UN House

UN House

My house-sharing experience during my master’s degree program studies at Brandeis University has meant the most to me in my educational career. My family and I shared a big house in a small city, Waltham, with other international students from the same university. That house accommodates many students, and it is known as “UN house” (United Nations house) among Brandeisians (Brandeis students). Our family stayed with fellow students of nine different nationalities: American, French, Gambian, Indian, Kenyan, Moroccan, Nigerian, Palestinian and Russian.

Staying in the same house as like a family required us to put effort into compromising and harmonizing — sharing responsibilities, taking care of and balancing my own ego as well as my house-mates’ self-esteem — while we were pursuing intense graduate studies. Through this house sharing experience while studying, we turned our disagreements and different viewpoints into a common ground; we then achieved coexistence. In a nice bit of synchronicity, we had a very enjoyable time.

I still reminisce on our UN house memories; this is very practical and motivational whenever I have to solve conflicts. This “harmony in diversity” experience is very useful to my endeavor of pursuing peace and conflict resolution process for my country. I recollected this academic experience in the book “Fulbrighters’ Diaries” in which our Burmese Fulbright alumni shared our study experiences in the U.S.

Websites for more information

“Fulbrighters’ Diaries” (https://www.m-faa.org/category/fulbrighters-diaries/)

Map Credit: Google Map

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