virtual] GRAD Book Club
WED., JAN. 19, 2022
We're kickstarting Winter Quarter with Aboriginal Australian acclaimed play, "Stolen" by Jane Harrison. The Book Club returns next week and this quarter, we're focusing on plays from around the world! Stolen tells the story of five young Aboriginal children forcibly removed from their parents and trained for domestic service. Segregated from society since their earliest years, they are faced with the challenge of adjusting to the outside world later in life. The pain, poignancy and sheer desperation of their lives is seen through the children’s own eyes as they struggle to make sense of a world where they have been told to forget their families, their homes and their language. This tender and moving story, awash with childlike humor, brings the tragic history of the Stolen Generations to the Australian stage. Registration is required.
[Virtual] Crafternoon: Create Your Own Tote Bag!
WED., JAN. 19, 2022
Join our first Crafternoon event to get creative with other grad students! At this virtual meeting, we'll decorate canvas tote bags with fabric markers. Canvas tote bags are great for crafting and simply drawing on them with fabric markers is a really fun, easy project! You can personalize your bag or use drawing ideas that are provided. This craft also leaves time to chat and connect with other graduate students. We’ll provide the craft supplies to those who register in advance; however, you must be able to collect these from I-House on Tuesday, January 18 between 10AM-4PM. Additional unregistered students can also join the meeting!
[Virtual] International Cooking Club
SUN., JAN. 30, 2022
Join us for our virtual International Cooking Club! We'll provide the ingredients for the first 20 students to register in advance. You must be able to collect the ingredients from International House between 10AM-4PM the Thursday before the event. Additional unregistered students can also join the demonstration! This program is exclusively for graduate students. Registration is required.
Argyle Lunar New Year Celebration
SAT., FEB. 5, 2022
Join us as we celebrate Lunar New Year in Uptown and explore the local businesses of Argyle! This program is exclusively for graduate students at least 21 years of age. Registration is required: https://argylelunarnewyear22.eventbrite.com .
GRAD Book Club: Black History Month
WED., FEB. 9, 2022
Join us for our second meeting of the quarter as we discuss August Wilson's GEM OF THE OCEAN. Gem of the Ocean is the play that begins it all. Set in 1904 Pittsburgh, it is chronologically the first work in August Wilson’s decade-by-decade cycle dramatizing the African American experience during the 20th century—an unprecedented series that includes the Pulitzer Prize–winning plays Fences and The Piano Lesson. Aunt Esther, the drama’s 287-year-old fiery matriarch, welcomes into her Hill District home Solly Two Kings, who was born into slavery and scouted for the Union Army, and Citizen Barlow, a young man from Alabama searching for a new life. Gem of the Ocean recently played across the country and on Broadway, with Phylicia Rashad as Aunt Esther. Earlier in 2005, on the completion of the final work of his ten play cycle-surely the most ambitious American dramatic project undertaken in our history-August Wilson disclosed his bout with cancer, an illness of unusual ferocity that would eventually claim his life on October 2. Fittingly the Broadway theatre where his last play will be produced in 2006 has been renamed the August Wilson Theater in his honor. His legacy will animate the theatre and stir the human heart for decades to come. Map and Directions. Registration is required.
Black History Month Book Club
WED., FEB. 9, 2022
Join us for our bi-weekly book club event. This week will feature Gem of the Ocean, the play that begins it all. Set in 1904 Pittsburgh, it is chronologically the first work in August Wilson’s decade-by-decade cycle dramatizing the African American experience during the 20th century—an unprecedented series that includes the Pulitzer Prize–winning plays Fences and The Piano Lesson. Aunt Esther, the drama’s 287-year-old fiery matriarch, welcomes into her Hill District home Solly Two Kings, who was born into slavery and scouted for the Union Army, and Citizen Barlow, a young man from Alabama searching for a new life. Gem of the Ocean recently played across the country and on Broadway, with Phylicia Rashad as Aunt Esther.
