Dear Host Family, I am finally writing this letter! I still can’t believe it. Almost four years have passed since I started dreaming about this experience, and now, thanks to you, I will make this dream come true! I am really pleased that you will host me for one year, and I hope I can make you feel all the excitement and happiness that I am feeling right now. My name is Chiara, I am sixteen years old and I live in a small (tiny!) city in northern Italy. Even if my city is small, I love travelling. Since I was a little girl, one of my biggest dreams has always been to see the whole world. For this reason, I am so happy about this experience that I can live thanks to you. Learning about new cultures and traditions makes me feel very excited. My family doesn’t travel a lot because of my dad’s work, but I know that the desire to travel is something that we all share. Speaking of my family, I live with my father, my mother, my brother, and our two pets. My father works full-time; he is a kind and genuine person. I really like talking about everything with him because he is a very good listener. I am much more talkative than him! I like to talk about psychology, current events, and philosophy, which I study at school. We talk about everything and more (and we also joke a lot, but not too much, I promise!). My mother’s name is Rita, she always has time for me. She doesn’t work because she wanted to spend a lot of time with her children. She is very kind and patient, and we have a great relationship. She taught me how to cook, and cooking is now one of my biggest passions! Seeing the happy reactions of people who eat what I prepare gives me a feeling of joy. I would be very happy to cook some delicious Italian recipes for you! I can cook many things — desserts, pasta, or second course — but my specialty is PIZZA! (Don’t worry, I always clean everything afterwards!). I really love the world of aesthetics. Another of my favorite activities is doing makeup and hair. I always practice on myself because it gives me joy. Another thing that I enjoy is going to the gym. There, I not only practice but also have fun with the people I practice with. I think that sport and company together are very important to stay happy and healthy — but always in a fun way! I am quite clumsy, but I try to improve every day, and if I make mistakes, I try again! I study a lot every day, but I always try to make time for my favorite activities. Do you like sports too? I would be very curious to try football, cheerleading, or maybe hockey. I think I would like them all! These are activities that are not common in Italy. Oh, I haven’t finished talking about my family! My brother Vincenzo is 25 years old, and I see him as a real friend. Since he is older than me, we don’t spend a lot of time together because he works and goes to university, but I always feel that I can talk to him. He is very intelligent and polite. I also want to go to university one day. I am thinking about studying medicine, even if I don’t know yet what kind of doctor I want to become. My school doesn’t focus much on scientific subjects, but more on psychology and human sciences. I was 13 when I chose my school program, and maybe I regretted it a little, but I don’t lose hope! Every morning, I go to school and try my best. I like my subjects, even if they don’t exactly match my dream career. As you can see, I like many different things. I am a very versatile person. I like trying new things, changing environments, and meeting new people. I am a bit shy, but my determination stronger, so it makes me more open and talkative I have a dog named Biscotto (that means “cookie”); he is 8 years old and I think he is the best, sweetest, and most beautiful dog in the whole world! I really love all animals, but he is more than just a pet — he is my best friend! And I also have a cat named Mimì. She is very calm, a bit distant, but she is still part of my life. Sometimes she is a little crazy too — she looks like me, a mix of calm and crazy at times! As for my friends, I have a group of boys and girls that I meet on weekends. We like listening to music, going shopping, and walking around our little village. We are all different, but we love each other and like to have fun and spend good time together. I really hope to make new friends once I am there. But one thing I believe is that I will live a fantastic year thanks to you, and I want to bring you joy and serenity. I want to feel part of your family and I hope that you will be happy with the host daughter I will be, because I want this experience to be amazing for you too. I just want to say a gigantic thank you, because you are making my dream come true, and you will be part of it! With love, Chiara