Sister City Delegation
From Costa Rica Visits
Eau Claire
By Simone Peloquin,
Leader-Telegram
Representatives from
Miramar, Costa Rica -
Eau Claire's sister city
- got a taste of
American life Friday and
how we celebrate our
country's history.
The 12-member delegation
took part in a number of
Independence Day events,
including festivities at
Carson Park, as they
began an eight-day tour
of the city.
"They are having a
wonderful time here in
Eau Claire so far," said
Maria Carvalho of Eau
Claire, who's serving as
a local coordinator for
the Costa Rican
delegates. "They
absolutely love it."
The delegates attended
the Chippewa Valley
Museum's annual Fourth
of July celebration to
experience what an
American Independence
Day celebration was
like.
Costa Rica celebrates
its independence from
Spain on Sept. 15 in
much the same way the
U.S. celebrates its
independence. Miramar is
a city in Montes de Oro
County, Costa Rica.
Delegate Gabriela Sagot,
director of the chamber
of tourism in Miramar,
speaking through a
translator, said the
Costa Rican celebration
includes music, parades,
dancing and fireworks.
Of the events at Carson
Park, Sagot said the
celebration was unique
and beautiful.
Regarding her visit to
Eau Claire so far, Sagot
said she enjoyed Fanny
Hill, a local dinner
theater that also offers
lodging.
Delegates have a full
schedule next week, with
tours and visits to
Banbury Place, Silver
Spring Gardens and
UW-Eau Claire among the
many stops.
The delegation will be
learning about
agriculture, tourism,
business, education,
government and health
care in Eau Claire. They
will meet with community
members but will also
have time to participate
in leisurely events,
including ice skating at
Hobbs Ice Center, and
attending an Eau Claire
Express baseball game
and an American Indian
flute concert.
A formal signing of the
official sister cities
agreement will be held
at 4 p.m. Tuesday at
City Hall.
Eau Claire entered into
the agreement with
Miramar in January. The
delegation will be in
Eau Claire through
Thursday.
The city already has a
strong relationship with
Costa Rica through the
nursing program at
UW-Eau Claire. The
program sends students
to Miramar for eight
weeks during the summer
as a part of the Center
for International
Educations Study Abroad
Program, and has sent 36
students there so far.
Delegates will be
staying with volunteer
host families and have
also stayed at Fanny
Hill.
Karl Markgraf, director
of the Center for
International Education
at UW-Eau Claire, said
there are three main
goals of the sister city
arrangement - to promote
tourism in both cities,
youth exchange, and
commerce and trade.
Markgraf said the
program stemmed from the
study abroad program at
UW-Eau Claire. There are
three programs that
allow students to study
in Costa Rica, and the
university has a strong
Latin American studies
program, he said.
"It is a big world,"
Markgraf said. "We need
to be connected."
Most of the funding for
the sister city
arrangement is provided
by fundraisers and
donations through the
Chippewa Valley
Convention and Visitors
Bureau. Markgraf said
the agreement is in the
process of becoming
official through Sister
Cities International, a
nonprofit network that
builds and strengthens
relationships between
international
communities.
Linda Adler, the
convention bureau's
executive director, and
Markgraf visited Costa
Rica in January. She
said the Costa Ricans
"set the bar pretty
high" as hosts.
Markgraf foresees more
visits to Costa Rica,
with hopes that local
high school Spanish
students would be able
to take advantage of a
youth exchange
arrangement.
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