Meet Our Students

Luca is an open-minded, active, and positive student who is excited to experience life in a new culture and become part of a host family. He enjoys meeting new people, building meaningful connections, and bringing humor and good energy into every environment. Adaptable and respectful, Luca approaches new challenges with curiosity and enthusiasm. A passionate soccer player and fan, Luca loves the teamwork, discipline, and excitement the sport brings. He also enjoys spending time outdoors, walking his dog, listening to music, traveling, and being active during vacations through activities like skiing and snorkeling. Family and friendships are very important to him, and he values spending quality time with the people closest to him. Luca hopes his exchange year will help him grow more independent, improve his language skills, and broaden his perspective by experiencing a different school system and culture. He looks forward to creating unforgettable memories, sharing experiences with his host family, and contributing positive energy to their home.

Meet the wonderful Imke!! She is from a smaller town in the Netherlands and is looking forward to this fantastic adventure. Imke is social and talkative, she loves trying most new things like food and sports. She is from a large family of 5, so she is used to siblings and a larger family dynamic. Imke is open to traveling and learning about many different cultures. Imke is athletic in numerous sports like Tennis and Korfball. She plays at the club level and even volunteers to help teach the younger girls at the club she plays at. She enjoys the competition sports offer and the social aspect of making friends through sports. Imke is very family oriented and loves the idea of becoming a part of her host family. Playing boardgames, helping cook or just handing out and communication through humor is important to her. She is looking forward to visiting stores in America like Target, Sephora and Walmart are just a few on her list to be able to walk through and experience the store chains we have here in America. In addition, experiencing sporting events at an American High School is very exciting for her. Imke has a lot of team spirit and wants to embrace it all!! Let’s help give Imke the perfect host family that love sports, that is outgoing and believes family is important too.

I really like the sea and surfing. Through my surf experiences, I became interested in environmental issues, especially marine pollution. Then, I began beach cleanups three times a week when I was in junior high school. I see myself as a proactive and responsible person. I like doing exercise and having fun playing sports, but I'm honestly not any good at ball games. I would like to learn about American culture and traditions, as well as the environmental consciousness of American people. With my family and friends, we enjoy going to the beach or hiking on weekends. At the moment, I am practicing cooking easy Japanese dishes for you! I will try my best to improve my English and communication skills. In the future, I hope to be a person who can thrive internationally.

Javier "JJ" loves aviation and dreams of becoming an air traffic controller. His grandfather, who is an aerospace engineer, has taught him so much about aviation even taking him to air shows! A good student, JJ appreciates his math teacher especially, as he says the teacher is willing to take the time to make sure the students really understand the lessons. In his free time, he loves participating in sports, especially basketball, which is his favorite. In the summer, he goes to camp with classmates from school and during the holidays, he travels to the country with his extended family. JJ is so excited to practice his English in his new community and get to know his host family!

Neo is excited to experience life in the United States. He describes himself as open-minded, calm, and helpful, and values being respectful, reliable, and supportive in family life. Close with his parents, brother, and family cat, Neo appreciates strong relationships and enjoys spending time with the people around him. In his free time, Neo enjoys playing the guitar, listening to music, and spending time outdoors. He recently started playing basketball and enjoys trying new activities and learning through new experiences. Friends are an important part of his life, and he loves spending time together after school, whether walking around the city or simply relaxing and talking. Neo is eager to improve his English by fully immersing himself in American culture and everyday life. He is especially looking forward to experiencing American high school, making new friends, and becoming part of a host family’s routines and traditions. Neo hopes to share his own German culture as well, including food, traditions, and stories about life in Germany. He is excited for the opportunity to grow more independent, confident, and open-minded during his exchange year.

Meet Arstenbek from Kyrgyzstan. He is a serious student with a fun side! He is excited to learn about American culture and wants to try baseball and American football. He enjoys hobbies like chess, Monopoly, and table tennis. He is a recipient of the prestigious FLEX scholarship for students that have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities. He spends weekdays at a boarding school where he is engaged in several interesting projects called GreenLand, Bilimbot, Olimpfund and Olimplearn. He describes the boarding school as an opportunity that he is extremely grateful to be a part of where he is learning cleanliness and respect for elders along with academic subjects. On weekends he is home with his family which includes his mother, father and ten-year-old brother. Helping out at home when he is there is very important to Arstanbek, he cleans, cooks and grocery shops for his family. He is also very passionate about his culture; he plays a traditional instrument called the Chopo-Chor. He also acknowledges what an amazing act of kindness hosting a student is and will truly appreciate this opportunity to its fullest.

Margaux lives with her mother and younger sister but also enjoys her visits with her father. She has been studying dance since she was 5 and this brings her joy. Margaux describes herself as open-minded, interested in what is happening in the world, very empathetic and a good listener. Family celebrations are precious to her and she enjoys doing simple activities with her family, like going for walks, baking, watching movies and playing games. Her passion for discovery is what pushed her to be an exchange student. She expects to grow, mature, learn about herself and life along with improving her English. Living in the US will enable her to learn about the country’s culture, experience holidays, attend American football games and create memories with her host family.

I’m an active, positive, and family oriented person who enjoys sports, baking, and creative hobbies. I love skiing in winter, scuba diving when traveling, and staying energized at the gym. Styling is another passion of mine—I enjoy doing my makeup, experimenting with hairstyles, and dressing fashionably. In my free time, I like meeting friends, reading, and sharing my creativity. Friends describe me as kind, reliable, and open to new people. I look forward to my exchange year as a chance to grow more independent, improve my English, join new activities, and share my culture through language and food with my host family.

Meet Oscar from France who is ready for an adventure! He plays handball on a team twice a week and has been playing the piano for 8 years. He has many interests as you can see. He loves all kinds of pets like cats, dogs, rabbits, etc. Oscar is dedicated to his studies, and his favorite subjects are math and science. In the future, he would like to become an architect and create enormous and incredible buildings. He is very active and loves to go to the countryside and help his grandparents with the gardening. He enjoys the outdoors and in the winter season he likes to go skiing with his family. Oscar hopes to improve his English and build lifelong memories with his new host family.