Exchange students from across the world reflect on 10-month trip in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Exchange students part of the EF Educational Foundation for Foreign Study Program are heading back as the school year ends across the metro.

KCTV5 joined the festivities as the first round of students arrived at the new KCI Terminal in August 2023. Fast-forward to now, and some of the kids are back in their hometowns, sharing stories with friends and family about the last 9-10 months of their lives.

“You really have a second family on the other side of the world, like you really feel like your family,” said Lelia Charlotte Burkhardt, who will be heading back to Germany soon.

Her host family, the Walters, have been hosting kids for years and traveling around the world to get a glimpse at a variety of cultures. They were able to let Burkhardt into their lives as they attended school, visited landmarks, and they actually get to meet her parents who are visiting Kansas City now.

Some experienced the sunflower fields, explored Main Street and the side streets in downtown Kansas City, and are now part of the Chiefs Kingdom.

“They were so patient with me because I kept asking questions over and over again, but I’m pretty sure I got all the rules down,” said Yasmin Thusen.

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Lyvia Wu from Taiwan experienced a lot as well, but something that stood out was how the classroom dynamics worked in the States. She went to different classes for different periods and witnessed students in all the classes give the pledge of allegiance every single day.

International Exchange Coordinator Cindy Chamberlain said this opportunity helps the exchange students surely, but it also helps her own children learn more about the cultures around us. Some of the events they hosted as a full group included a large meal where every student and family made a dish and dessert from their culture and joined together to try it all.

Diane Pyle is an International Exchange Coordinator who helps connect families before the trip, mentors the students and host families during the trips, and stays in contact consistently as some may have questions during the 10-month process.

“Teenagers are teenagers all over the world, kids are kids. Their culture might be different but we’re all human beings,” she said.

She’s been doing it since 2012 and right now helps coordinate with families in Johnson County.

The students from Germany, Denmark, Taiwan, Spain, and the list goes on and on experienced a citywide celebration with the Kansas City Chiefs winning the Super Bowl as fireworks lit the sky. Music blared, schools celebrated, the party was on and they are experiencing it all amongst us.

Some of them though witnessed firsthand a scenario they didn’t think could happen at Union Station at the Chiefs rally where shots were fired, a life was lost, and the community was shaken for days.

“We actually had some great support through EF Boston office. We had people calling our students making sure they were okay, talking to the host families, making sure the host family was supported too. No one was directly involved but we did have students there,” said Pyle.

As for the entirety of the almost year-long trip to KC — it truly is a once in a lifetime experience filled with laughs, smiles. Now, it’s mixed feelings for some as they try to get back in the groove of things back home and leave behind a second family across the globe.

“Leaving these guys and not knowing when the next time that’ll be seeing them – that’s hard,” said Burkhardt.

Thusen said, “We’re trying not to cry about it, I’m trying to push it as much as possible because if I start I won’t stop.”

There are many repeat host families, but they are always look for more to open their doors and welcome a kid from across the world to Kansas City. There is currently a referral bonus available for about two more weeks and more information can be found HERE.

EF High School Exchange Year is operated by EF Educational Foundation for Foreign Study, a non-profit corporation designated by the U.S. Department of State.

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