Tuscaloosa Sister Cities International
4th Quarter 2022 Edition

October 2022

As the season changes, and nature’s hues become richer, our thoughts turn tooutdoor activities and cool autumn celebrations. TSCI is happy to share ourbounty of programs and experiences enjoyed and anticipated – read on in this1issue of the TSCI Digital Newsletter to discover ways you can be a part of ourglobal celebrations, now and throughout the year!
Welcome to a world of opportunity with TSCI!

Lisa Keyes - TSCI Executive Director Alabama State Representative and Boardof Directors Liaison, Sister Cities International

Happy 35th Anniversary
Narashino International Association!

Hearty congratulations to the Narashino International Association on reachingits 35the Anniversary milestone! On October 15, the City of Narashinocelebrated the special occasion with an official commemorative ceremony, led
Narashino Mayor Daisuke Miyamoto, city and regional officials, NIA
Chairperson Kazunari Yoshimura, and NIA representatives.

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At the ceremony, former NIA Chairperson Yukio Sakiyama was presented witha certificate of appreciation and a bouquet of flowers for his 11 years of service
to the association. Alabama ALTs Alexis Acevedo, Alex Diaz, and Melodi Shaw
were also in attendance.
The celebration was preceded by Narashino’s “Kirat 2022” Citizen’s Festival,featuring a festive and colorful parade.
The Narashino International Association was established in 1987, inpartnership with the Narashino-Tuscaloosa Sister City affiliation. TSCI isgrateful for NIA’s ongoing efforts to promote sister city exchange programs andstrengthening vital and diverse global friendships!

Tuscaloosa-Schorndorf Partnership
Celebrates 26 Years!
What a terrific celebration it was in late August, marking the 26th Anniversaryof the Tuscaloosa-Schorndorf Sister City Partnership. Schorndorf’s official
delegation led by Mayor Bernd Hornikel, experienced a warm welcome by
Tuscaloosa leaders, and an introduction to our city and region’s cultural
highlights. TSCI is so thankful for our Sister City partnerships – and looks
forward to decades of collaboration ahead!

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Discovery Continues for ALTs in Narashino

4Another year has come and gone for us ALTs inNarashino! It’s been a busy one, as we’ve welcomed
our newest teacher, Alex Diaz, onto the team. We
just finished up the first half of the school year andwill be starting our next school rotation verysoon. In our spare time outside of managing
performance tests, grading, or helping in theclassrooms, we’re out exploring all of theadventures Narashino has to offer!
Alex has been checking out every shrine he can find in the area, and when he’s
not teaching, he can be found walking around Tsudanuma discovering newsights and sounds.
Melodi, who recently returned from a brief trip home to the USA, has been
having fun making friends at the local stationary spin studio and trying out theseasonal coffees and goodies from local cafes!
Alexis has been petting her quickly-growing Maine Coon cat to recharge
between enjoying concerts and local festivities, like the recent Narashino
Kiratto Parade!
We are always so thankful for everyone’s support back home! Cheers to anothergreat 365 days!

JASA Annual Dinner Highlights Japan
Business Success in Alabama
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Business leaders from throughout Alabama
gathered in Huntsville on October 20 for theJapan America Society of Alabama’s AnnualDinner. Attendees met to network withrepresentatives from Japanese-owned
businesses and their partners across thestate, and to recognize the continuing successof Japanese- American collaboration in Alabama.

6Special guests included Alabama
Governor Kay Ivey, Consul General
Kazuyuki Takeuchi, and Alabama
Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield, as
well as government and diplomatic
officials, Japanese and US company
executives, economic developers andchamber of commerce representatives,and many others. TSCI is happy to be amember of the JASA organization.

