Meet Our Students

Anais is from a small town in France. She is very close with her family, and the best time of day is when they eat together around the table and talk about their day. Anais is very open-minded and curious. She loves meeting people and discovering new things. She has a love for languages, which is her favorite subject in school. She learns French, English, and Spanish. Anais hopes to improve her English during this exchange and become fluent in English. She likes musical comedies and movies of all kinds. Anais would love to discover American high school, the yellow school bus, the mascot, prom, and even go to a football or basketball game and see the cheerleaders. She is a young lady who has many ambitions and goals and even if she fails, she will never give up. Anais will do her very best to adapt and become a helpful member of your family.

Chiara is an energetic, creative, and curious girl who comes from a close-knit family in the Italian countryside. She plays piano and guitar, loves sports like aerial dance and hiking, and is passionate about music, fashion, and writing. At school, Chiara is known for being kind, mature, and helpful, and she’s active in her church youth group and summer camps. Chiara enjoys baking, thrillers, concerts, and crafting with friends. Whether skiing, swimming, or exploring new places, she embraces adventure and connection. Chiara is excited to join a host family and take the first step toward her dream of discovering the world.

Anton is a travel-loving boy from Denmark. When he heard about his brother's exchange year in Minnesota, he realized that he would love to have a similar experience, getting to live with an American family and joining in with their family life. He's looking forward to connecting with friends at school and getting involved in activities. He can't wait to join a community with great school spirit! His favorite sport is soccer and he also enjoys skiing, listening to music and hanging out with friends and family. Anton says "I hope that by the time I leave, we'll have made memories that we'll always remember and memories that will make me feel like I have a home on the other side of the world."

Ethan is a kind-hearted and thoughtful boy from Thailand. Known by his friends as the “gentle giant,” he’s admired for his caring nature and quiet strength. He comes from a close-knit, supportive family and cherishes time spent with them, especially enjoying spicy Thai dishes made by his grandma. Ethan is passionate about basketball and plays as a main team member at school, where he also shines in academics, particularly in English and Business Studies. He’s musically talented, playing guitar in his school band, and enjoys anime, gaming, and exploring different cultures. Ethan is excited to join a host family, share his Thai heritage, and build meaningful connections through this exchange experience.

Lucia lives with her parents, sister and cat. With her mom, she enjoys walking outside and going to the gym three times a week and to do weights, stretching, and other exercises together. Her time with her dad is spent watching soccer, either on TV or at a stadium, and they also enjoy learning about new cultures, meeting new people and visiting lots of places together. Lucia loves shopping, doing make up, singing and dancing with her sister. She loves animals and has always wanted a pet of her own. Her cat is a recent addition to the family that she is over the moon about. Lucia's favorite animal is horses, she has been riding for eight years, including show jumping. She has also played volleyball in the past. She really enjoys sports and being active. In the future, Lucia hopes to be a psychologist.

Melina is a cheerful and adventurous girl from a small village in the south of France, where she enjoys a close-knit community and a lively family life. She loves outdoor activities like climbing, hiking, and canyoning—interests she shares with her dad—and also enjoys dancing, cooking delicious treats like crepes and cookies, and spending cozy afternoons with her beloved cat. Melina is excited to come to America because she has always dreamed of discovering new cultures, improving her English, and becoming more independent. She hopes to build meaningful connections, share her French traditions, and experience life in a whole new way during her exchange year.

Sofia lives with her parents, older sister and older brother. With her family, she likes to travel, watch movies, and barbecue. She loves animals and has two Pomeranian dogs of her own. She would love to stay with a family that has pets. Sofia loves watching sunsets. Some of her favorite foods are Japanese, spaghetti, pizza, lasagna, and of course Mexican food like tacos and pozole. Her family and friends describe her as friendly, adaptable, kind, active, and a little bit shy. At home, Sofia helps out by keeping her room clean, washing dishes, helping cook, bathing and feeding her dogs. She likes to exercise, play tennis, and go to the gym. Sofia hopes to have a sibling of similar age. She would love to be in a place where it snows, because she does not get to experience that often.

For more information, please check out my Dear Host Family Letter!

Originally from Colombia, Isabella now lives in Spain with her parents and their two dogs. She’s affectionate, kind, and adaptable—someone who starts out quiet but quickly opens up. Isabella loves spending time with family, baking desserts, watching movies, and playing games. She’s especially fond of little kids and enjoys caring for them. Isabella is active and adventurous, with experience in swimming, wakeboarding, and paddleboarding, and hopes to try cheerleading or rhythmic gymnastics during her exchange. Passionate about culture, Isabella is excited to share Colombian and Spanish traditions and dreams of studying international business one day. She’s deeply grateful for the chance to connect, learn, and grow with her future host family.

For more information, please check out my Dear Host Family Letter!