Dear Host Family, Thank you for taking time to read this letter and letting me live with your family. My name is Mia, I’m a German student and I am currently in 9th grade. I am participating in an exchange year to improve my english and learn about American culture. I love travelling and seeing the world, which made me even more determined to do an exchange year. I've been riding for 9 years and it’s a sport I am really attached to and I really like doing. I do not train regularly anymore, due to school and exams. School in Germany can be quite difficult depending which difficulty you choose, and that’s why i unfortunately had to quit riding. I used to go to equestrian competitions once or twice a year, which I really enjoyed. I still take every opportunity i get to have a quick ride on a horse. I speak 3 languages, German, English and Spanish which i learn in school since year 6. I’m looking forward to improve my English while staying in the US. I’m a person who loves learning languages and trying new stuff in general. I’m open to try new activities, food and getting to know American everyday life. I also love sport activities and when I saw how many different activities American High Schools offer, i got even more excited. I’m definitely planning on joining a sports club while I stay, to get to know new people, I am not worried about not meeting new people because I’m social and I bet everyone is very welcoming. My dad works in a big gastronomic company as a leader of some of the markets, where they sell foods and other stuff to big restaurants. My mom works in a refugee camp where she manages much stuff from her office ( Purchasing manager) In Germany we have many public holidays, which are only celebrated here, such as Karneval where you dress up in any costume you like, and in some cities such as Cologne and Mainz there are huge parades and parties. Another public holiday is the Oktoberfest which is mainly celebrated in Bavaria which is a folk festival with many beer tents. People in Bavaria dress in traditional clothing such as leather trousers and woman dress in a dress called Dirndl which is very traditional too. People in other cities celebrate this folk festival too, but its got its origin is Bavaria, Munich. In Germany there are many foods too such as Bratwurst which is a Sausage roasted on a grill. When I first signed up for the exchange year I wasn’t too sure at first but now im very excited and I cant wait to finally go to an American High School. I think it’s a very important experience to go a year abroad. I will definitely grow as a person and I'm looking forward to making new friends and memories. I am very excited to join your family soon! Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and have a nice day. Best Regards, Mia