Dear host family, Thank you so much for being willing to participate in the exchange program and accepting me to live with your family. I am very excited to spend a year in the USA and be a part of your family. I am Merle and I come from Germany. I have just finished my 10th grade. I intend to spend a year in the USA, because I would like to get to know the culture, the people, the way of living and the school system, that’s very different to the system in Germany. I decided to do a year abroad in the USA because I was fascinated by the diversity and opportunities that this country offers. I want to improve my English, make new friends, and most importantly, I want to experience American life firsthand. I am ready to fully engage with your family and community and I am looking forward to experiencing all the adventures coming up to us. I am a nice and helpful person. I like practicing sports like basketball, volleyball and swimming. I can speak three languages: German my native language, English and a little bit of Spanish. My favorite subjects in school are math and physical education. In my free time I like listing to music, sewing, baking, cooking and reading. Sometimes I am babysitting a five-year-old girl. I have been playing basketball for several years now and I am still happy with it. Hopefully I can play basketball in the USA as well. If this is not possible, I would like to play volleyball and try to play tennis. During normal weeks in Germany, I am back from school around 3:30 p.m. Twice a week I have training, at the weekends are games. My mother is an engineer and my father is an interpreter and translator. My mother likes to be in the garden and my father is interested in gliding in a glider plane. My younger brother is 3 years younger than me and he is in the 7. Grade. He plays soccer and basketball. My adult half-siblings are both teachers. Unfortunately my adult half-sister lives in another city. My father has got three brothers and with the families we all meet at least once a year for a vacation week. Do you have a big family as well? I have been often (four times for one week) on vacation with one of my best friends and her parents. And sometimes I was with them at their weekend house. In 2022 my basketball team and me were in France where we stayed in host families for one week. Finally, I would like to say again that I am very grateful to get this chance to be part of your family for a year. I am aware that hosting an exchange student is a great responsibility and I promise to do my best to be a good guest. I am open to new experiences, respectful of your rules and traditions and look forward to growing and learning together with you. Thank you for welcoming me as part of your family. I can't wait to meet you in person and start our adventure together. Warm Regards, Merle