Registration is required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-history-month-book-club-gem-of-the-ocean-by-august-wilson-tickets-261461015937
[Virtual] International Cooking Club
SUN., FEB. 13, 2022
Join us for our virtual International Cooking Club! We'll provide the ingredients for the first 20 students to register in advance. You must be able to collect the ingredients from International House between 10AM-4PM the Thursday before the event. Additional unregistered students can also join the demonstration! This program is exclusively for graduate students. Registration is required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-international-cooking-club-tickets-251598075617
Valentines Day Social
MON., FEB. 14, 2022
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with International House! Feel the love, have lunch with other graduate students and make your own vanilla peppermint salt scrub. This amazing Valentine’s Day salt scrub will have you feeling refreshed - just the perfect treat for yourself or a loved one. If you are not that into crafting, there is also the possibility to only have lunch. Please let us know when you register!
[Virtual] International Cooking Club
SUN., FEB. 27, 2022
Join us for our virtual International Cooking Club! We'll provide the ingredients for the first 20 students to register in advance. You must be able to collect the ingredients from International House between 10AM-4PM the Thursday before the event. Additional unregistered students can also join the demonstration! This program is exclusively for graduate students. Registration is required.
Mardi Gras Celebration
TUE., MAR. 1, 2022
Join us at International House to celebrate Mardi Gras! Come for dinner, drinks, and tons of fun throughout the evening. This event is free and exclusively for graduate students. Registration is required.
GRAD Book Club
WED., MAR. 2, 2022
Join us at International House for the book club as we read another play, this time with Henrik Ibsen's: “The Lady from the Sea”. This Program is exclusively free but for Grad students. Registration is required.
Crafternoon: Embroidery for beginners
WED., MAR. 9, 2022
Join International House for our first in-person Crafternoon event. In this beginner workshop, you’ll master embroidery basics as you complete a cute little hoop matching spring season. Registration is required.
[Virtual] International Cooking Club
SUN., MAR. 13, 2022
Join us for our virtual International Cooking Club as we make Red Lentil Soup and Tabbouleh! We'll provide the ingredients for the first 20 students to register in advance. You must be able to collect the ingredients from International House between 10AM-4PM the Thursday before the event. Additional unregistered students can also join the demonstration! This program is exclusively for graduate students. Registration is required.
GRAD Book Club
WED., MAR. 16, 2022
Join us for our next meeting as we read the work of Brazilian playwright Nelson Rodrigues. Nelson Falcão Rodrigues (August 23, 1912 – December 21, 1980) was a Brazilian playwright, journalist and novelist. In 1943, he helped usher in a new era in Brazilian theater with his play Vestido de Noiva (Wedding Dress), considered revolutionary for the complex exploration of its characters' psychology and its use of colloquial dialogue. He went on to write many other seminal plays and today is widely regarded as Brazil's greatest playwright. The volume we will read from contains brand-new translations of the plays Wedding Dress; Waltz No. 6; All Nudity Will Punished; Forgive Me for Your Betrayal; Family Portraits; Black Angel and Seven Little Kitties. We will read selected excerpts. Registration is required.
Crafternoon: Knot your own plant hanger!
WED., MAR. 16, 2022
Join International House for this special Crafternoon event. During this workshop, we'll build Macrame Plant Hangers. Plants have been donated from Grad Council! No previous skills required. Registration is required.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
THU., MAR. 17, 2022
It is time to get your green on! Come celebrate St. Patrick's Day at International House with food and friends. This lucky day is commonly known as a celebration of Irish culture. You will be green with envy if you miss it! This program is free and exclusively for graduate students at least 21 years of age. We encourage you to wear green! Registration is required.
GRAD Book Club
WED., MAR. 30, 2022
Join us for the first meeting of this quarter as we shift our focus to Comic Books! At this meeting we will read Hergé's The Adventures of Tintin, volume 1. Hergé was a renowned Belgian cartooning and best know for the Adventures of Tintin. These full-color graphic novels broke new ground when they were first released and became the inspiration for countless modern-day comic artists. in this volume, we join traveling reporter Tintin and his faithful dog Snowy, along with well-known friends such as Captain Haddock, as they embark on extraordinary adventures spanning historical and political events, fantasy and science-fiction adventures and thrilling mysteries. Registration is required.
Nowruz Celebration
TUE., MAR. 31, 2022
Join us at International as we celebrate Nowruz or New Day. This lucky day has been set aside to celebrate Nowruz which is observed by Iranians to mark the beginning of the spring season. It is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm among various Parsi communities across the world including India. Come and let’s have fun! This program is free and exclusively for graduate students at least 21 years of age. Registration is required.
