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| Sunday, 21 August 2005 |
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Wild Wisconsin stays unchanged Critical Issues by Lionel Yodhasinghe Far away from home in cold Minnesota, it was a homely weekend with an American host family, Steve Brandt and Lynda McDonald of Minneapolis. I felt I was a member of their family when Steve led me directly to their kitchen to introduce me to Lynda where she was preparing dinner. Lynda said that they chose a Jefferson Fellow from Sri Lanka at the East West Center's request because one of their two daughters-in-law whose parents were Sri Lankans insisted on her to host a Sri Lankan. I said I was proud of Lynda's daughter-in-law for her love for the country and people. A visit to remoteness of Wisconsin was my preference when the Steves asked me where they should take me the following day. Steve drove me about 150 miles along Minneapolis -Duluth highway to a provincial town, Hudson and from their onward turned on rustic roads to reach the countryside to show all the serenity and verdant beauty in Minnesota and Wisconsin states. Spring was in its full swing during May and a visitor would see the nature in full bloom - wild flowers, babbling brooks, twittering birds and the season of mellow fruitfulness. One of the major attractions in Minnesota is the St.Croix National Scenic Riverway located in the borders of Wisconsin. The area is full of activities with all sorts of fun and frolic for a visitor to enjoy a holiday. Although small towns such as Hudson are located in the periphery of the US, the infrastructure is fully developed throughout the state facilitating residents and visitors to enjoy life hassle free. The policy of the American Government is that selected rivers with which their immediate environment, posses outstanding and remarkably scenic recreational, geological, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural or other similar values shall be preserved in the free flowing condition, and that they and their immediate environment shall be protected for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. As a result, although America is going all out for modernity and development, it has not touched selected areas such as Mississippi and St.Croix valley in the name of development so the wonders of the natural beauty of these places have been preserved. Tourism is fully enhanced in many parts of America and Wisconsin is a prime destination among them for its natural and pastoral beauty. A visitor sees a vast difference between a city such as Washington and Wisconsin, even an area township like Hudson is very charming and simple but such hideouts of America are also well equipped to cater to the modern day requirements of visitors. Vast stretches of farmlands, wheat plantations, pine forests and grasslands are breathtaking scenes especially to a visitor from a small country like ours. The well organized small farming community leads a simple but contented life in the far away states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Many state cities have fully fledged universities and leading colleges and residents send their children from the countryside to the closest city or township for schooling. The famous school bus service in America 'blue bird' is operating even in distant Wisconsin province. Miles and miles of wilderness trail on the nature reserves of the St.Croix that invite visitors to enjoy the serenity and spectacular vistas of the beautiful valley. Small farmers in the neighborhood operate outlets storing fresh dairy products and organic products beside the Minneapolis Duluth highway. They sell bottled fresh milk, homemade butter, cheese and yoghurt endemic to Wisconsin. Among other national parks adjacent to St.Croix are Wild River State Park, William O'Brien State Park, Minnesota and Wisconsin Interstate Parks. Wisconsin was landscaped by the monumental sheets of glaciers that ground across the land some 10,000 years ago. The glaciers left valleys and hills, rock formations and sandy eskers. Notably the esker that runs through the south end of the city of St.Croix falls. That can be the beginning of great hikes. At the information centre of Hudson, there was a world map hung on the wall for visitors from many countries throughout the world to press a pin on his or her own country which indicates the number of visitors to the area from that particular country. I was proud to press the first pin on Sri Lanka. I could be the first Sri Lankan to the St.Croix valley. A series of a journalist's study notes on the Jefferson Fellowship
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