Highlights of the trip included a tour of the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance, Birmingham’s Civil Rights Institute, The American Village in Montevallo, Moundville Archaeological Park, Kentuck Festival of the Arts and numerous historical and cultural sites throughout West Alabama. The 11^th and 12^th grade students from Max Planck Gymnasium in Tuscaloosa’s Sister City, Schorndorf, also enjoyed a visit to New Orleans and the Alabama Gulf Coast.

Host families for the delegation were Thomas, Denise and Whitney Downs; Michael, Bonnie and Micheryl Edwards; Douglas, Dorris and Alexis Grice; Stan, Charlotte and Tanner Horton-Jones; Guy, Pat and Molly Hubbs; Bobby, Kim and Raevan Howard;Verna and Charleeta Latham; Brenda and Jonathan Lyons, Gene, Jenelle and Nathan Marsh; Steve, Sues and Claire Noble, Bobby, Brenda and Justin Parker; Diane, Kelli and Nikki Rumanek; Linda and Aimee Shuttlesworth; Jacqueline and Ashley Williams; Charlie, Kathy and Kelly Woods, and Lindy and Keith Weaver. The Tuscaloosa Sister Cities Commission wishes to thank all those who helped to make this exchange so successful.

Meriwether Paxton and David Blum wrote to the Commission expressing their thanks for the opportunity to take part in the exchange:

Dear Sister Cities Commission,
Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to visit Japan in June 2002 on a student exchange trip. This was my first trip out of the country, but hopefully not my last. I learned so much from visiting another country and experiencing another culture, especially as one as unique and different as Japan. I e-mail my host sister almost every day, and I truly think that we will keep in touch for a long time. It was such a great experience to share things about Alabama and American life to my host sister. The more we understand about other cultures and people, the easier we can build lasting relationships with them and appreciate their cultural background as well as our own.
Sincerely,
Meriwether Paxton

What distinguishes antique Imari porcelain from more recent adaptations is the color of blue from the cobalt used in each piece. Circa 1800 porcelain has a light blue tint to it. Circa 1900 has darker blue characteristics from the amount of cobalt used in painting and firing the porcelain.

The Newtons are also careful to check for special markings, which are always evident in the finer pieces. "Unless there’s a date on the piece, we can’t say (this piece) came from 1875, so "Circa" is a wonderful word we use," said Rick Newton, a Tuscaloosa Attorney and Sister Cities Commission Board Member.

The Newtons locate their porcelain from private collectors in Japan or old estates. And, depending on the tastes of their clients, import a wide range of pieces, from small pieces to large platters or sets of porcelain. Meiji Imports, Inc. is already earning a favorable reputation with the quality of the pieces located and sold.