-Making a Difference-
December 1, 2011
One of GCIV’s most active hosts shares why everyone should participate in home hospitality through GCIV.
“When was the last time your dinner conversation was more than the boring, ‘What did you do today?’
Would you like to travel to Egypt, Israel, China, Italy or anywhere else in the world just for dinner? Allow me to recommend the dinner home hosting program through the Georgia Council for International Visitors (GCIV).
The GCIV program brings the best and brightest professionals from around the world right here to Atlanta, people like former participants Nelson Mandela and Nicholas Sarkozy. I have been a home host with GCIV for the last six years now and have hosted dinners for people from over 45 countries of the world. Since I live alone, my dinner conversations are usually pretty one-sided, but when I host these international visitors I transcend my solo life and become a part of the wider international world.
I have hosted a former prime minister, doctors, veterinarians, mayors, judges, a former teen singing idol, television anchors, authors and sheiks, among others. There is a good chance I have even hosted someone who will become a future president or Nobel Prize winner. The discussions can be serious or amusing and range anywhere from home life to cutting-edge science.
What a wonderful time I have had. Here are a few memorable tidbits that stand out…
- the sheik explained his living conditions with multiple wives
- guests wanted permission to look at my pick-up truck because they were not allowed to own one in their own country
- I showed a photo of one of my international guests to a friend of mine from Egypt and he told me I had hosted the most famous newscaster on television in the Arab world
- Israeli and Palestinian visitors sat next to each other at my dinner table and were friends
- a guest read the label on the bottle of salad dressing and told me he would NEVER eat blue cheese and asked why are there no fortified fences around the houses
The true reason I host is because I thoroughly enjoy it. However, I always tell people I host because I feel that I am doing something, even though it’s small, for the common good and that I am helping to build a bridge of friendship throughout the world. The famous sociologist Margaret Mead said ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.’ I feel that if each and every one of us in the world knew each other, there would be peace because you don’t harm your friends.
Every time I drop my guests off back at their hotel, each person thanks me and tells me, ‘I didn’t know Americans were so nice.’ I think it’s important for me to keep hosting until I no longer hear those words.”
- GCIV volunteer host Vicki Van Der Hoek
Please feel free to share your own home hospitality experiences, thoughts and memories. If you are interested in being a home hospitality host or would like more information, please contact Emily O’Harris at emily@gciv.org or 404-832-5560 x 15. GCIV is currently seeking home hospitality hosts for a worldwide delegation of visiting Fulbright scholars on Friday, February 10, 2012.
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Our Mission & Vision
GCIV builds understanding and cooperation between the people of our state and the world. Our vision is that every Georgia citizen has the opportunity to become more globally engaged.
Upcoming Events & Delegations
- Wed 5/16/2012 - 5/22/2012: Thai Visitor
- Wed 5/23/2012 - 5/26/2012: German Delegation
- Mon 5/28/2012 - 6/1/2012: Kazakh Delegation