The partnership is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to supporting and maintaining international relationships with Marquette’s sister cities in Kajaani, Finland and Higashiomi, Japan. Marquette has had fruitful relations with the cities since 1997 and 1979, respectively.

“Every other year, we send a delegation to either Japan or Finland, or sometimes both,” explained Mary Lou Blomquist, co-vice chair for the MASCP board. “And then on alternate years, they send somebody here, except for (during) COVID. We’ve had either a delegation going or somebody coming here every year.”

A delegation consists of approximately eight people, either going to Higashiomi or Kajaani, or another delegation from one of those cities making their way to Marquette. The trips are more focused on cultural exchange than tourism, where delegations come with itineraries based on what both cities agree for them to do on their trips. For example, if a delegation consists of those with backgrounds in education, finances or healthcare, certain activities on the trip will center around the education and comparisons of different aspects of life between both cities.

“We have a bio(graphy) on each delegate going as to what their background is (and) what their interests might be. From that, Japan put together an itinerary that’s maybe not been done before (and) that’s fitting to the majority of the delegates,” Blomquist explained while recounting one of her trips to Higashiomi. “For example, my husband and I were educators. When they got our bio, they wanted us to do a seminar on how we do special education in (America).”

Artistic items, such as this kite from Japan, will be on display in the Sister City room during the Marquette Area Sister Cities Partnership reception during Art Week. (Journal photo by Abby LaForest)

Linda Berry, a MASCP board member who’s traveled to both Japan and Finland several times, has also worked in the healthcare field, and remembers being amazed at the similarities and differences of medical practices between Marquette and Higashiomi while touring a hospital there.

“They had signs in English on every department, so we would know where we were. Yeah, that was a big tour. They’d taken a lot of time to get ready for us,” recalled Berry. “I worked in a lab, the lab here, so we went through the lab and actually I saw some of the same equipment that we worked on here and it was there.”

Paulette Lindberg, who has been organizing trips with the MASCP for over 45 years and whose most recent trip to Japan was this past February, highlighted some of what the upcoming delegation that’s heading to Higashiomi this summer will be up to.

“In 1985, we had a signing with the Yokaichi Chamber of Commerce and Marquette. Over the years, Yokaichi became Higashiomi by the name,” said Lindberg. “So under their name now, Higashiomi, we’ve arranged for Christian (Germaine) who’s going to be on the trip to do a new signing with Lake Superior Community Partnership, because they do have the entity as a chamber of commerce, so there’ll be some nice new things going on.”

Lindberg also noted that there is a tentative delegation from Kajaani who is supposed to come to Marquette in late summer and planning for accommodations and activities are currently underway.

Berry took time to mention the experience of everyday cultural differences outside of immediate industry, including staying with a host family compared to being put up in a hotel.

“I think that’s one of the things that makes it so special is that you stay with a family. It’s amazing, in a week or ten days, what you can learn just by being with a family every day, seeing how they cook, where they work, how they live. Instead of staying in a motel or something, you pick them up for a few hours every day (while they’re here.) You are with them,” Berry said. “In Japan you learn about their soaking tubs there, or (where) you can wear slippers and where you shouldn’t wear slippers. I stepped one day and my slippers (were) down into the garage for some reason, and they were running out, (a member of my host family) got my slippers and she scrubbed (them off.)”

Aside from the delegation exchanges, the program also hosts student and artist exchanges with the help of community organizations, plans local outreach events, art displays, workshops, community celebrations, and more. The art week reception is just another way for the MASCP to engage with the greater community in Marquette.

The MASCP plans to have members who have been to Japan and at the reception to share stories about their experiences overseas. There will also be refreshments and snacks, including both Finnish and Japanese foods, and door prizes of original artworks.

The reception will take place from 3-6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Sister City Room at the Peter White Public Library, which houses items and books from Finland and Japan. The Peter White Public Library is located at 217 N. Front St. For more information about the Marquette Area Sister Cities Partnership, please visit their website at mqtsistercity.org or visit their active Facebook page.

Abby LaForest can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 548. Her email address is alaforest@miningjournal.net.