Dear Future Host Family, Thank you very much for participating in the exchange program and for making this adventure possible for me. I am Marlis from Germany and I would love to spend a year in your exiting country and share American family life with you. I 'am very attracted to the American high school system with all those different clubs that give the opportunity to meet a lot of different people. I would describe myself as an open-minded, creative, empathetic, kind, and fun loving person. Previously I did horse riding for a long time, but I recently started to play Volleyball because I wanted to try a team sport and I really enjoy it. In my free time I like reading, baking and creative stuff and of course I love to spend time and go out with my friends. I also love the beach and traveling. So far I have travelled inside Germany and to a handful European countries, so there is still a lot to explore. Occasionally, I also did some short vacations with my friends and also liked it very much. All my friends are very important to me, especially my two best friends. We've been friends for nine years now and I love hanging out with them because they feel like family to me. I would say that I am a big family person. My family consists of my dad Thorsten, my mom Carla, my little sister Hannah and to me also our dog Elfie. My dad works as a scientist in the field of cancer research and my mom had worked as a graphic designer in the media industry for a long time and now works part time in a human resources office. We all have a close and loving relationship and spend much time together. We live in a house with a big garden in a small village, but quite near to a large city. Beside our dog Elfie, we have two old Shetland ponies and a bunch of chickens. We live next to my grand-parents, which I see nearly every day. I further have many aunts, uncles and cousins, which I also meet quite frequently and I think it is very cool that we spend all the big celebrations, such as Christmas, Easter and birthdays together. In my future I want to graduate school and study but I am not yet sure, which course of study is the right one for me. I think that's pretty normal in my age. For now, I am looking forward to making experiences far from home and get to know your country better. I hope to make unforgettable memories and I' m exited to become a part of your family, which I would be deeply grateful for. Best and warm regards, Marlis