MARION, Ill. (Heartland News) – In Williamson County, the city of Marion is hosting 15 adults and children from its sister city in Japan this week for a cultural exchange.
Jared Garrison is the Chairman of the Marion Sister City Committee.
He said the sister city relationship between Marion, Illinois and Kanie Town, Japan, was established to promote better cultural understanding.
“They have seven adults and eight children delegates that came over this year. It’s a cultural exchange program between adults and students. We go over there every other year. They come over on our off year,” Garrison explained.
On Monday, students stopped at Marion High School to get an inside look at its robotics labs and a few other programs Marion offers its students.
Mai Ono has been a part of the program for 18 years and serves as a translator for the students.
Ono said this is the greatest way for these students to learn how to speak English and understand the American experience.
“It’s actually speaking English to communicate English; it’s much harder than they think. So that’s a good opportunity to spend time in American houses, schools and see life in the U.S.,” she said.
Ono added that she has come to love the city of Marion as it continues to grow.
“The city is growing up. I love American food also. Especially steak and mashed potatoes with gravy,” she said.
Garrison said the goal is simple: for two different cultures to see they are more alike than they may think.
“We are actually more similar than we are different. It’s great to find out those similarities as we discover all the things that are different about the two communities,” he added.
The students are being hosted by different families across Marion for the week to get an even closer look at life in the Heartland.
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