When people talk about going on an exchange, they often mention the courage it takes to leap into the unknown. But for Annette, jumping onto a plane for the very first time wasn’t about overcoming fear; it was about pure excitement and optimism.
“There was no courage involved in my case,” she recalls. “I wasn’t afraid or hesitant at all, just super excited. The minute I heard about the opportunity, I applied.”
That enthusiastic leap took her from Germany to Mercedes High School in South Texas in 1976. Decades later, she reflects on how that single year shaped her career, her passions, her family, and the entire trajectory of her life.
Uncovering a Lifelong Passion
Sometimes, landing in the right classroom can change everything. During her exchange year, she was placed in a Field Ecology class taught by Richard Lehman, who had just been named Texas Teacher of the Year.
“I had a great love for animals and the outdoors, but I hadn’t heard much about ecology,” she shares. “When I did, my eyes and ears opened wide, thinking: ‘That’s exactly what I’m interested in: how everything works together!’”
Inspired by field trips into the Mexican rainforest and a passionate teacher, she was hooked for good. That spark led her to build her own career teaching Biology and Ecology, passing the torch of inspiration on to new generations of students.
From Munich to Western Saddles
Beyond the classroom, exchange is about immersing yourself in a new way of living. As a self-described “horse-crazy teenager,” arriving at her host family’s home in Texas felt like hitting the jackpot.
Her host family spent every weekend at horse shows, and she quickly traded English riding for Western style. Guided by the patient horses of her two host brothers, she dove into barrel racing, pole-bending, and trail riding. The love for Western riding stayed with her long after high school; she went on to work summers on large cattle ranches and still enjoys trail riding on her quarter horse, Kuper, to this day.
Gaining Perspective and Embracing Differences
If you ask any exchange student what they gained from their time abroad, "perspective" is almost always at the top of the list. “I’ve always referred to my exchange year as the most formative year of my life,” she says. “A lot of what we think is 'normal' is actually just culture - nothing is absolute. The most important life lesson I learned was to give people leeway to be different... including myself!”
A Second Family Across Oceans
The heart of the YFU experience lies in the connections built with host families and communities. The bond with her host mother grew into a deep, lifelong mother-daughter connection.
They stayed in touch through the years with visits back and forth. Her host mother’s love made such an impact that it later inspired the Annette to seamlessly step into a "second mom" role for a couple of young women in her own life. The depth of their bond was clear to everyone around them: While living in a nursing home, the staff were initially confused when the host mother spoke fondly of a phone call from her “daughter”, since official records only listed her two sons.
Years later at her host mother's funeral, no one questioned her when she took a seat in the family row alongside her host brother to honor the woman who had welcomed her so warmly.
50 Years of Friendship & A "Never-Ending" Exchange
The friendships made during an exchange year don't fade with time and, sometimes, they even lead to crashing a wedding!
After returning to Germany, she volunteered as a YFU regional coordinator and served as a flight supervisor for a new cohort of exchange students heading to the U.S. Taking advantage of the trip, she slipped into Mercedes, Texas, just in time to surprise one of her high school best friends right after her wedding ceremony.
“We were so excited to see each other when she finally spotted me in church that she asked me to ride to the reception in the ‘Just Married’ car with her and her—less impressed—new husband!” she laughs. Today, nearly 50 years later, they remain as close as ever.
In fact, her exchange journey never truly ended. After high school, she returned to Texas for her undergraduate degree, moved to British Columbia, Canada for graduate school, and made North America her permanent home. She playfully calls herself one of those "failed" exchange students who simply never left.
Why Exchange Matters Today
Looking back on half a century of memories, her recommendation to young people, parents, and educators is simple: go.
“I have recommended student exchange to many of my students, relatives, and friends’ children,” she says. “Everybody stands to learn from gaining a different perspective, to understand a little better what makes people different, yet still worth making friends with. Especially in these polarized times.”
Interested in opening your world, gaining a new perspective, or welcoming an exchange student into your home? Learn more about YFU programs today!