Exchange student Hannah Mӧmken’s year in the United States is almost over, but she will go home to Schweinfurt, Germany with wonderful memories, new friends and an American family who will miss her.
Karen Kifer, who is a coordinator for EF Exchange High School Year, had no intention of becoming a host but the moment she saw Hannah at the airport, Karen knew that she would become part of her family. She was right. Karen and her husband Mark have grown to love her as family.
Hannah, 17, arrived in America in August 2014. Her dream had always been to experience life in the U.S. and she had wanted to be part of an exchange program since she was in eighth grade. She added that she had always thought of America as a place where dreams come true.
“I was so excited about it – to go out alone and to get more independent…I wanted to see how American high school is and improve my English,” Hannah said.
There are many differences in the education systems. There are no high school sports teams at German hig
h schools and they study 16 different subjects during a school year.
Hannah will have missed a year of school when she goes home as her classes here do not count toward her education in Germany. She will not mind making up the year, though, because she has had a wonderful experience in the U.S. and at South Garland High School.
She enjoyed the sports programs at SGHS and played softball, volleyball and tennis and even won the junior varsity UIL tennis championship for female singles for the school.
Learning how to sew in the fashion design class was a great experience for her and she won two first-place awards for items she made.
The Kifers made sure that Hannah got to see and experience a variety of things in America. They took her to California, San Antonio, Galveston and Hawaii to name a few, and before she goes home, they will visit the Grand Canyon. She got to go to New York on a school trip as well.
She experienced traditional high school activities including football games, homecoming and prom.
Hannah has made many friends at SGHS and other area schools as well as with other exchange students. She likes that she now has friends from many different countries.
She said that it was hard when she left her family in Germany, but she 
felt welcome right away with Karen and Mark.
“From the beginning I felt so comfortable,” Hannah said. “Karen and Mark had pictures of my family and friends hanging in my room. It was like my own room. I felt so at home.”
The year has been great for Mark, Karen and Hannah.
“I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I’ve always wanted to make a difference in a child’s life,” Karen explained as she became emotional. “And I think I did.”
Hannah agreed that Karen did indeed make a difference for her.
Karen said that she will host again.
“But I’ll never get another one like my Hannah Banana,” she said.
Exchange student’s responsibilities/requirements include, but are not limited to:
Must be 15-18 years of age
Have necessary immunizations
Know English
Pass interview/screening
Have health insurance
Have own credit card
Be enrolled in school and maintain C average
Follow host family’s rules
Host family’s responsibilities/requirements include, but are not limited to:
Provide safe environment
Provide three meals per day
Pass home inspection
Pass interview/screening
Pass background check
Cannot be receiving public assistance
Complete orientation/training
Families do not receive compensation
About EF High School Exchange Year: As a division of EF Education First, the World Leader in International Education, it is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. EF High School Exchange Year has been committed to promoting global awareness through student exchange for more than 30 years. The organization brings more students to the U.S. each year than any other high school exchange program, and since 1979 it has connected more than 100,000 international students with host families across the U.S. EF High School Exchange Year is designated by the U.S. State Department as an Exchange Program Sponsor.
Area families that are interested in learning more about hosting an exchange student through EF should contact Karen Kifer at 214-535-7554 or Karen.kifer@efexchangeyear.org or visit www.efexchangeyear.org for more information.