Meet Our Students

Meet Gabin from France! He stays in his high school dorm during the week and then visits either his mom in a medieval village or his dad on his farm during the weekends. Gabin enjoys swimming, weight training, and running for relaxation. He also enjoys music. History and technology are his favorite subjects and last year he was one of the top students in his class. He works hard for top grades. Gabin has also worked as a waiter and at a bakery. He is so excited to join your family for the year and can't wait to celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas with you and make you smile all year long.

Bonjour! My name is Virgile and I am a cheerful, curious, and responsible person who loves making people laugh. I enjoy nature, sports—especially soccer, tennis, and rugby—and following sports news. Cooking and exploring different cuisines excite me. At my high school, we have a unique program called “Les Équipes de Saint-Joseph.” These are groups of 10 to 12 students from different grades who come together to engage in shared activities like cooking, theater, art, or music. I’ve chosen the social team, where we visit a retirement home once a week to spend time with the elderly. Spending a year abroad feels like an incredible opportunity to meet new people, experience different cultures, and improve my English. I look forward to stepping out of my routine, embracing new experiences, and building meaningful connections with my host family.

Meet Erik from Estonia. This active student has been studying Thai boxing for six years. He’s focused on fitness and enjoys going to the gym four days per week. On Saturdays, you’ll find him at art school, practicing his manga and anime skills. In his free time, he plays board games with his family or goes to the cinema. Count him in for a relaxing night of movies and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream! His parents have been teaching him how to cook, and he’s happy to make you something delicious beforehand. Winter is a special time of year for him. He enjoys skiing, building snowmen, and especially Christmas! In the summer, he helps his father on his construction sites. Erik is excited to start his exchange year and try something new. “I truly hope to be an exchange student so I can spend an amazing year with you as my new family!”

Amirlan lives with his parents and younger brother. He enjoys traveling, talking, laughing, playing games, and singing with his family. His chores at home are dusting, running the robot vacuum, and putting everything back in order. He is creative and always full of energy. Amirlan loves dancing, singing, acting and decorating the house for holidays. His hobbies include baking different treats, taking photos, filming mini-videos, skiing and paintball. In the future, he wants to be an engineer in the oil and gas industry. "From this program, I expect to gain new experiences in American culture. I'm also eager to share my culture with you, cook various delicious dishes, and teach you how to play the dombra."

Albin is an easy-going individual whose friends often describe him as independent and determined. Embracing the unexpected for its potential to bring pleasant surprises, Albin enjoys a spontaneous approach to life. Residing with his parents, brother, and a beloved cat, Albin has a passion for sports, having played football for 11 years, badminton for 2 years, and tennis for 5 years. His enthusiasm for physical activity extends to cycling and running. Aspiring to become a sports reporter, he is eager to blend his love for athletics and personal knowledge. Albin's zest for life also includes a passion for travel and cultural exploration. His family once hosted a student from the Faroe Islands, an experience that sparked his interest in becoming an exchange student himself. He is particularly excited about the opportunity to study in the USA, as he anticipates the cultural differences between America and Europe. Additionally, he sees this as a prime opportunity to improve his English skills. Albin looks forward to experiencing life beyond Europe and hopes these words encourage you to welcome him into your home, promising a shared journey filled with discovery and joy!

Gaspard is a 16-year-old from southern France who loves living by the sea but spent his early years in Paris. During the week, he attends boarding school, where he enjoys sharing a room with friends. A true sports enthusiast, he has a deep passion for rugby, skiing, and sailing—he even worked as an assistant instructor at a sailing club! Though football (or soccer) isn’t his strong suit, he knows the game well. Beyond sports, Gaspard is naturally curious and passionate about history, science, and exploring new ideas—he’s always full of questions! Fascinated by different cultures, he’s eager to experience life in the U.S., a country he sees as full of opportunities and adventure.

I am a FLEX Scholarship recipient, and the oldest child in my family. My family consists of my parents and two younger sisters. As a family, we enjoy traveling together, particularly to natural landscapes. It allows us to bond and appreciate nature. I live in a small town with a rich history and beautiful landscapes, which inspired my interest in street photography. I love capturing the essence of my hometown through the lens of my dad’s old camera, rather than a phone. I am looking forward to improving my skills and capturing unique American landscapes. At school, I have a passion for music and play a traditional instrument called the rubob. In the future, I hope to learn guitar. I love playing volleyball and chess with my friends. I am excited about this experience and hope it will give me a new outlook on career paths and help me to discover my true passion.