Web Design and Technology Give Way to International Exchange

It's a world of web design, e-commerce, instant messaging, free video chats, new frontiers in technology and a host of other exciting thresholds.  All these are good and can serve to benefit mankind.  Yet, a vast number of men, women and youth feel more alone and isolated than ever.

We residents of Shenandoah, Iowa, can often feel secluded from the world just as other rural areas.  Especially our youth who definitely often feel out of touch with the "greater" world outside.  But it is greater - with knowledge!  Can we bridge the gap in some small manner between rural populations and the world at large?

Shenandoah is part of the Sister Cities International program in which we are associated with a community overseas named Tisovec, Slovakia.  It's a small community of comparable population.  A very picturesque valley rich in history.  The Sister Cities International program serves to enlarge cultural exchange and dialogue between peoples and lands.  It's a very worthy ongoing project.

Sister Cities is a platform upon which a wide variety of activities can be built.  A delegation from Tisovec has visited Shenandoah and likewise we've visited them.  In the spring of 2012 Shenandoah will be sending a delegation over there for an important occasion.  A tree planting ceremony will take place to solidify the Shenandoah/Tisovec relationship.  The opportunity itself is a grand gesture to any host community that good intentions are at heart.

We are in the midst of worldwide turmoil.  It can be extremely hard for any person, young or old, to have a bright outlook on life and prosperity.  What we hear on the news is by and large skewed according to what that person believes.  That's what makes Sister Cities and other like projects so precious and helpful.  As we work together and get to know each other we then become friends.  Through a working and continuing dialogue we can be happy and in fact even prevent the loss of life through future wars and strife.