International diplomats arrive in Aiken for visit

Aiken Mayor Fred Cavanaugh, left, chats with Bernard Merkel, a minister counselor with the European Union, during a reception for Washington-based diplomats and family members at the Willcox Friday. The guests are staying with host families and will attend the Aiken Trials today. Staff photo by Rob Novit.

Washington, D.C.-based diplomats and their families arrived in Aiken on Friday for a weekend excursion, and all of them were clearly excited about the opportunity to visit a small Southern town.

Through a volunteer organization called The Hospitality and Information Services (THIS), the officials are from 14 countries around the world.

THIS volunteer Donna Ritter, a part-time Aiken resident, coordinated the trip. All of the visitors are staying with host families, an experience that the guests were looking forward to.

"I jumped at the opportunity to come to Aiken," said Bernard Merkel, a European Union minister counselor. "Speaking for myself, I've gone to the big cities like New York and Philadelphia. But most of us live in this kind of place, and now we have the privilege of meeting the local people. Chicago can wait until another time. This is a win-win for us."

The guests were feted at a reception at the Willcox for lunch and then visited Dogwood Stable with Cot Campbell. They visited the Aiken County Historical Museum on Friday night and will attend the Aiken Trials today.

Carla Cloud, director of the Aiken Downtown Development Association, joined an Aiken contingent to greet the guests at the Columbia Airport. She accompanied one of the two motor coaches back to Aiken and kept the visitors laughing. When they arrived at the Willcox, Cloud was getting hugs from Martina Landsmann-Dudde, wife of a German diplomat, and Iris Hoener, the wife of a Swiss attaché.

On Thursday night, Cloud had done some research online to learn how to say "hello" in the languages of the visitors, who hail from nations, such as Fiji, Malta, Uganda, France and Switzerland.

"It really broke the ice," Cloud said. "There were some greetings I couldn't say well, but they would cheer for me anyway."

The guests were shocked and delighted that they picked up a police escort when they got off I-20. They wanted to see the police lights, so Cloud called Public Safety Chief Pete Frommer, and they had lights.

"They thought that was fabulous and cheered for that, too," Cloud said. "One lady said, 'We're like a bunch of kids.'"

Mayor Fred Cavanaugh and other city, county and legislative officials welcomed the visitors to Aiken.

"We're so glad to have them," he said. "It's such an opportunity for us to show them a typical Southern town. Of course, we don't think we're typical. We're the best, especially in South Carolina."

Landsmann-Dudde said her husband is on a business trip and was disappointed that he couldn't join her in Aiken. It's their second posting in America; their second child was actually born in Maryland. After three years in Washington, the family will be leaving in a few months.

"Washington is very special, so open and warm and international," said Landsmann-Dudde. "Coming to Aiken was a very popular idea. We heard the people were lovely, and they are indeed very welcoming."

The guests were to get a lesson on South Carolina's official dance, the shag, at the museum Friday night. Landsmann-Dudde said Cloud showed them a few steps on the motor coach, although Cloud admitted later she was showing them a rather "fake" shag step. Landsmann-Dudde was looking forward to passing on the instructions to her husband soon.

"I think he's in trouble," she said with a grin.

Fiji Ambassador Winston Thompson and his wife Queenie were enjoying themselves over lunch as they met several Aiken residents.

"To come to the Deep South in a small town is a dream come true," Queenie Thompson said. "I've read about certain southern parts of America, and I've read 'Gone With the Wind' and other books. It's all so romantic."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.