Meet Our Students

Alberto is a student from a small town in northwest Italy who attends a scientific high school with a sports focus. His program combines academics with sports-related studies, including economics and law of sports, and five hours of physical activity each week. He enjoys his classes, has a good relationship with his classmates, and likes spending time with friends after school. Alberto hopes to study in the United States because he is curious about new cultures, experiences, and sports. He sees this opportunity as a way to grow personally, improve his English, and become more independent. Having already completed a one-month exchange in France, he feels prepared to live away from home and embrace new challenges. Family is very important to Alberto. He lives with his parents, two brothers, and his dog, Frisky, an 8-year-old golden retriever. He loves animals and enjoys walking his dog, visiting his grandparents, traveling, hiking, and cooking with his family. Sports play a major role in Alberto’s life. He learned to ski at age three and enjoys skiing with his family and friends. He has played soccer and basketball and continues to go to the gym regularly. While in the U.S., he hopes to play basketball or soccer again or try new sports. Alberto is excited to learn about American culture, share his daily life with a host family, and build meaningful relationships during his exchange year.

Meet Arstenbek from Kyrgyzstan. He is a serious student with a fun side! He is excited to learn about American culture and wants to try baseball and American football. He enjoys hobbies like chess, Monopoly, and table tennis. He is a recipient of the prestigious FLEX scholarship for students that have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities. He spends weekdays at a boarding school where he is engaged in several interesting projects called GreenLand, Bilimbot, Olimpfund and Olimplearn. He describes the boarding school as an opportunity that he is extremely grateful to be a part of where he is learning cleanliness and respect for elders along with academic subjects. On weekends he is home with his family which includes his mother, father and ten-year-old brother. Helping out at home when he is there is very important to Arstanbek, he cleans, cooks and grocery shops for his family. He is also very passionate about his culture; he plays a traditional instrument called the Chopo-Chor. He also acknowledges what an amazing act of kindness hosting a student is and will truly appreciate this opportunity to its fullest.

Maj is a friendly, open-minded, and adventurous 16-year-old from Denmark who is excited to experience life as an exchange student in the United States. Curious about American culture and traditions, Maj looks forward to experiencing everyday high school life, including homecoming, prom, and holiday celebrations like Halloween and Thanksgiving. An active and dedicated student, Maj has practiced Taekwondo since the age of seven and currently holds a 2nd Dan black belt. Outside of sports, Maj enjoys spending time with friends, going to concerts and movies, and hopes to explore a growing interest in acting by joining a drama club during the exchange year. Maj describes themselves as cheerful, easygoing, and adaptable, qualities developed from being the youngest in a busy family with strong family connections. Excited to improve English skills, gain independence, and build lasting friendships, Maj is eager to embrace new experiences and become part of a welcoming host family and community.

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. 

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.

Sejr comes from a small village in northern Denmark. He lives with his parents, younger brother, younger sister, and their lazy cat. Family is important to him, and he enjoys spending time together over dinner conversations and occasional board or card games. In school, Sejr especially enjoys English, history, and religion. He is fascinated by how history shapes the world today and enjoys learning about different cultures and religions. Outside of school, he likes going to the gym, playing video games, and taking walks in the forest near his home. Through fitness, he has learned the value of discipline, consistency, and encouraging others. Sejr is excited to experience everyday life in another country, not just as a visitor but as part of a host family. He looks forward to learning new traditions, trying new foods, and sharing Danish culture and holiday traditions with others. Open-minded, adaptable, and curious, he is eager to grow in independence, language skills, and understanding of the world during his exchange year. In the future, Sejr hopes to become an electrician, though he is excited to discover new interests and opportunities during his time abroad.

Meet Oscar from France who is ready for an adventure! He plays handball on a team twice a week and has been playing the piano for 8 years. He has many interests as you can see. He loves all kinds of pets like cats, dogs, rabbits, etc. Oscar is dedicated to his studies, and his favorite subjects are math and science. In the future, he would like to become an architect and create enormous and incredible buildings. He is very active and loves to go to the countryside and help his grandparents with the gardening. He enjoys the outdoors and in the winter season he likes to go skiing with his family. Oscar hopes to improve his English and build lifelong memories with his new host family.

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.

Hi! You can call me Jimmy. I am very excited to share my Taiwanese culture with you, especially one of my favorite street foods, Large Intestine Noodle! It may sound a little unusual, but it is loved by many people in Taiwan. My favorite festival is the Lunar New Year, because it is the longest holiday of the year. My family and I spend lots of time together and visit relatives, which are always very meaningful moments to me. In terms of sports, my favorite activities are hiking and biking. I like them because they are easy to start and enjoyable. I usually do these activities with my friends, and we have a lot of fun together. I also enjoy playing table tennis and badminton. Recently, I have started watching soccer games and my favorite player is Lionel Messi. My hobbies include programming, watching Japanese anime, playing video games, and riding bikes. I am currently a member of the Computer Software Development Club, where I can learn from others who share similar interests. Joining the exchange student program is a great opportunity to share and exchange cultures with people from different countries. Going to the United States and living in an English-speaking environment will help me improve greatly. I hope to experience life as a local student, enjoy traditional dishes, make new friends, and join a school club. I want to sincerely thank you for considering me and for opening your home to a student from another country.