Meet Our Students

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.

Marta has a creative spirit and a deep curiosity about the world. She enjoys reading, writing, singing, and expressing herself through various forms of art, as well as staying active through sports like basketball, listening to music, and watching movies. Family plays a central role in her life—she shares a close bond with her parents and values the time they spend together, whether cooking, going out, or simply enjoying each other’s company. She is responsible and caring, helping with household tasks and looking after her pet, and she treasures her friendships, often spending time walking, traveling, and having meaningful conversations with her closest friends. Marta has a strong appreciation for her hometown, where she finds inspiration in its culture, architecture, and opportunities for discovery. Looking toward the future, she is passionate about working with language and creativity, with aspirations to become a journalist, writer, or translator. Open-minded and eager to learn, Marta is excited about new experiences, cultures, and connections. She approaches life with enthusiasm and a genuine desire to grow, making her a warm, thoughtful, and engaging exchange student.

I'm truly happy and excited to write this letter to my future host family! The idea of spending a year abroad, discovering a new culture, becoming part of a new family, and growing through this unique experience is something that fills me with joy, curiosity, and gratitude. I spend a lot of time with my family and extended family, especially during holidays and family events. These moments – full of laughter, storytelling, and home-cooked meals – are incredibly important to me. I have been playing volleyball for several years, and I absolutely love it! It has taught me resilience, dedication, and teamwork. I also love art, specifically architecture! If I had to describe myself, I’d say I’m a positive, respectful, curious, and determined person. I love learning, listening, discovering new things, and contributing to the world around me. I’m genuinely excited to begin this new adventure, to become part of your family, to experience your culture and your way of life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for choosing to open your home and your life to me.

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. 

Luce is in 10th grade and enjoys school, especially history and French. Friendly, funny, and open-minded, she has a strong sense of responsibility and values fairness and generosity. She is excited to discover life in the United States, improve her English, and experience American traditions like Halloween and Christmas. Luce has a strong sense of responsibility and values fairness and generosity. She also babysits and enjoys being involved in her community. She loves cinema and music, practices Thai boxing and wrestling, plays guitar, and enjoys museums, concerts, and spending time with friends and family. Curious and passionate about the world, she hopes to become a journalist or reporter in the future.

Meet Natalie—a creative, independent student with a passion for technology and trying new things. She enjoys hands-on projects like designing 3D models and creating digital content, and loves spending her free time reading, gaming, and staying active. Natalie comes from a close family and has already had a wonderful exchange experience, where she quickly adapted and gained confidence. While a little shy at first, she becomes warm, talkative, and easy to connect with. She is responsible, respectful, and excited to be part of everyday family life. Natalie is looking forward to experiencing American culture, building connections, and truly becoming part of your family.

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.

I love spending time with my family, and we love discovering new places together! We also spend a lot of time with my grandparents, whether its going shopping or having lunch together. I have total trust in my grand-mother, and she is real confidant with good advice. I love sports, such as weight lifting, surfing, running, skiing, and hiking! I like nature and being surrounded by green trees and the ocean. I love animals, I have a cat named Cookie who is really sweet. I probably get the desire to study abroad from my mom. She was an Aupair in the US when she was my age. She often speaks about her experience and becoming her host family's 'French daughter'. I am very excited to learn the American culture, and to an experience holidays like Halloween! I would also love to share my French traditions with my host family, to learn and transmit our culture and knowledge, like cooking. Above all, this is a human experience. The experience of a lifetime--I want to create a link for life with my host family, and maybe that one day they will meet my future children. I am looking forward to meeting 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.