Mary Wickler Peterson of the Rapid City YMCA World Services Committee describes her recent trip to Suriname with five others as a "first date" of sorts.

"We were essentially finding out more about one another," she said of the nine-day cultural exchange Nov. 22 through Dec. 1.

Others who visited the country on the north coast of South America, between Guyana and French Guyana, included Peterson's spouse Bernie Peterson, fellow World Service Committee member Bruce Nearhood and his wife Kim, Tracy Settle of the South Dakota National Guard, and David Chown of Northern State University.

Peterson said Settle is involved in a National Guard "state partnering program" with Suriname, and Chown is interested in setting up a student or professor exchange program with the country.

The Rapid City YMCA has had a World Services Committee for a number of years, since former director George Zeise launched it as a resource to exchange ideas and manpower with a YMCA in Costa Rica. In recent years, the committee hasn't been as active, until current director Roger Gallimore asked Peterson to revive it. She considers the recent exchange between the two groups to have been a success.

"Our meeting with the Y folks in Suriname was positive and we received a very warm welcome from them," Peterson said. "We shared information with one another through four days of educational meetings, presentations, and just getting to know each other."

Besides meetings, Peterson said the group took a trip into the rainforest, climbed a mountain, went kayaking, and enjoyed a parade and festival in honor of Suriname's National Day, much like Independence Day in the United States. She said it was exciting to see so many people in traditional dress, and the many cultural backgrounds in Suriname living in harmony.

"Suriname could be a role model for the world," she said. "We saw a mosque, synagogue and a Catholic church all in very close proximity to each other. They get along very well."

Peterson said the YMCA program in Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname, is different from the diverse program in Rapid City. "They mostly have a soccer program for about 150 kids staffed largely by volunteer coaches and instructors," she said, "and are looking to expand into educational, after-school and health areas."

Suriname is smaller than South Dakota, with a population of half a million, half of whom live in Paramaribo.

The group brought back some native Surinamese crafts such as hardwood cutting boards and bowls, jewelry made from seeds and beads, and woven baskets, and offered these items for sale at the YMCA Arts and Sciences Center Friday and Saturday. Proceeds from the sale of these items will go to the World Services Committee.

Although no future trips between the two YMCAs are planned right now, Peterson is hopeful that the cultural exchange will continue.

"It's great to get outside help to complete your mission," she said. "It benefits everyone."