Legs crossed, 18-year-old Julia Stropnik chatted while fidgeting with the red concert bracelet on her left wrist.

Classes, friends, concerts -- the Kelly Walsh High School senior wasn't shy to talk and she ended every sentence with a giggle. She's your average American teenager, except she isn't American -- she's Austrian.

Stropnik is one of 13 students living in Casper through the Education First Foundation. A Rotary scholarship brought a student from Brazil and another student is here through the Academic Year in America program. The programs place students with families and provide personal support throughout the year. Families undergo an extensive screening process and students are matched with a family where they will best fit, according to Suzanne Sandoval, program coordinator.

"For every family it turns out to be a unique experience in sharing our culture with a student and it bridges a gap across a wide ocean," Sandoval said. "They've usually heard about New York and California, but they bond with and love Wyoming."

Stropnik lived in Vienna, a city with public transportation, small cars and 1.6 million people. When she learned she had been placed in "WY," she had to look it up on the Internet. But she said she's happy and likes her new home.

Students must take American studies and English courses, maintain at least a C in every class and participate in two activities.

Stropnik won't be bored in Casper. She likes to ski in the winter, swim with friends in the summer, ride bikes and go to movies. She enjoys spending time with her new family, which is very different from her own.

Host dad and mom Rick Koehmstedt and Tassma Powers were years away from raising a teenager. They wanted to introduce a new culture to their young children Sebastian, 5, and Annalise, 3. The family already celebrated another country one night a week by cooking a traditional dish and talking about the culture.

"My biggest concern was that she wouldn't blend in as much, and we'd have separate lives going on," Powers said. "She's a very sweet girl and my kids love her."

The Koehmstedt family prepared room in their home and lives for Stropnik. They first talked with Stropnik in March, and exchanged e-mails and shared pictures on Facebook. They tried to learn German with Rosetta Stone software. Weekly international night became weekly Austrian night. When Stropnik arrived in August, she was hardly a stranger.

Host families provide room and board for the school year and are not paid. Students come with spending money for expenses such as new jeans or payment toward a family trip, Sandoval said.

The family visited Denver and Mt. Rushmore and plans to see Arizona and Florida. Stropnik wants to travel to New York after school ends. Meanwhile, Sunday night is now Austrian night. Stropnik cooks Wiener Schnitzel and gebackene schinkenfleckerl, a creamy casserole of noodles, egg, ham and cheese.

"It's not ever going to be endorsed by Weight Watchers, but it's very good," Powers said.

Stropnik's mother mailed a care package with Austrian noodles, chocolate, recipes and a DVD of Austria's most famous pop singer, Falco. The package might as well have been addressed to the entire family.

Reach education reporter Jackie Borchardt at (307) 266-0593 or at jackie.borchardt@trib.com. Read her education blog at tribtown.trib.com/reportcard.