Meet Our Students

From northwestern France, Emmy is pleasant and poised and looking forward to creating incredible memories with her host family. Not one to fall into routine, Emmy enjoys the special moments that are often experienced during new adventures. Her family is very important to her, and she enjoys celebrating festive events like birthdays and Christmas with laughter and a meal. A passionate person, Emmy enjoys sports like handball, cheering on her favorite teams, baking, exploring new places, and animals! When it's finally time to relax, Emmy sits down with a good book or a movie, and of course, listens to her favorite music every day! Emmy is looking forward to becoming a true member of her American host family with a strong bond lasting well beyond her exchange year.

I really like the sea and surfing. Through my surf experiences, I became interested in environmental issues, especially marine pollution. Then, I began beach cleanups three times a week when I was in junior high school. I see myself as a proactive and responsible person. I like doing exercise and having fun playing sports, but I'm honestly not any good at ball games. I would like to learn about American culture and traditions, as well as the environmental consciousness of American people. With my family and friends, we enjoy going to the beach or hiking on weekends. At the moment, I am practicing cooking easy Japanese dishes for you! I will try my best to improve my English and communication skills. In the future, I hope to be a person who can thrive internationally.

I'm currently attending my third year at the High School of Science and I really love it! Science, physics, and math are really interesting for me. I've always wanted to have a pet but my mother says that it requires a lot of work, so I hope to have one in America! One of my hobbies is cooking, I usually bake cookies, cakes, and typical Italian sweets. I enjoy experimenting with new recipes. I love watching horror/thriller movies and series, I really enjoy the type of adrenaline--I also read thriller books! I love practicing all sports, but my favorite is basketball! I adore moving and achieving small goals, and tend to be considered competitive. Once a week I have a meeting in church with my peers, we discuss current topics and prepare activities and games for children, and I volunteer every year in a parish summer camp! I am really excited to learn and absorb the American culture. I always dreamed to celebrate the famous Thanksgiving, to baking Christmas cookies, and to watching a movie while eating popcorn from those huge bags! I'm so happy to represent my country, and I'll cook every Italian dish you are willing to try! I am so grateful for this opportunity and I'm sure we will make many unforgettable memories together!

I live with my parents and my younger sister and brother. We enjoy spending time together, especially when it considers traveling. Every week, we go out of town to camp, fish, and cook shashlyk. In my free time, I love playing football with friends. It is not just a game - it teaches people teamwork and also keeps me active. I also enjoy studying English, listening to new music, watching comedy about different cultures, and fishing, which connects me with nature and gives me energy. I want you to know that I'm open-minded, energetic, and eager to learn something new. I love trying new things and sharing experience with others. Through this program, I want to become a bridge between our countries and cultures. I hope to share interesting aspects of Kazakhstan and help Americans learn more about my home country. Thank you for considering me as part of your family. I cannot wait to meet you and create unforgettable memories together!

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.

I’m really excited about the opportunity to come to the United States as an exchange student and become part of your family. Family means a lot to me—I’m very close with my parents and my older sister, whose own exchange experience inspired me to take on this adventure myself. Sports are a big part of who I am. I’ve played tennis since I was young and compete regularly, and I’m also passionate about skiing, where I race competitively in the Alps. Through these experiences, I’ve learned perseverance and teamwork, to stay focused, to keep going when things get tough, and to never give up. Outside of sports, I enjoy music, spending time with close friends, traveling, and being around animals—especially my dog, who is a big part of my life. I value strong relationships and meaningful experiences, whether it’s with friends back home or new people I meet. More than anything, I’m looking forward to fully immersing myself in your culture, sharing daily life with your family, and building real connections. I’m eager to help out, be involved, and grow through this experience.

Wahel is a curious, energetic, and open minded boy from France who dreams of discovering life in the United States. He loves sports like swimming, running, and badminton, enjoys learning languages such as English and Korean, and has a strong passion for history. At home, he spends his time cooking with his family, watching movies, going out with friends, and taking care of his lively dog, Sania. Motivated, ambitious, and eager to explore new cultures, Wahel hopes to improve his English, experience American traditions like Halloween, Christmas, and Thanksgiving, and share his own French culture in return. His biggest wish is to live with an American family, learn their way of life, and build unforgettable memories while studying in an American high school.

My favorite subject in school is history, I love how different people acted and thought hundreds of years ago. I also love seeing different inventions people have made, and how we have progressed to where we are today with our phones and the internet. I also love music, I love to play the drums! I have recently started to learn how to play the bass guitar and how to sing. I also have a love for sport. I have been playing handball now for around eight years. When the weather is good enough, I love to use my longboard to get almost everywhere. Another hobby of mine is drawing and baking. When a family birthday party is coming, I often make the cake. I get that from my dad; it's one of his hobbies too! Coming to America has been my dream since I was a kid and saw the school culture in movies. In my school, we get mostly European history and the main events from America, but I would love to learn more about the details and how the culture came. I love making jokes, having fun, and being my own kind of weird self! Thank you again for considering me to be a part of your family and my life. I'm extremely excited to go to America and start a new chapter of my life!

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.”