“In an age when the belief in international organizations such as the United Nations seems to wane, and when Comparative Literature departments are starting to lose ground to national literatures, places such as the International House of Rhode Island seem to be one lighthouse standing firm and bold on the edge of a storming ocean with plenty of travelers in need of its light. My experience at the International House of Rhode Island, however, was much more than a metaphor that might seem overdone or dishonest: during my semester at Brown University, this architectural treasure was my scholar’s refuge, a home full of mystery and inspiration with its beautiful furniture and wooden floors, and a community of which I felt part immediately, and in which I could participate according to my needs and interests. I believe that I made friends for life in that place. Precisely as imagined by those people who believe in cultural and linguistic exchange and cooperation among the nations of the world, I made friends from Brazil, India, Turkey, and Italy. Underneath splendid New England chandeliers, we listened to poetry from Bolivia, saw films from Japan, and cooked Indian food.”