Dear Host Family, My name is Matilde and I come from Italy. I am beyond grateful to you because thanks to your hospitality, one of my greatest dreams will come true! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to spend 6 months with your family. I can’t wait to get to know you, your habits, your country, your culture and to spend and share with you all that this experience can teach me. I want to express the various reasons why I decided to become an exchange student in America. I hope to develop an open mindset, I want to test myself, learn to adapt to new situations and above all to manage them, finding creative solutions to problems. This beautiful experience will allow me to become more autonomous and independent because I will live in a new environment and very far from my comfort zone and especially from the comforts that my parents offer me. I will also learn to adapt to the cultural differences of your country with respect and understanding. I think that being able to relate to others, explain how you feel and understand how they feel in a language that is not their own is a beautiful personal satisfaction, in fact I am determined to make the most of every moment to become more fluent in the language, which will also be valuable for my future. I consider myself a quite shy girl, but when I get familiar I become more chatty and I love to interact with those around me. I am a very polite girl, I always put myself respectfully towards my classmates, adults or teachers. Since elementary school, my teachers have always said that I have the spirit of leadership, because I am able to understand the weaknesses and strengths of my group and value them. I believe one of my most appreciated features is that I always try to say what I think. I turn to the other person always thinking about their character to make sure they perceive my words constructively. My friends consider me a point of reference, because they know they can always count on me. I am always ready to listen and support them and I will strive to bring these aspects of myself into our family relationship. However, when I quarrel with my friends, I sometimes tend to close in on myself, as I am emotionally very sensitive. I love listening to Italian and English music, I like watching TV series and movies and I’m currently watching Grey’s Anatomy (my favorite series) in the original language to improve my English skills before leaving for America. I like cycling, I find it a relaxing way to vent, it helps me to be more focused and energetic. I also like to work out in the gym and run alone in nature. I find them stimulating activities to exercise and release stress. I love spending time with my friends, whom I always have a lot of fun with. We always find something different to do, you never get bored with us! We enjoy going to the movies, hanging out, staying home and cooking delicious dishes together. What are your hobbies? I hope to share my passions with you and discover new ones together! My family consists of 4 people: me, my sister Carlotta, my mother Marianna and my father Mario. My parents are 53 and my sister is 19. My mom’s a lawyer, my dad’s a computer consultant and my sister’s a college student. I have a good relationship with my parents and a beautiful one of complicity with my sister, we are always there for each other. I hope to establish a beautiful relationship with you too! With great enthusiasm and joy, I look forward to starting this adventure with you and being welcomed into your family. I will do my best to appreciate every moment we share and to create unforgettable memories. With affection and gratitude. Love, Matilde