In the two weeks she's been in Sugar Hill on an exchange program, German citizen Corinna Cuypers has noticed one big difference. The City Council in Duisburg has 74 members, while Sugar Hill has only five.

Then again, Duisburg has 500,000 people, while Sugar Hill has just 17,000. That means City Hall is a place where the employees know each other and many of the city residents by name.

"I've learned a lot, because I'm interested in the management of how a city works," said Cuypers, 17, whose mother is on the Duisburg City Council.

She will start her last year of high school when she returns home, and perhaps study law.

"I think the political parties have much more influence in Germany than they do here," Cuypers said. "And there are more parties."

In Sugar Hill, Cuypers is staying with Jimmy and Meg Avery. Meg Avery teaches in Duluth and has served on the Sugar Hill City Council. The Averys have hosted other exchange students.

"Things seem much more relaxed here," said Cuypers. "In Germany, things are so stressful. In the American way of life, people are friendly. I love it here."

Bonnie Murphy, Sugar Hill's customer service and billing supervisor, said Cuypers has helped out in every facet of city government, working for most of the supervisors.

In Parks and Recreation, Cuypers has helped prepare for the city's July 3 celebration and its Friday night movie night.

She made points one day with the front office in City Hall by bringing in a homemade donauwelle, a diabetic nightmare cake made with chocolate, cherries, butter cream and cocoa.

City Hall employees Bea Slone and Naomi Brown have made sure Cuypers enjoys typical American past-times. Slone has taken the teenager shopping in the Dawsonville Outlets and the Mall of Georgia. Brown has introduced her to various restaurants.

With the Euro so strong against the dollar, Cuypers has found her money goes far. In Georgia, she's been buying clothes that are popular in Germany —- where sales tax is a whopping 17 percent —- for much less money.

She's also found she likes American food, especially Papa John's pizza, "which is better than what we have in Germany," she said. "Ours is thinner, with less cheese and other toppings."

Her favorite sight so far?

The Fox Theatre in Midtown Atlanta, where she saw the musical "Mama Mia."

"That building is just amazing," she said.