Transformed by a shared experience of community and lifelong friendships, Alumni of International House NYC carry the I-House Spirit wherever they go. Below, a glimpse into life in Florida, California, and New York. Check back for more stories from across the USA.
Los Angeles
Helena Ball ’15 Los Angeles, CA (American)
Occupation: Co-Founder, Midnight Dive Video Production Company
“It was mid-March when I walked into my apartment and sat straight down on the wood floor, being careful not to touch my face with chapped hands. I was home five hours earlier than expected, after the film shoot that I was producing was shut down halfway through, and four days into production due to the impending pandemic. I’ve always taken great pride in the collaborative nature of the Entertainment Industry, but with home lockdowns around the corner, I wasn’t sure how any of us would move forward. Moreover, having just started my first video production company, Midnight Dive, I feared the company would be short-lived!”
An unexpected call left both my business partner and me shocked to learn that the music label (Warner Records) actually wanted to expedite production for a recent music video treatment we had submitted. With Stay At Home orders in full effect and the Artist living across the globe in Australia, we realized we had to think quickly on how best to move forward in the post-Covid world.
We sprang into action and repurposed the concept from the original 80’s live action dream date with full scale production, moving sets, and multiple locations, to something more relatable during quarantine. A sweet girl speaks to her honey over the phone, and begins to dream of what a night spent together might look like. His avatar appears in her room, and lures her into an animated reality, where her fantasy plays out in real time.
This allowed us to be able to produce this piece 100% remotely, with a team from five different cities, and with more video chat interfaces than you could imagine. It turns out Warner Music loved both our music video as well as our “Behind The Scenes” video, and released them to an excited audience with a great reception.
It was incredibly humbling to learn how to successfully develop and produce music videos for artists from the inside of our bedroom walls, and to discover that we are now one of the very few production companies ready to remotely produce music videos using our proven strategy. More than that, it gave us hope that there can be meaning and purpose found even during the most hard & unexpected times.
Florida
Jordan Chin ’15 Melbourne, FL (American, Jamaican-Chinese descent)
Occupation: Performing Arts
“I’m currently quarantining in central Florida with my parents. I fled New York in mid March in hopes that I wouldn’t be away for too long. It turned out to be quite ironic that I left the original epicenter only to find myself seeking refuge inside a new one. I’ve been using this time to deepen my relationship with my parents, spend time outdoors in our vegetable garden, and keep up with my craft as an actor, singer, and dancer.”
On the impact of COVID-19:
Fortunately, my parents have been able to retain employment and their health during this time. However, my industry has been decimated. I’m not sure when I can return to work, due to the nature of my field. It is also unclear when it will be a viable option to move back to New York.
What strikes you most about how your country and/or community is handling the pandemic?
The lack of leadership hasn’t been surprising, but it completely kills any ounce of hope I had left for my country’s resurgence from the virus. I believe we are flailing by the wayside. A wounded child blatantly disregarding any help or guidance. It’s a shame and a disgrace. At least some of our local governments have shown the resilience and adaptability needed. It is as if all of our nation’s core values have been discarded. Our ability to come together in a time of need has remained futile as we increasingly become more divided. The people have spoken and we need immense change.
What is something positive you have taken away from this experience?
To be grateful for what I have in my life and what I can control. This pandemic has allowed me to confront my mortality and the permanence of death. It has made me realize how fragile and precious life is, that each moment should be savored and captured. I am constantly reminded of the importance of community and the power we wield together. This experience has reaffirmed my purpose, dreams, and deepest joys.
What has been a moment when you felt particularly connected and a part of a community, culture, or other group?
The Black Lives Matter movement has kept me connected to my community and culture during this time. All the pain and anguish that was shared across the world has mobilized me to turn that anger into action. I feel more compelled to engage in local politics, to educate myself on economics, history, philosophy etc. I truly believe we are the change we seek. Something is looming on the horizon and waiting to be unveiled.
California
Laurene Wu McClain ’66 Berkeley, CA (Chinese American)
Occupation: College professor and lawyer
“I’ve been spending this time at home with my husband. We’ve been told to shelter at home and go out only for exercise or essential trips such as shopping for food.
What are the most dramatic shifts that you have observed?
Very few in-person social interactions.
What are you appreciating about your community?
Many public health experts and scientists, and many people who want to help others during this pandemic; since the virus is new, I’m missing clarity regarding how this virus spreads.
Even in the worse of times, my community wants to help, such as volunteering for food delivery and attempts to make life at home more interesting with more Zoom interactions and webinars.
While I know that the United States is known for individualism, my neighborhood is more a model of cooperation. Generally, most people try to cooperate in my community, so we haven’t seen the resistance elsewhere to wearing masks and physical distancing.
People in my neighborhood organized “Help Berkeley,” which has solicited restaurants to offer nutritious food at reasonable costs, and has recruited volunteers to deliver the food for free to people’s homes. The program is meant to help seniors and others who may not be able to buy their own groceries or cook. We’ve been contacting friends who are alone in their homes, just to talk or see if they need help, and we’ve stepped up donations to various nonprofits.
What is the most difficult part of this experience for you?
Probably the most difficult part is not celebrating our grand-daughter’s birthday and graduation from high school since she lives out-of-state.
What is something you have taken away from this experience?
