Meet Our Students

Anna is an outgoing and brave high school student from Taiwan who enjoys meeting new people and experiencing new cultures. A native Mandarin speaker, she loves sharing her background and learning from others. At school, she participates in Model United Nations, where she has developed strong public speaking and leadership skills. In her free time, she enjoys crafts and hands-on projects. Anna hopes her exchange year will help her grow, make meaningful friendships, and share Taiwanese culture—especially her cooking—with her host family.

Going to the United States is a dream come true for me! When I was 5, my father was transferred to Canada for work, so my whole family went with him. I remember this time with great joy that has made me long to return to North America. My favorite season is summer. I adore the heat! I spend half of the summer time in my garden, having get-togethers with friends and barbeques with family, always ending up laughing in the pool. The other half of summer is spent at camp with my friends and at the beach. One of my favorite things is trying new food with flavors I've never imagined before. I also really enjoy spending time with my family, no matter what we are doing! My friends say I'm a super fun person and that I always bring a lot of happiness to people because I'm always in a good mood. I love to joke around and laugh a lot. I enjoy cooking, mainly barbeques with grilled meat, tacos and Mexican food, Spanish omelets, and paella. My favorite sport is soccer, since in my country it's practically a religion! I've played it since I was little, even though I'm not very good. I'd love to learn to play American football because it reminds me of those typical American movies with the yellow buses. I also love mountain biking because I love the adrenaline rush you get on the downhills and the nature that surrounds me. I am really looking forward to meeting new people and experiencing the American culture.

I never imagined I would one day write to a family on the other side of the world--a family who could soon become a second home to me. Since I was a child, I have dreamed of discovering the world, collecting cultures, memories, and precious moments. I hope we are starting a journey together! I'm a big music lover. Since childhood, I've grown up listening to artists like Rihanna, Amy Winehouse, Ariana Grande, and many others. I remember when I was little, I used to translate the lyrics of my favorite songs--it was a real pastime for me! I'm also interested in classic films, such as Fight Club and Scarface. Discovering a new way of life, meeting people, adapting to another culture have always been a childhood dream! I consider myself to be a cheerful, sociable girl who is always ready to help others. I adapt very quickly to different situations and I'm very optimistic. Academically, I lean more towards humanities than sciences. I am passionate about geopolitics, sociology, and other social sciences. I hope to have a chance to discover your daily life, your culture, and fully integrate into your family. I also really want to share my own culture, traditions, and everything that makes me unique.

For more information about me, please see my Dear Host Family letter!

Katie is easygoing, warm, and known for her bright smile—especially in awkward moments. Katie loves animals (especially dogs and cats), warm weather, and spending time at the beach, where she’s happiest relaxing in the sun with ice cream in hand. While she’s adventurous and open-minded, she’ll admit she has one big fear: spiders! In her free time, Katie enjoys watching movies, shopping at the mall, exploring new places, and hanging out with friends. She is always eager to try new activities and looks forward to participating in family traditions, school events, and anything new her host family enjoys doing together. Family and friendships are very important to Katie. She values the strong support system she has at home, especially her parents, who have taught her independence, patience, and resilience. Through her exchange experience, Katie hopes to grow more independent, adapt to a new culture, and gain meaningful life experiences. She is deeply grateful to host families who open their homes and hearts and is excited to learn about American culture, daily life, and family traditions while becoming a part of her host family.

Jade is so excited to become a high school exchange student. Some of her favorite activities are playing piano, running, listening to music, watching movies, fashion and learning about new cultures. Curious to discover a new school system that is so different from her French school, she is looking forward to becoming fully immersed in her new classes and friendships and join cheerleading. Jade is excited to join a host family to learn more about a typical American family and to practice her English enough to become fluent. She is an only child, so she is very excited about the possibility of having a sibling or siblings in her host family! Calm, open-minded and respectful, Jade is looking forward to challenging herself in her new environment.

Aishabibi is a kind‑hearted, thoughtful student from Kazakhstan who instantly makes people feel comfortable. She grew up in a close, loving family and brings that same warmth into everything she does. She helps with cooking, cleaning, and keeping the home running smoothly, and she especially loves baking with her mom. Active and energetic, she enjoys football, volleyball, and boxing—sports she’s been around since childhood thanks to her grandfather, a former coach. She’s deeply curious about the world, passionate about languages and international relations, and eager to learn from a new culture. She uses Salbutamol only rarely for mild asthma. A family who welcomes her will gain a grateful, hardworking daughter who will leave a lasting mark on their hearts.

For more info, check out my Host Family Letter!

Cynthia is a thoughtful and gentle student from Taiwan who enjoys quiet moments, meaningful connections, and expressing herself through the arts. She loves listening to jazz music and has played the cello since childhood, appreciating its bold and expressive personality. In her free time, she enjoys cheerful movies, exploring new places, cooking—especially desserts—and sharing food with others. Curious and open‑minded, Cynthia hopes to come to America to experience everyday life with a host family, challenge herself with new activities like cheerleading, and participate fully in cultural exchange. She is excited to share Taiwanese traditions such as making dumplings and writing Spring Festival couplets, while also learning and embracing American customs. Above all, Cynthia wants to build warm relationships, discover a new way of life, and bring those experiences back to share with her friends at home.