Meet Our Students

Meet 16-year-old French student Mael who lives in a small village with his father, mother, older brother and cat. Mael is close to his family and they often play board games, pool, and darts and he enjoys activities with his friends. He is currently in the 10th grade and would like to become an architect in the future. His friends and family describe him as nice, respectful, open-minded, funny, generous, clever, friendly and easy to live with. Mael enjoys walking and cycling with his active family along with playing soccer, basketball, table tennis and practicing judo. Beside playing sports, he enjoys music, cooking and traveling. He did a two-week cultural exchange to Panama and his family hosted an exchange student in 2021. While in the US he wants to immerse himself in an American family to discover American life and culture.

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!

Aishabibi is a kind‑hearted, thoughtful student from Kazakhstan who instantly makes people feel comfortable. She grew up in a close, loving family and brings that same warmth into everything she does. She helps with cooking, cleaning, and keeping the home running smoothly, and she especially loves baking with her mom. Active and energetic, she enjoys football, volleyball, and boxing—sports she’s been around since childhood thanks to her grandfather, a former coach. She’s deeply curious about the world, passionate about languages and international relations, and eager to learn from a new culture. She uses Salbutamol only rarely for mild asthma. A family who welcomes her will gain a grateful, hardworking daughter who will leave a lasting mark on their hearts.

I live in northern Italy with my parents and my older brother. I attend a scientific high school because I enjoy subjects like mathematics. I like spending time with my family, doing activities such as playing board games, watching movies, biking, and skiing. I practice athletics and I am a middle-distance runner. I also enjoy swimming, cycling, walking, and ice skating. In my free time, I like being with friends, watching TV series (especially Suits), reading novels and magazines, and playing video games. I love cooking and eating, especially parmigiana, mushroom risotto, and chocolate desserts. I chose to spend a school year in the United States to improve my English and to experience a different culture and school system. I am excited to try new subjects and meet new people. I am interested in airplanes and would like to become an airline pilot in the future. I am very grateful to my host family for welcoming me into their home, and I hope we will spend a wonderful year together.

Luis is responsible, outgoing, and enthusiastic with a deep passion for learning, sports, and connecting with others. His interests range from boxing, skiing, and surfing, to music, cooking, and exploring personal growth. Inspired by his love for working with young children, he hopes to become a primary school teacher one day. Luis wants to come to America not only to improve his English, but also to experience a new culture, challenge himself in a different academic environment, and become part of a family with whom he can share traditions, build meaningful relationships, and grow personally. He sees this exchange as a chance to step outside of his comfort zone and discover more about the world and himself.

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.

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.

Anna is an outgoing and brave high school student from Taiwan who enjoys meeting new people and experiencing new cultures. A native Mandarin speaker, she loves sharing her background and learning from others. At school, she participates in Model United Nations, where she has developed strong public speaking and leadership skills. In her free time, she enjoys crafts and hands-on projects. Anna hopes her exchange year will help her grow, make meaningful friendships, and share Taiwanese culture—especially her cooking—with her host family.

Ivan describes himself as cheerful, optimistic and independent. He enjoys trying new things and stepping out of his comfort zone. He lives with his parents and younger brother in a close family that enjoys spending time together. They often go camping and hiking and he has grown up in a lively environment, surrounded by conversation and laughter. An important part of Ivan’s life is competitive Hip-Hop dancing which he finds both exciting and challenging. He also enjoys playing badminton, basketball, singing, painting and listening to music. Through the exchange program, Ivan hopes to improve his English, gain new experiences, grow as a person, and be a small ambassador of Taiwan, so that his host family and friends can learn about his country while he learns about ours.