Hearing from family and friends just to talk. Also since many people are spending time at home cleaning house or basically re-introducing themselves to their closets, drawers, and files, I received old pictures from years past, of family that I had never seen before. That’s been terrific!
How are you staying connected to others during this time?
Many Zoom get-togethers for virtual wine tastings, classes and meetings, and virtual lunches. Exercising with our regular aerobics instructor by Zoom where we see the other members of the class.
New York
Michele Herman ’85 New York City (American)
Occupation: Writer, editor, teacher
“We’re home in our apartment in Greenwich Village – me, my husband and our rapidly aging, ailing dachshund. We are both able to work at home.”
On the impact of COVID-19: We are luckier than most. I already work from home and teach online at The Writers Studio. I took on a third class this fall and this summer terms, my first video class (as opposed to typed in a chat room). My husband, who works for the City, has made the transition to working at home, which hasn’t been easy. The saddest aspect for us is the loss of live cabaret, which has been a big part of our lives as spectators and, increasingly, performers. It’s also been difficult having to drop the dog off for vet visits instead of accompanying him; we don’t know how much longer he has, and the limitations of the virus complicate the scenario when the end comes.
I began sewing cloth masks early on, which I give away to friends, neighbors and relatives, as well as to strangers via nextdoor.com. In the first month or so, when I didn’t have a heavy work load, I even dropped them off in person around the neighborhood. I also participated in a mask-giveaway event sponsored by the NYC Council Speaker’s office. The strangers to whom I brought masks were grateful and kind, and kept offering to pay me. One gave me a vial of lavender extract. Through nextdoor.com I teamed up with a woman who’s a member of the Brotherhood Synagogue. We’ve never met in person, but we’ve teamed up to distribute masks to her congregation. She has a friend who’s been supplying us with free fabric. She found a guy in the garment district who sold us 130 yards of elastic very cheap. Every week or so I bike to her building to drop off a batch of masks and pick up supplies.
What are the most dramatic shifts in your community that you have observed?
Our building is about half empty, with the wealthier residents having decamped to their weekend homes; it’s a little creepy. Our neighborhood has been largely spared from illness, but businesses in the West Village were already struggling, and now the store and restaurant closings are accelerating rapidly. One thing we enjoyed in the months of the shutdown was the lack of traffic and the clean air, which was great for biking. Without all the cars on the north-going avenues, the Upper West Side seemed much closer than usual. Alas, the congestion and pollution are returning.
What are you appreciating about your country and community? Appreciating the well-informed people who are abiding by health guidelines.
What aspect of your culture and your community has become more apparent in this difficult time?
I suppose this culture at large has always had a lot of ill-informed, thoughtless, prejudiced, selfish, narrow-minded people, but I am horrified at the way our president plays to this base and encourages and even glorifies the worst possible behavior.
Here in the Village this summer I’m appalled at how few people are wearing masks and at how cavalier young adults are about gathering to eat and drink on the sidewalks, which aren’t wide enough for proper social distancing.
What strikes you most about how your country and/or community is handling the pandemic?
Horror at the willful ignorance, venality and divisiveness of this administration. Pride at our governor filling some of the void and trying to be calm and thoughtful and compassionate.
What is the most difficult part of this experience for you?
I am not suffering hardship, for which I am extremely grateful. However, one of my sons had to take a 20% pay cut, and the other lost his restaurant job. Like everyone, I miss going out for dinner, seeing friends, going to the movies and to shows. For us it’s really the loss of live music that hurts, because we know that it will be one of the last things to return. I already felt that the entire world was already overly reliant on technology, and I hate watching that trend accelerate.
What is something you have taken away from this experience?
I like when people talk about using the hiatus from normal life as a “reset” or an opportunity to reflect and learn. I do sense that the upheaval (combined with the unexpected reckoning with the racism and classism that have always been built into our culture and economy) will lead to seismic positive cultural shifts.
How are you staying connected to others during this time?
Occasional Zoom happy hours with friends and relatives; Zoom cabaret; occasional bike trips to Brooklyn to visit with our local son and his girlfriend (we stand at the base of their building’s stoop and they sit at the top. Two of our Zoom sessions have been with multiple I-House friends [including one in Denmark].
Is there anything additional you would like to share about your experience of COVID-19?
I do a daily writing practice called The Grind. Writers commit to writing something every day for a month and emailing it to a group of strangers (no feedback, just the accountability). I do it most months, and it has been a godsend through the months of sheltering at home. My output of poems has increased dramatically!
Benediction
My father, a man
of science, medicine
and mechanics,
offered a benediction
every time I wore
a new garment.
He’s been dead
for thirty eight years
but I put on my bright
yellow socks
with the Dachshunds
in their multicolored
jackets and I say
to no one but
myself: wear them
in good health.
In Hudson River Park on a Sunny Tuesday Morning
A jogger jogs by
without a mask.
A woman
on a bench
hollers at him.
The jogger
hollers back.
Suck my dick,
each tells
the other,
I forget
in which order.
I have immunity
asshole, he yells,
but she doesn’t
hear, or maybe
care. A few more
assholes fill
the air, a mother
fucker or two.
I can afford
health care,
he yells before
he shrinks
to a dot and
disappears.
Check back often to access new perspectives and learn with us through the project!
