Dear Host Family, Hello! My name is Sara, and I’m a high school student from Japan. Thank you so much for accepting me into your home. I feel truly honored and excited to have the opportunity to live with you through this exchange program. There are so many things I want to do with you while I’m in the U.S. I’d love to cook meals from both Japan and America, watch movies together, go on fun outings, and even wear kimono with you! I’d also be happy to help with housework, share Japanese culture, or teach you some simple Japanese if you’re interested. I really love talking with people and making new friends wherever I go. I hope we can become close quickly, and I’d love to stay in touch with you even after I return to Japan—as a second family. In Japan, I live a busy but fun life. On weekdays, I go to school and spend time studying and chatting with my friends. On weekends, I often hang out with friends, listen to music, or cook at home. I love Japanese rock music and often go to concerts with friends. It’s so exciting, and it blows away my everyday stress! I also enjoy cooking—especially sweets. I sometimes bring homemade treats to school and give them to my friends. Seeing their happy faces makes me smile, too. I hope you’ll enjoy my cooking someday! I decided to join this program because I want to experience everyday American life and truly understand the culture by living with a local family. I’ve visited the U.S. with my family before, but I was too young to remember clearly. This time, I want to discover new things for myself, make friends from different backgrounds, and grow through this experience. As for my future, I haven’t completely decided on a specific path yet, but one thing I know for sure is that I want to do work that helps people and society. It doesn’t have to be a job that sounds impressive—if I can do something that brings a smile to someone, that’s enough for me. To expand my possibilities, I’m interested in studying public policy. Since laws differ between countries, legal knowledge isn’t always universal. But public policy is more widely applicable and may even lead to legal reform or social change. That’s the kind of impact I hope to make someday. Let me tell you about my family in Japan. I live with my parents. My mom is a great cook, but she can be a little scary when she gets angry! My dad is always smiling and very kind. We’re a small family, but we’re very close and warm. Lastly, thank you again for welcoming me into your family as a volunteer. I know it takes kindness and effort to open your home to someone from another country, and I truly appreciate it. I hope we can make many great memories together and build a lifelong connection. I’m really looking forward to meeting you! With love, Sara