Dear future host family , At first I want to say thank you that you think about choosing me as your future exchange student and want me to be a part of your family for about ten months. At the time I don't know anything about you yet but I am already very excited to meet all of you soon. But before we meet each other I would like to tell you a few things about me , my family , my hobbies and why I´ved chosen the usa. My name is Ella but my family also calls me Elli . I live in a big city in Germany with my parents and my older brother Luis. He also did an exchange year in 2022/23 , but for him New Zealand was the right choice. My father is a lawyer and my mother works with finances. My family and I live together in a historic apartment house, built in 1911. My school is within walking distance ten minutes from my home. I often meet friends on the way and we go to school together .Right now i am in 10th grade , but when I am with you I will already be in 11th grade. My favorite subjects are art , english and sport. I´m already curious what school will be in the USA and what subjects I´m able to choose. I also like to get involved in school. I read books for the younger students in elementary school and I was a class representative twice. My family name is not typical German. My grandparents on my mother's side were immigrants from Portugal in the 1960ies and my grandpa on my father’s side was an immigrant from Turkey, who married my German grandma. Unfortunately, I don't speak the Portuguese or Turkish language. I have a very close relationship with my grandparents from my mother's side, I see the two very often. Unfortunately I don't see my dad's mother often because she lives in a retirement home far from our hometown. I never met my father's father , because he died before I was born. When I’m not at school , I spend the most of my free time with friends or sports. I played handball in a club for 7 years and also tried playing hockey in school . When I was younger my father also taught me how to play soccer. I like it to be creative and cook new recipes with friends or family , maybe you also and we can cook together? I love it to be outside especially in summer. Since my neighbor has a dog, I often go for walks with him or he stays with us for a while. A big aspect in my life is my faith , i am a christian and go to church as well. I was active in a Church community where I helped old people with their cell phones and taught them how to use their phones properly. I have been to the states twice before , once with my family in Boston and New York and once with my best friend , her sister and her parents in Florida. I loved the differences in nature and how one country can have such diverse eco culture. I also choose the USA because i want to try new things like a different school life, maybe a new hobby and all the varieties of great foods your country has to offer. Another aspect I'm really interested in is the American culture. That is one thing I'd really love to experience while I'm there. I don’t know where it will take me but i know that it will be a lot different than my hometown. I would love to spend a year in the USA with a host family that can help me make memories that i will never forget. All the love Ella