Dear Host Family, My name is Johannes. I live with my parents, my older sister, and our cat in Germany. I am in tenth grade at school. My father is German, my mother was born in Kazakhstan, so I also have eastern roots and also speak German and Russian fluently. I grew up surrounded by both German and Eastern European traditions, especially through my grandparents. Sports are a very big part of my life. I go to the gym four to five times a week, and I was in a swimming club for eleven years, where I trained several days a week and took part in many competitions and championships. I enjoy being active outdoors, but I also like spending time inside, working on my computer. I am very interested in technology and cars and enjoy learning how things work or improving them. In addition, I am part of a church youth group, which I visit every friday. In my daily life, I like to stay active and spend time with people. I am open-minded, outgoing, and helpful. I enjoy meeting new people, trying new things, and learning from others. I’m a very active person and I like keeping myself busy. At the same time, I’m also perfectly happy relaxing and don’t need to be entertained. I want to take part in the exchange program because both my mother and my sister did an exchange year when they were young, and they told me how much they learned from it. They inspired me to take this step myself. I hope to improve my English, experience life in an American family, and get to know your everyday culture, traditions, and school life. I also want to understand different ways of thinking and living, and I hope that I can share my own culture with you as well. From my exchange year, I wish to grow more independent, confident, and open to the world. I want to make lifelong memories, build strong relationships, and become a real part of your family. I am also very interested in learning more about American history and how people live and think in different regions. I have already traveled a lot with my family, including two trips to the United States. Those visits made me even more curious about your culture and everyday life. I would love to experience it not as a tourist but as a family member. To me, living in another culture means learning to see the world from a new perspective and appreciating the differences between people. I think it helps us understand each other better and become more open minded and caring. Thank you very much for opening your home to me. I can’t wait to meet you and become part of your family! Best wishes, Johannes