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Twins Days Festival opens in Twinsburg
Brothers Fred and Hugo Svenleen of Sweden enjoy an ice cream during the Twins Day Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio.
The city of Twinsburg, Ohio, saw double as twins from around the world converged for the annual Twins Days Festival on August 5.
More than 3,500 twins, triplets and quadruplets come from all across the United States and as far away as Australia, England and Japan to meet others in the same genetic boat and -- for at least a few days -- feel like part of the crowd.
"All the twins, you just relate to them so well," said Stuart Daniel of one set of twins. "They understand you. They're just like us."
Stuart and his brother, Phillip, toured the festival in the uniforms they wear at their jobs as surf life-guards -- bright yellow jerseys, red swim trunks, sandals, and red-and-yellow swim caps.
The 39-year old brothers said they live and work together, and had even come close to marrying another set of twin women. The Australians were on their way to take part in one of several research studies being conducted at the festival.
Twins such as Jeanette Meadows and her sister Geneva Petitt attended the event, giving them a chance to mingle with others who were born into the same situation, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.
"It's just the fellowship with other twins," said Meadows. "To be around other people who understand what it means to be a twin."
Festival organizers expected nearly 3,000 sets of twins -- and more than 40,000 people overall -- to attend the 31st event.
Dr. Kevin Cooper, chairman of dermatology at Case Western Reserve University, was there for the seventh year in a row to study the onset of diseases as they pertain to twins.
"Every time we come, we learn something," Cooper said. "It's quite a resource."
8月5日，美国俄亥俄州特温斯堡市（“双胞胎之城”）的人数倍增，来自世界各地的双胞胎们齐聚一堂，参加这里一年一度的双胞胎节。
美国本地以及从遥远的澳大利亚、英国和日本而来的3500多对双胞胎、三胞胎和四胞胎们至少要在这里呆上几天，和别的双胞胎们相互认识，共同感受这个双胞胎大家庭。
双胞胎之一斯图亚特·丹尼尔说：“所有的双胞胎都很好相处。他们善解人意。他们和我们一样。”
斯图亚特和他的孪生兄弟菲利普穿着职业冲浪救生员的制服参加双胞胎节--淡黄色运动衫、红色泳裤、沙滩凉鞋、头上戴着红黄相间的泳帽。
这对39岁的孪生兄弟说，他们在一起生活和工作，而且他们甚至就要和另一对孪生姐妹结婚了。这对澳大利亚的孪生兄弟准备参加节日期间进行的其中一项调查研究。
据《克利夫兰实话报》报道，孪生姐妹珍妮特·梅多斯和日内瓦·佩提特也参加了此次盛会，她们可以借此机会和别的双胞胎们交交朋友。
梅多斯说：“和其他那些能彼此理解的双胞胎互相认识，我们感到了和他们之间的友谊。”
活动的筹办方原预计会有近3000对双胞胎--共4万余人，参加第31届双胞胎节。
凯斯西储大学皮肤学系主任凯文·库伯博士今年已是连续第七年来特温斯堡参加双胞胎节，他的主要目的是研究双胞胎易患的皮肤病病因。
库伯说：“每次来这里，我们都能有所收获。这个节日对于我们来说是个很大的资源。” |
