On Aug. 6, Exchange student Julia Haas came from Germany to the United States and is staying with junior Janae Watkins for the year.

“I was super excited because I got my hosts family so early and she texted me at 4:30 a.m. Germany time and after reading it I couldn’t sleep I was too excited for what was to come,” Haas said.

Haas is 16 and came to the United States from Germany, for the first time this year in the exchange student program. None of this could have happened if it weren’t for Janae’s parents, Renita and Todd Watkins.

“I wasn’t very surprised when Jane asked me this because she has always been interested in other countries and their cultures.” Remnita Watkins said. “My husband and I agreed on letting one to our house because we thought it would be a good experience.”

This is the first time Watkins had an exchange student come and stay with her, but she is familiar with the system because she originally got the idea from her friend who had a girl from Ireland stay with her.

“In the winter of 2015, I decided I wanted a foreign exchange student to come and live with me when a friend of mine had one for two weeks from Ireland,” Watkins said, “It’s like gaining a sister, and we get along great so it all works out and it’s a good experience to have both ways.”

Haas and Watkins agreed there was some difficulties coming from Germany to the United States. For example the both agreed that the biggest adjustment issue was the time zone.

“It was definitely one of the hardest and biggest change due to a seven hour time difference,” Haas said.

It’s a big commitment having a foreign exchange student come so far to live with you, but from what Watkins and Hass has said, it’s been an unforgettable experience already.

“One word I would use to describe my time with Julia so far would be fun because I’ve got to share parts of my life with her that she has never experienced and I have so much more to share with her,” Watkins said.