SAVANNAH, GA — For Cari and Patrick Phelps, international friendship isn’t simply something to talk about—it is something to live.
The Savannah couple has opened their home and their hearts to welcome Ainhoa, a high school senior from France as an exchange student. A dance major at Savannah Arts Academy, she has already found her place among welcoming classmates. In taking on the role of host parents through their involvement with the Metropolitan Savannah Rotary Club, the Phelps have also made Ainhoa part of a much larger Rotary family, gaining a network of “aunts and uncles”—Rotarians who are eager to share Savannah, Georgia and American culture while learning from her experiences and perspective.
For Cari, the decision to host was a natural extension of what it means to be a Rotarian.
“Because as Rotarians, we seek to foster understanding and goodwill between people from all walks of life. To understand and help our neighbors. To build friendships. To lessen the gap between countries and differences. This decision embodies the Rotary 4-Way Test.”
That philosophy—Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?—takes on a particularly powerful meaning when put into practice inside a home.
By welcoming a student from another country into their family, the Phelps are creating an opportunity for cultural exchange that goes far beyond sightseeing or learning about another country in a classroom. They are building a friendship, sharing everyday life and creating memories that can last a lifetime.
And their commitment to international exchange didn’t stop there.
During the August 21–23 Conclave Weekend in Savannah, which served as the kickoff to the Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP), Cari and Patrick also opened their home to two college exchange students from Denmark and Sweden.
For one weekend, their home became an international gathering place—a reflection of the very spirit Rotary seeks to cultivate.
The experience illustrates something simple but profound: international understanding begins with personal relationships. It happens over dinner, during conversations, while exploring a new city, laughing together and learning what people from different cultures have in common.
Through the Phelps family’s generosity, a young woman from France will not simply spend her senior year in Savannah. She will have a home away from home, a family to support her and an extended Rotary family ready to cheer her on.
And in return, the Phelps family—and the entire Rotary community—will gain something equally valuable: the opportunity to see their own community and country through the eyes of someone from another part of the world.
Building a Better World, One Friendship at a Time
The Phelps family’s decision embodies the heart of Rotary’s commitment to Service Above Self and its longstanding belief that international exchange can create understanding and goodwill across borders.
In a world where differences can sometimes divide us, Cari and Patrick are demonstrating that one of the most powerful ways to close those gaps is remarkably personal:
Open your door. Open your heart. Make a friend.
Their story is a reminder that changing the world doesn’t always begin with a grand gesture. Sometimes, it begins with a spare bedroom, an open invitation and the willingness to welcome someone from another country into your family.
About Metropolitan Savannah Rotary Club
The Metropolitan Savannah Rotary Club is part of Rotary International, a global network of community leaders committed to service, building goodwill, fostering international understanding and creating positive change in communities around the world.
New Arts Ensembles is based out of Savannah, Georgia and coordinates live music for more than 200 events throughout the year, including weddings, corporate functions, private parties and more. The company has previously co-produced 200+ musicians during the international Savannah Music Festival and organized live music for the Liberty Mutual PGA Golf Tournament at Savannah’s Westin Harbor.