Meet Our Students

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.

Elsa is a creative and thoughtful student who is both calm and warm once she feels comfortable. She has a strong passion for drawing, especially cartoons, and enjoys expressing herself through art. An active and motivated person, she has played volleyball for four years and values teamwork and personal improvement. Elsa prefers cozy moments such as movie nights, reading, and spending quality time with family and friends over loud social events. Curious about the world, she is eager to discover new cultures and is particularly fascinated by American traditions and holidays. Kind, open-minded, and enthusiastic about learning, Elsa looks forward to meaningful cultural exchange and new experiences.

I truly hope that, together, we can create unforgettable, fun memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. My hobbies are running, dancing, and learning languages! I also love history and geography because I like discovering new things about new places. As for my personality, my friends describe me as responsible, open-minded, and curious at the same time a good listener and someone they can rely on and someone they can ask for help and advice. One of my biggest dreams is to create a company and a foundation that will help women, young girls, and children in need who are facing difficult situations. I want to help them and make their lives easier and happier. I can't wait to learn about your traditions, your daily life, and your culture. I am especially excited to celebrate American holidays with you- Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, and many others I have only seen from afar. I believe that cultural exchange is one of the most beautiful things in the world, and I hope we will inspire each other.

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!

Jean lives with his parents, two brothers, sister and dog. He was born in the Caribbean and lived there for the first seven years of his life. He is a practicing Catholic and goes to church every Sunday. In his free time, Jean likes to play tennis, running, swimming, and cycling. He has been involved in scouting for several years. His friends and family often say that he brings energy and joy to the people around him. 

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.

Nicola is a friendly, energetic, and adventurous student from Italy who is excited to experience life in the United States. He enjoys staying active and has participated in several sports, including soccer, tennis, and swimming, but his greatest passion is volleyball. Through sports, Nicola has developed strong teamwork skills, discipline, and resilience. Outside of athletics, Nicola enjoys listening to music, cooking, and spending time with friends exploring new places and experiences. He also previously played guitar and remains interested in music. As a longtime member of the Scouts, Nicola has learned responsibility, leadership, resourcefulness, and how to work effectively with others. Nicola is no stranger to helping at home and is happy to assist with cooking, cleaning, and household tasks. He also spends time volunteering at children's summer camps, where he helps organize activities and mentor younger children. These experiences have helped him develop patience, creativity, and strong interpersonal skills. While Nicola is still exploring what he would like to pursue in the future, he views his exchange year as an opportunity for personal growth, cultural exchange, and self-discovery. He is eager to learn about American culture, make new friends, and become part of a host family while sharing Italian traditions, food, and experiences. Nicola brings enthusiasm, kindness, maturity, and a positive attitude, making him an excellent addition to any host family.

I'm a calm person and often described as funny. I enjoy the simple things in life, and observing the world around me. Sport is a big part of my life. I've done so many different ones, tennis, boxing, dance, synchronized swimming, and basketball! Right now, I do synchronized swimming, which I love because it mixes music, movement, and teamwork. I'd love to try American sports I've never experienced before, like cheerleading or lacrosse because they look exciting and full of energy! I'm really curious to discover life in the US and I want to experience all the new things that make life there unique. I love getting out of my comfort zone! In my free time, I enjoy reading (especially fantasy books) and thinking deeply about life and the world. At home, I live with my mom and we have two cats, some chickens, and I used to have a rabbit when I was younger. At school, my favorite subjects are math, physics, and economics. What makes me the most excited about this exchange year is the idea of facing new things, learning how to adapt, and growing from it. I believe that kindness, honesty, and time can create real connections.

Meet 18-year-old French student Ilona who has dreamed of being an exchange student since she was 13. Family is very important to her and she lives with her mother, step-father and brother. She loves simple moments with her family like playing board games, talking, laughing and watching movies along with an evening talking with friends. Her friends describe her as sunny, kind, generous, caring and always willing to help She is passionate about reading, especially romance novels, and loves to travel. Recently she had the opportunity to travel to Slovenia for a one-week school exchange. She chose the USA for her exchange year, because the country has always fascinated her, she wants to improve her English and to step out of her comfort zone in a new environment. Ilona is excited to go to prom, choose a fun class in high school, try new activities such as cheerleading or track & field, carve a Halloween pumpkin, see an American football game and celebrate Thanksgiving.