Katherine Duemichen was excited when she stepped up to home plate during a baseball game Wednesday at the Nusbaum farm in Dixon. It was the first time the teen-ager had ever played the game.

Duemichen and her parents, Horst and Brigitte, are three of 11 Sister City participants from Herzberg, Germany, who have been visiting Dixon this past week.

"I love baseball. It's so American," Katherine said.

In addition to a baseball diamond, the group has seen many sights in and around Dixon, including City Hall, the police department, the fire department and KSB Hospital. They have taken tours of the Reagan Home and John Deere Home in Grand Detour. They have also traveled to Moline to see the John Deere Center. This weekend they are enjoying many of the festivities at the Dixon Petunia Festival.

The Duemichens said they've enjoyed their visit to Dixon. It is the first time they have been to the United States.

Horst works in agriculture. Brigitte is the staff manager of the Herzberg City Hall. They are staying in the home of Bill and Carol Wadsworth.

"They consider this a great opportunity to see and learn," said Carol Wadsworth.

"I have been so impressed with how they pick up on things so quickly," added Bill Wadsworth.

Horst said he has been surprised by all of the things he has seen. He especially enjoyed visiting Lowell Park and White Pines State Park. He said they do not have parks like that in Germany.

"Dixon is very beautiful," he said.

Horst, who has a degree in agricultural engineering, said he particularly enjoyed visiting the Nusbaum farm and the John Deere Center.

Brigitte said she has appreciated the friendly welcome she received and the open hearts she's met in Dixon.

"The people are very friendly and everything we've seen has been very impressive," she said.

Brigitte said she was surprised at how well government employees work together. She said it is not that way in Germany.

On Monday, Brigitte will be spending some time with Julie Mann, the personnel manager of KSB Hospital. They will be working together so that Brigitte can see how a personnel department here is run so she can compare it to what she does back home.

"I'm really looking forward to it," she said.

Katherine has been helping translate for her parents this week. She loves the english language and enjoys speaking it.

"This is my first time in America and I'm real excited about the country. "It's cool," she said.

Katherine has enjoyed the river boat trip she and her parents took on Tuesday through Lowell Park and the Country Concert on Friday night.

The Duemichens also enjoyed seeing Heritage Square on Tuesday.

"The people (at Heritage Square) were really open to me," said Katherine. "In Germany, the older people are not as open to young people."

The Wadsworths said they have enjoyed having the Duemichens in their home.

"They've just come into our home and become part of the family," said Wadsworth.

"It's been a wonderful experience," said Carol Wadsworth. "They're a very nice family."

The Duemichens expressed their thanks to everyone who helped organize the Sister City program.

"The program has been good since we've been shown the things we are interested in," said Brigitte.

The Duemichens and the other Sister City participants will be returning to Germany on Wednesday.