THOMASVILLE- The Georgia Rotary Student Program brought international students from across the globe to Pebble Hill Plantation for a tour last week. 

Since 1946, Rotarians in Georgia and across the US, have promoted world peace through understanding by offering scholarships to international students for one year of study in Georgia colleges and universities. Georgia Rotary Clubs sponsor students recommended by Rotary Clubs in their home country. 

The students then travel to the US and become adopted members of a Georgia “host family,” living on- campus at the school they attend. 

The students part of GRSP not only have the opportunity to learn at a US college, but they also learn about differing cultures and lifestyles. 

The chance to visit Pebble Hill Plantation showed many GRSP students a historic southern charm they may never otherwise see. 

According to Pebble Hill curator, Lori Curtis, the students were given a tour of the Main House and given an oral history on the background of the property, including the first owners and most recent owners. 

They then were taken on a grounds tour, visiting the newest addition to Pebble Hill, Kennel Cottage, which showcases how employees lived during their time on the plantation. 

Students also got to meet and pet the horses, which Curtis said seemed to be one of their favorite parts. 

“They asked a lot of great questions and were very interested in property,” Curtis said. “This plantation is different from others they may typically visit because it shows the transition from a a typical 19th century plantation to a 20th century sporting plantation.” 

This tour was the second one Pebble Hill has hosted as part of GRSP weekends, which allow GRSP students to interact with each other and learn more about Georgia’s culture. 

Some of the GRSP students said their favorite part of being a GRSP student is having the ability to interact with all the other individuals from varying countries. 

“I found friends from all over the world in the other GRSP students, said Sofia Erlandsson of Sweden, who is studying at University of North Georgia. “By meeting up during the GRSP weekends and taking part in all the amazing experiences they offered we got to know each other. Every new weekend was more fun than the last because we got to know one another better and better.” 

Curtis said the students in the group she arranged were from Sweden, South Africa and other parts of the world. 

“It’s just as exciting for us, because it gives us a chance to meet people from all over the world, who want to learn about what we do,” Curtis said. 

Curtis has extended an invitation to the group’s host for a tour next year with a new group of GRSP participants and hopes to make the stop at Pebble Hill an annual outing.