Dear host family, My name is Carlota, and I live with my parents and my older sister in a city in the north of Spain that has both beaches and mountains. In the summer, I love swimming in the sea with my friends and family, and I also enjoy hiking and taking in the beautiful mountain landscapes. My friends say that I am a cheerful, affectionate, organized, and very family-oriented person. I love spending time with my family, cooking with my parents, having long lunches together where we talk about everything, or playing board games. On Sunday evenings, my sister and I watch a movie or a TV show together while we eat popcorn. We love this routine. I consider myself a very active person and I really like sports. In the afternoons after school, I practice a sport like track and field, swimming, tennis, or handball. I also really enjoy music and have been playing the clarinet for 10 years now. Two or three days a week I study at the music conservatory, and on some weekends, I rehearse with a youth band and we put on some performances. Additionally, I love spending time with my friends, going out to eat, shopping, going to the movies, or just walking around the city center. I have always loved small children and animals, especially dogs. I have a 9-year-old cousin who always wants to come to see me because we have a great time together. My English level is good. I have been lucky enough to spend two summers in Ireland, living with native families, and I was able to improve it a lot. In both experiences, I got along very well with all the family members and was very sad to have to go back home. I want to thank you for the time you have taken to watch my video, look at my photos, and read this letter. I have tried to capture in these lines my way of living here in my country and with my family and friends so that you can better decide if I am the student with whom you want to spend a year being part of your family. I want you to know that I am a very easy-going person and that I am so excited to become an exchange student, live the experience of being part of an American family and get to know the American culture, meet new people and see new places, not only from what I see in movies, but through your customs, traditions, and food. I can't wait to meet you in person and have the experience of living in your home and being a part of your family for a full year. With much affection, Carlota