By Jazmin Alfonseca

Anika Hartramph, a blonde, petite, and timid foreign exchange student from Berlin, Germany was surprised by the warm welcome she received from the students at Fredrick Douglass Academy.

“I didn’t expect people to be so warm-hearted,” she said. “We are like a family.”

The exchange program started a week ago when four students from Berlin, Germany were selected to come to New York. The school principle, Dr. Gregory Hodge, selected four students to receive the exchange students in their homes, and act as tour guides.

“I was nervous about how he was going to like New York, my house, or me, but then it was cool; we found things in common,” said Petey Jones, a senior who lives in Harlem.

The German consulate has partnered with Bronx Assemblyman Michael Benjamin, and his wife Kennedy Williams-Benjamin to create the exchange program. The first exchange was done in the Bronx, and this year it was launched in Harlem.

“My goal is to impact these students long-term to help them learn about the real New York,” said Williams-Benjamin. “These students deserve a chance to gain knowledge about different cultures.”

The program planned trips to museums, the Apollo Theater, and the Statue of Liberty, among other places.

The students first met one another through Skype, the free internet teleconferencing service.

“They just stared at one another, and the other teachers and I did most of the talking,” said Alissa Rosenbaum, a teacher. “It’s been a really smooth trip. It’s amazing seeing the students together. It’s been really fun.”

The goal of the German exchange program is to bridge the gap between the different cultures.

The academy students will reciprocate by visiting Berlin Germany for two weeks in May. “I’m looking forward on going to Germany,” said Sasha Schultz a junior.

The students said they have enjoyed their time together and hope to stay in contact through such social networking sites as Facebook, Twitter, and Skype.