Meet Our Students

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.

My name is Giulia, and I hope to be your future Italian exchange student! I live in northeast Italy with my parents and older brother. I love discovering new cultures and recently spent two weeks in the UK with a host family, which made me even more excited to spend a full year abroad. I chose the U.S. because I admire the culture, traditions like Halloween and Thanksgiving, and the school system with its many activities. In my free time, I enjoy volleyball, skiing in the Dolomites, and summer water sports like windsurfing. My biggest passion is music—I’ve played piano since I was seven and especially love Chopin, even though I usually listen to Italian rap. I also enjoy movies, shopping with friends, and sharing traditions with my family, like cheering for Ferrari races or watching basketball with my dad. I’d love to share a piece of my culture with you, especially by cooking Italian dishes like carbonara. I would describe myself as curious, enthusiastic, and ready for new experiences, and I can’t wait to create memories together!

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.

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."

Ines lives with her parents, three older siblings, and a Golden Retriever. As a family, they spend more than half their time in the garden eating together. Ines has always dreamed of living somewhere where it snows at Christmas. She loves playing in the pool, and meeting new people, since everyone teaches you something new. Ines attends a Catholic school and attends church every Sunday with her family. She enjoys spending time with young children, and being the youngest in her family, she has always wished she had a younger sibling. Ines loves music, animals, and cooking. She would like to study medicine in the future. Ines has participated in horseback riding, tennis, scuba diving, fishing, skiing, snowboarding and gymnastics, but her favorite sport is soccer. She has been playing since she was seven. Ines can't wait to experience the yellow school buses, the American football teams, the cheerleaders, and many other things that are normal only in the US.

Frantz is the 5th child in a family of 7 kids; he is currently studying hotel management and catering. He goes to a specialized school so he can focus on his future career but is still not sure exactly what field he wants to settle in. Frantz works in a restaurant serving customers and is learning the business behind hotel management. He loves horseback riding; horses are a very big part of his life. He also enjoys nature, climbing, swimming, rugby, and water activities. Frantz often takes care of his younger siblings, which has taught him to be patient, organized and responsible. He is excited to share his culture with you and hopes to create a lasting bond with his future American Family.

I have been practicing judo in competition for several years; I really appreciate the discipline and the respect that this sport requires. I also go regularly to the gym. I have tried other sports, such as sailing on different boats on my city’s lake and sometimes at the ocean, as well as parkour (a sport similar to gymnastics indoors) and track and field. I am confident that thanks to my open and sociable personality, I will be able to make new friends quickly in the United States, with whom I will share great moments and create new memories. I also like spending time discovering new things by myself, and I enjoy cooking. My favorite dishes are raclette and gratin dauphinois, and I hope to share them with you. I also love playing games, especially strategy games, for example, I really enjoy playing chess! I am very eager to discover American traditions and specialties, whether through food, celebrations, or everyday life. I am curious to understand your habits and customs and to take part in them fully. In return, I would be happy to share some French traditions with you and introduce you to my culture. Whether through cooking, language, or simple conversations, I would like this year to also be an opportunity for you to travel a little through what I will share.

Faustine is a girl that loves adventure and trying new things. Her family has a camper that they travel in on vacations to see new places. She has a good perspective of being flexible when on these adventures! Faustine enjoys going to camps so she can try new sports and other activities. Always learning and trying something different, she doesn't miss an opportunity to tackle a new task. When she has free time, Faustine loves reading, especially romance novels, and listening to music like rap, pop or K-pop. Whatever the day brings, she finds a way to fill it with adventure! Faustine is so excited to join your family this school year!

I am open‑minded, respectful, curious, and calm. I laugh easily and enjoy being around people with a good sense of humor. As a dedicated student at a large high school, I make friends easily, though I prefer small groups and close connections. In my free time, I enjoy running, swimming, and exploring art through reading, drawing, and painting. I also love video games, music, and Studio Ghibli films. Passionate about fairness, I dream of becoming a lawyer one day. I’m excited to experience American traditions like Thanksgiving, Halloween, and hockey games, and I look forward to building lasting connections with my host family and community.