It’s Application Time for Tuscaloosa City
Schools Students Interested in Germany
After a three-year student exchange
hiatus due to Covid-19 international
travel restrictions,
TSCI is thrilled to plan the July 2023
Student Exchange to Schorndorf,
Germany! The
application process is underway, andstudent interviews will be held inNovember. Preparations
for the exchange will begin in
January 2023 for selected student
delegates, representing Paul W.
Bryant, Central and Northridge HighSchools. Tuscaloosa will host astudent delegation fromSchorndorf, Germany in October
2023. For more information about
the TSCI/TCS student exchange
program, please contact
tuscaloosasistercities@gmail.com

Christmas Markets, Here We Come!

7It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas across Germany, as cities
prepare for their annual “Weinachtsmarkt”, or Christmas Market,
traditionally held during the four weeks of the Advent season. This year, a27-member Tuscaloosa Sister Cities Community Delegation, led by
Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, will visit Schorndorf’s Weinachtsmarkt,
as well as celebrate the Tuscaloosa-Schorndorf 26-year partnership.
Vendors, food and seasonal fun are planned for Schorndorf’s beautiful
outdoor Marktplatz. Danke, Schorndorf, for hosting our holiday visit!

Ghana 20238Tuscaloosa Sister Cities is delighted to welcome an Official
Delegation from Sunyani-Techiman, Ghana, West Africa inSpring 2023! The Mayors and Regional Ministers from theSunyani-Techiman regions are invited to be among thefeatured speakers at Tuscaloosa’s West Alabama
Multicultural Alliance WAMA Fest on April 2, 2023.
During their visit, TSCI will celebrate the 12th Anniversaryof the partnership between our cities, as well as greet
delegates for TSCI’s…

Interested in Visiting Ghana?
TSCI is planning a May 28 – June 9, 2023 Student/Community Delegation trip
to Sunyani-Techiman, Ghana! There are only a few remaining available spaces
for the 2023 Ghana trip, which includes tours of Accra, historic Cape Coast,Mole National Park, and amazing experiences in Sunyani and Techiman.
If you are interested, please contact TSCI at (205) 343-0100 or email
tuscaloosasistercities@gmail.com as soon as possible!

TSCI 2022 Board of Directors
Tuscaloosa Sister Cities
International is proud of thesupport and commitment,
locally and globally, of its
Board of Directors. The board
meets at 5pm on the second
Wednesday of January, April,
July, and October. Eachmember supports TSCI
programs and events
throughout the year. Thankyou to each outstanding
member of the TSCI Board ofDirectors!
•••••••••••••

Kip Tyner, Chairman, Tuscaloosa City Council President
Christy Beem, Ken Chapman & Associates
Matt Feller, Michelin Corporation
Dr. Pamela Foster, University of Alabama
Yukiko Gilbert, University of Alabama, JVC (retired)
Bernd Greimel, SMP Automotive Manufacturer
Chad L. Jackson, University of Alabama
Megan Legerski, University of Alabama
Greg Madrid, DCH Health System
Donna McKee, MBUSI (retired)
Matthew Orndorff, Alabama Public Radio
Leigh Pate, University of Alabama
Edel Revord, MBUSI (retired)
9••

Dr. Janet Sherrod, Tuscaloosa City Schools
Lisa Keyes, Executive Director, TSCI

Tuscaloosa Sister Cities
Wants You
To become more involved with us! Whether
you are interested in international culture,
hosting an international student oradult delegate, or love to travel and would liketo be a member of our next visit to Narashino,
Schorndorf, or Sunyani-Techiman, Ghana we'dlove to know you. TSCI is a non-profit, publicly
funded agency and our goal isto promote peace, mutual respect and global understanding and respect. We
welcome your interest and your input, and we look forward to getting to know
you better as we "Connect Globally and Thrive Locally".
Tuscaloosa Sister Cities International is a memberof Sister Cities International"A Global Citizen Diplomacy Network"
Contact us at:
Tuscaloosa Sister Cities International
1305 Greensboro Avenue
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401(205) 343-0100
tuscaloosasistercities@gmail.com

www.tuscaloosasistercities.wordpress.com

Happy Fall Holidays from TSCI!

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