"Very anxious:" Milwaukee woman waits hours to hear from 'exchange sister' in Paris

MILWAUKEE -- Many of us watched in horror of the news coming out of Paris, France on Friday evening, November 13th. For one local woman and her family, the hours slowly ticked by as they waiting to hear if their loved ones were OK.

Sara Lemke

Sara Lemke found her way to her future career by way of hosting a French exchange student.

"She and I really connected, best friends," said Sara Lemke.

That connection has turned into a lifelong bond. Show now even calls that friend her "exchange sister."

"This is Nadene and me in the south of France. We were 18 at that time," said Lemke.

It was on a trip to visit her friend in her home country that Lemke found her calling.

"That is when I fell in love with France and the people of France and knew that I wanted French to be a part of my life everyday and decided to be a French teacher," Lemke said.

She still teaches French, and even takes community groups on trips to France every couple of years. Lemke's husband and children have also formed a bond with her exchange sister's family.

When Lemke got word of the attacks, she hurriedly tried to track down her exchange sister, to make sure she was safe.

"Last night was very anxious for me. I had sent emails with no response," said Lemke.

But at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, relief cam as a Skype call came through.

"It was pretty powerful to see her face and she and I had a moment where we just stared and the screens and shed some tears before we could talk," said Lemke.

Lemke says the conversation that followed carried an echo of one they'd had in 2001.

"We had talked after 9/11 -- she said, 'this, this is what you were feeling,'" Lemke said.

Lemke says her exchange sister's friends and family are also all safe.