Meet Our Students

Julien is an active student from France who is currently studying management and law at his high school. Alongside his studies, Julien enjoys working out, swimming, bowling, and more. Recently, he has started to make his own music! He enjoys making beats that people can dance to. Julien and his family have one cat, Neko, which means cat in Japanese. Julien decided to spend a year in the USA because he wants to become more independent and improve his English, while also wanting to discover something completely different. While he knows it won't always be easy, he is ready for the challenge. He is excited to live something unique, meet new people, and create memories that will stay with him for life.

I am very honored and moved to be writing to you! I consider myself someone who enjoys meeting new people and challenging myself. I come from a large family of 6, and I have 3 brothers! We are very close and enjoy telling stories with each other and laughing a lot. On Sundays, we normally spend the day together as a family and cook a nice lunch. We can spend hours at the table talking, laughing, and debating. I am very sporty and enjoy all kinds of sports, but I especially like athletics. I’m part of the athletics club in my town, where I train for middle-distance running. But I live near the sea, so I have always loved water sports such as sailing, surfing, and swimming. In my free time, I enjoy going to the cinema, walking outside, cooking (especially baking cakes), and trying new recipes. At school, I am a motivated and serious student. I am currently in high school and my favorite subjects are history, maths, science, and English. In the future, I would like to work in the medical field and do medical research. I have always been interested in science and helping others. I think that spending a year abroad will help me become more independent and open-minded, which are important qualities for this kind of career. I really look forward to meeting you and sharing my culture with you! I think it would be an incredible opportunity to live the true American experience, meet new people, and create unforgettable memories.

Natan is a responsible, respectful, and family-oriented individual from Germany who values strong relationships and meaningful experiences. Growing up in a close-knit household with parents and a younger sibling, he is used to contributing to daily routines and understand the importance of communication, cooperation, and mutual respect within a family. An active and disciplined person, Natan has a strong passion for sports, including Muay Thai, calisthenics, and wrestling. Physical activity plays an important role in his life, not only for health but also as a way to connect with others and build friendships. He is also open to exploring new hobbies and activities during his exchange year. Natan's Catholic faith is an important part of his identity, shaping his values of responsibility, kindness, and respect for others. At the same time, he is open-minded and appreciative of different cultures, traditions, and perspectives. Natan enjoys a simple and healthy lifestyle, values time spent in nature and has a fondness for animals. While he has specific food preferences, he is independent and willing to take responsibility for his own needs. Described as reliable, adaptable, and considerate, Natan is ready to become a positive and supportive member of a host family while embracing personal growth, independence, and new opportunities throughout his exchange year.

First of all, I would like to thank you for your welcome this school year, which will allow me to live this incredible experience. I live in the South of France in a small mountain village with my family. We have a dog, Oslo, who is my best friend. If I were to tell you about myself, I would tell you that I love animals, drawing, and the mountains! I also love horses, I have been riding for over 10 years. What I enjoy most is spending time with the horses and concentrating on my technique without thinking about anything else. I have been drawing since I was a little girl and I even took classes in Fine Arts. I would like to go to an interior design school in the future, and help people feel good in their homes. My dream is to try out for the high school cheerleading team. This doesn't exist in French school and is something I have always wanted to do. I can't wait to meet you and to spend this year with you!

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.

Louis is a curious, energetic, and motivated student excited to experience everyday life with an American family. As a pastry chef and chocolatier apprentice, he is dedicated, hardworking, and takes pride in his craft. Outside of his training, Louis enjoys spending time with family and friends, whether that’s go-karting, playing pool, attending concerts, or relaxing with video games and music. He has a strong appreciation for cars, photography, and drawing, and values meaningful connections and shared experiences. Louis is eager to improve his English, grow in independence, and embrace new opportunities while sharing his own culture and traditions. Louis says, “I’m really ready to jump into this adventure and live like a real member of your family.”

This has been my dream for years! I want to follow in my father's footsteps, he spent a year in the USA as a teen and loved it so much! We have even gone back to visit his fomrer host family! I would love to share my culture, cook a French dish, and if you want, "teach" a little French. I have a younger brother who will soon be starting high school. He enjoys cooking and cooks a lot for us! He loves football too, and sports in general. Him and I have that in common! We do sports almost every day after school, at home or in sports clubs; I play volleyball and he plays soccer. My dad is an English translator, so he has been speaking to me in English since I was born. The best thing about my parents is that they LOVE board games so we have a lot of them at home. I know this experience will be life changing, and I can't wait to experience some American things like seeing a yellow school bus, maybe becoming a cheerleader, spending holidays with my host family, and making mew friends. I can't wait to learn more about you and I couldn't be happier to come to your beautiful country for a year!

Darwin describes himself as kind and positive. He lives with his mother and grandmother who support him in everything that he does; especially his education and sports. Darwin says that his home is filled with laughter and good food. One of the biggest parts of his life is basketball which makes him feel strong, focused and happy and he hopes to play in the US. He also enjoys relaxing moments, listening to music, spending time with friends and trying new foods. He chose to be an exchange student so he can grow as a person, learn about American culture, and understand life in another part of the world. By living with a host family, he believes that it is the best and most authentic way to experience this. Darwin hopes that his exchange year will be unforgettable for himself and his host family.

For more info, check out my Host Family Letter!