Meet Our Students

Augustin is a cheerful and sociable student from France who loves discovering new cultures and connecting with people. Deeply shaped by his lively family and his years in scouting, he values kindness, teamwork, and helping others. A passionate athlete, he has spent many years playing soccer, tennis, and rugby, and hopes to continue playing soccer during his exchange year. He also enjoys simple moments — from playing board games with his siblings to sharing laughs with friends at boarding school. Curious, reliable, and full of positive energy, Augustin is excited to join a host family, learn from their way of life, share a bit of French culture, and create meaningful memories together.

Meet Leanne from France who loves to sing and dance, and she is part of a kpop dance association back home. She loves cooking or baking and cannot wait to make something for her new host family. She loves animals and enjoys going to the zoo and seeing the lions. Leanne did a year of horseback riding as well. She enjoys long walks and being outdoors. Her friends would describe her as empathetic, mature, organized, sensitive and an honest person that loves to dream. She cannot wait to meet you!

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.

Meet Nina from France! She has practiced modern dance for the past 10 years, and this allowed her to meet new people and participate in competitions. This taught her to manage stress and gain confidence, but she has not been able to do it much lately and it would be great if she was able to participate in a dance program in the US. Nina also enjoys school, her subjects like business management, economics and human resources will help her with her future endeavors. She hopes to join some clubs at school to focus on leadership as well. Her friends would describe her as fun, outgoing, meticulous, and loves to laugh. Nina likes to meet with friends for coffee, celebrate birthdays, go to concerts and watch football games. She wants to continue to discover new things during her exchange year and cannot wait to meet her new host family.

Anaelle is full of energy, curiosity, and warmth, with a deep love for cultural exchange and adventure. She is passionate about music, outdoor activities, and trying new things—from skiing and hiking to paddleboarding and zip-lining. Anaelle and her family are big fans of amusement parks. They live close to Disneyland Paris and go there quite often, but she also loves thrill rides in other parks nearby. Though she may be shy at first, she quickly becomes friendly, talkative, and eager to connect. Anaelle is academically driven, socially engaged, and excited to share her French culture while embracing everyday American life with enthusiasm and heart. "I'm really excited to meet you, explore new experiences, and enjoy every moment of this adventure. I’m thrilled to create lots of happy memories together."

Marco is from Spain and was born in Italy, where his multicultural background has shaped who he is today. He is known as a thoughtful and empathetic person who genuinely cares about understanding what others are going through. Marco feels emotions deeply and is mindful of how his words and actions may affect those around him. Sports and music are his greatest passions. He plays the guitar and also enjoys learning piano. Family means everything to Marco—he is an only child and, while he sometimes wished for siblings, he is especially excited about joining a host family with kids and becoming part of a lively household.

Tatana loves to dance and listen to music with her family. She describes herself as funny and friendly. Her favorite subjects in school are History, English, Czech, German and Biology. She is a street dancer and plays drums and electric guitar. Tatana enjoys reading and hopes to write her own book one day. She does a lot of volunteering; she is currently planning a big charity event to raise money for her local hospice. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family. Tatana is working at a restaurant right now to help become more financially independent. In the future, she would like to study law and become a politician that will somehow change the world.

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.