Dear Host Family, My name is Lucas, I’m 16 years old. I was born and raised in a very small town located in the south of Brazil, where I made great friends and had a wonderful childhood. About a year ago, I moved to the state capital, with my father, where I have more opportunities for study and work. Even though the cities are far apart, every two months I go back to my hometown to visit my mother, my friends, and my whole family. Currently, I study, help with household chores, and try to be as helpful as I can. My routine here is quite simple. In the morning, I go to school, and when I get home, I help with the housework. In the afternoon, I go to my family’s business to work — we own a used car dealership. This happens from Monday to Friday, and at night I study English twice a week at a language school. On weekends, I usually go out with my friends, unless I decide to stay home to rest. I really enjoy going out, meeting people, and having fun. When I lived in the countryside, I used to go out every weekend, but nowadays it’s harder because I have more responsibilities. I currently live with my dad and my stepmother. I get along very well with her; she’s a very kind and caring person who helps me with everything. I have one brother and two sisters. My youngest sister is four years old, and she brings so much joy to our family. The town where I grew up has only about 3,000 inhabitants — it’s very small. I grew up with a lot of freedom in a place where everyone knows each other, and the local economy is based on agriculture. It’s full of farms and provides a very healthy lifestyle. Two months ago, my older brother went to Ohio to study at a university. He’s very happy and learning a lot there. My parents separated when I was three years old, but they get along very well and have a good relationship. My family is very close; we always spend holidays together and stay in touch often. Every year, at the end of the year, we like to go to the beach with family and friends. I live in the south of the country, where the climate is quite similar to Europe’s. It’s a very clean place, full of diversity and welcoming people. My state has a strong agricultural industry, with modern and productive farming, as well as many tourist attractions. I’d like to thank you for welcoming me into your home, because I know it’s not easy to host someone you don’t know. I promise that while I’m there, I will help as much as I can, respect everyone, and do my best not to cause any inconvenience. I’m a very adaptable person, I like to talk, share stories, and I’m cheerful and positive. I enjoy playing sports, being active in the community, and taking care of my health. I’m Catholic and try to go to church every week. I really like children and animals, and when I’m at my mom’s house, I love going on motocross trails and having fun with my friends. I know that I’m going to experience a new culture, face new challenges, and live with a family that has different traditions — and I really like that. I hope that during my time with you, I can learn a lot, share a bit of my own culture, make new friends, have fun, and achieve fluency in English. I promise to respect and follow all the rules. I truly want to build a bond with you, because you will become like a new family to me. I’m very excited about this new experience, and once again, thank you for this wonderful opportunity.