Dear future host family, First of all I would like to thank you for reading my application and showing interest to take me as an exchange student! I can imagine that it is a big decision to open your home to somebody that you don’t know. So I would like to present myself to you. My name is Gabriel and I live right at the French German Swiss border, I already speak French and German that is why now I would like to improve my English. In order to achieve this dream of an American experience I have decided to study hard. It worked! It convinced my parents to let me go to America. I go to a christian school in Germany but my family and I live in France, ten minutes from the border. Therefore, I love talking to people from different cultures and backgrounds that is why I can say I am an open-minded person. I try to keep fit and play basketball but I also like to play soccer and swimming. My favorite basketball players are Michael Jordan and Tony Parker and my favorite soccer team is PSG from Paris. I love outdoors and nature, I plant trees with my dad: that is his favorite hobby. I have tried fishing, and sailing. My brother and I enjoy very much to watch the Star Wars films at the cinema. I also do some indoor activities like washing the dishes, cooking and helping my mum making curtains because that’s her favorite hobby, not mine =). My parents say I am as helpful as a teenager can be. I get on well with my brother and parents even if parents and a big brother can be difficult to live with some times =). Family in general is very important for me, I want to make them proud which I managed when I improved my marks. This has helped me feel more confident and it was a great boost for my self-esteem. Of course, I also have friendships that are very important for me, like my best friends Daniel, Neal, Leopold and Aimé. We can trust each other and we work very well together as a team in school. In our spare time we go swimming or to the soccer and basketball pitch. Another meaningful relationship is the one I have with my three older cousins. We played together during holidays when I stayed at my grandparents in France. Now two of them are working in Norway and England, one is studying in Paris but we keep very much in touch. In all my relationships, I believe the most important thing is loyalty on both sides. In our family everyone has to help, that has always been normal for me. I help in the garden like mowing the lawn and watering the plants. Occasionally I cook for the family usually with my brother, we also have to take the garbage out and carry the laundry baskets to the washing machine. Education is very important for me. I plan to graduate from my German high school and would like to continue with a degree in financial economics. I have discovered my interest in business administration in the last year and I think I will look to pursue my education in this field. The US always fascinated me! I would love to do this exchange because I want to learn more about American culture and lifestyle. As previously mentioned I also would like to improve my English skills. To live in an American family, go to school over there and make new friends would be a great and unique experience for me. Thank you again for your interest and for taking the time to get to know me. I hope to hear back from you and to see you soon. Best wishes Gabriel