Hi my name is Alice, I'm really happy to have the opportunity to have this experience and I thank you so much for making this happen. This has always been one of my dreams! I think that this time abroad will allow me to discover myself and become more independent, and it will help my personal growth. I will learn to adapt to new situations and most importantly, I think that what I will learn in this experience I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I really can’t wait to meet you and learn about your culture. I’ve always loved discovering new traditions and opening my mind to new people and places. I hope I can build a strong bond with you, one that we can keep for a lifetime. I consider myself a loyal person, when my friends need me I’m always there. Once l was on call with one of my classmates until late at night just to help her study. I think people who know me can say that I'm also a sweet, respectful, joyful and friendly person; I’m a talkative girl, I love to crack jokes sometimes and laugh. Indeed, many people tell me that I have a contagious laugh. In my free time I usually like to hang out with my friends. We always meet at the ice cream shop and then we spend time together walking around town. In the winter, when it’s cold, we go to my friend’s house and we spend time chatting or playing cards. Do you like to play card games? What’s your favorite board game? I’m also a sporty girl, during the school year I play volleyball, which I love playing for two reasons: the way it makes me feel and the bond I have with my teammates. Indeed, this sport gave me a beautiful group of friends: we always have fun when we’re together and we never get bored. I have been playing volleyball since I was seven years old. I would love the opportunity to join a volleyball team in the USA, but I would also be happy to try out new sports, perhaps track & field. I also like to go skiing in the winter. I live in a small town near the countryside so in the summer I like to do some activities like going running with one of my friends or going out for a walk. Do you play any sports or activities? Do you like to watch sport games on television? I’m currently in my third year of high school (out of 5). I mainly study scientific subjects like math and physics. I like these subjects and I'm very interested in studying them in America as well. I'm also looking forward to studying new things, perhaps criminology or other courses that I don’t have the opportunity to take here in Italy. In my family we are four: my sister, my mother, my father and I. My mother Silvia is one of the strongest people I know, she taught me to never give up and to believe in myself. Andrea, my father, is the quietest in the family and he taught me respect and to think before acting. With my sister Laura I have a strong bond. She's 13 years old, three years younger than me. We support and trust each other. I love spending time with them, we are a close family. During the school year we don’t see each other as much as we would like to as we are all busy with school and work, but we always find time to sit together at the table and share how our day went. I also have a deep bond with my grandmother. One of my favourite habits is when once a week I go to my grandmother’s house for lunch after school. I love her, we talk about everything, I can confide in her without ever feeling judged. I also love her cooking, maybe if you’d like I could recreate some typical dishes for you! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my letter, this experience is really important to me and I'm so grateful for this opportunity. I’m looking forward to sharing my days with you and creating new memories together. I can’t wait to meet you and become part of your family! With love, Alice