Morton Arboretum Trip
SAT., APR. 9, 2022
Join International House for a trip to the Morton Arboretum! Transportation and entry will be provided by International House; the bus will depart from the front of the building (1414 East 59th Street) promptly at 8:30AM, so please arrive by 8:15AM. We expect to return to Hyde Park by 4PM. Registration is required.
[Virtual] International Cooking Club
SUN., APR. 10, 2022
Join us for our virtual International Cooking Club! This week, one of our graduate fellows will be teaching us how to make a Prawns in a tomato šalša with polenta recipe from Croatia. We'll provide the ingredients for the first 20 students to register in advance. Additional unregistered students can also join the demonstration. Ingredients are listed on the registration page. Registration is required.
South and Southeast Asia New Year Celebration
TUE., APR. 12, 2022
Join International House to celebrate the many spectacular New Year traditions of South and Southeast Asia with a night of dinner, music, and friendship. In mid-April, many countries across South and Southeast Asia celebrate the solar New Year. These celebrations include the Songkran Festival of Thailand, the Thingyan Festival from Bruma, Choul Chnam Thmey from Cambodia, and many others. Registration is required.
Crafternoon: Spring Watercolors
WED., APR. 13, 2022
Join International House as we continue to host Crafternoon on a bi-weekly basis throughout spring quarter. For this workshop, we'll paint spring-themed watercolors. No previous skills required! Refreshments will also be provided. Registration is required.
Grad Book Club: Akbar & Birbal
WED., APR. 20, 2022
Join International House for our bi-weekly book club. This week, as we continue to feature comic books, we will read stories of Akbar & Birbal. The stories of Akbar and Birbal are some of the most cherished folklores of India that have been passed from one generation to another, enthralling both young and adult readers. This book is a beautifully illustrated compilation of several tales of wit and wisdom, built upon the themes of loyalty and friendship. Registration is required.
[Virtual] International Cooking Club
SUN., APR. 24, 2022
Join us for our virtual International Cooking Club! This week, one of our graduate fellows will be teaching us how to make Lasagna with homemade marinara sauce! We'll provide the ingredients for the first 20 students to register in advance. You must be able to collect the ingredients from International House between 10AM-4PM the Friday before the event. Additional unregistered students can also join the demonstration. Ingredients are listed down below! Registration is required.
Crafternoon: Potholder Loom
WED., APR. 27 2022
Join International House as we continue to host Crafternoon on a bi-weekly basis throughout spring quarter. For this workshop, we'll weave potholders! No previous skills required. Refreshments will also be provided. Registration is required.
Grad Book Club
WED., MAY 04, 2022
Continuing with our theme of graphic novels, this week, we will be reading Neal Gaiman’s Coraline. When Coraline steps through a door to find another house strangely similar to her own (only better), things seem marvelous. But there's another mother there, and another father, and they want her to stay and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go. Coraline will have to fight with all her wit and courage if she is to save herself and return to her ordinary life. Registration is required.
[Virtual] International Cooking Club
SUN., MAY 08, 2022
We're back with another edition of our International Cooking Club; this weekend, one of our graduate fellows will be teaching us how to make a vegetarian version of the German dish called Geschnetzeltes. We'll provide the ingredients for the first 20 students to register in advance, but you must be able to collect them from International House between 10AM-4PM on Thursday, May 5th. Additional unregistered students can also join the demonstration - everything you should need is listed in the event registration page!
Crafternoon: Feather Wall Hangings
WED., MAY 11, 2022
Join International House as we continue to host Crafternoon on a bi-weekly basis throughout spring quarter. For this workshop, we will be making feather wall hangings! No previous skills required. Refreshments will be provided. Registration is required.
Africa Day 2022
WED., MAY 25, 2022
Join International House for our inaugural Africa Day celebration. On this day, we commemorate the founding of the African Union. As such, this is a day that celebrates the unity of Africa and its peoples. This year we are celebrating Africa Day in conjunction with Juneteenth in the spirit of celebrating Africa and its diaspora. Registration is required.
GRAD Summer Mixer
Every Tuesday beginning June 14, 2022
Our weekly summer mixers return every Tuesday evening in the I-House Courtyard. Come along to mingle with others staying on campus for the summer and to enjoy light food and drinks together. These events are exclusively for graduate students at least 21 years of age.
