Dear Host Family, Thank you for offering the opportunity to live with your family and learn from your everyday life. I am Clara and currently in the 9th grade, or a “freshman“ in high school. I am a very curious person and interested in many different topics. I also enjoy being creative. I love sewing new things and trying to write my own stories. When I have a goal and a deadline, I can be very ambitious and determined to achieve it. I have played the flute for five years now and I like to practice after school. I also enjoy reading and singing with my friends, for example in the school choir. On the weekends I love to spend time with my friends and sometimes bake something together. I enjoy sewing new clothes, like T-shirts or skirts. Sometimes I write parts of my own story. I have a lot of fun, thinking about how a story could develop or what I could improve but I also enjoy reading stories other people created My dad is a sound engineer and loves spending time in his workshop. My mom is a psychiatrist and she also enjoys reading. My brother is three years older than me and is currently doing a voluntary social year at RSF, an NGO that fights for press freedom. We are a very close family and love spending time together. What activities do you enjoy doing together? I would like to cook some typical German dishes for you, such as “Käsespätzle“ or “Grüne Soße“. Do you have a favorite meal you like to cook or eat together? I am very excited to try some typical American dishes. I would really enjoy becoming part of your family and sharing daily moments together, whether it is cooking, talking about our day, or celebrating special occasions. I am very excited about celebrating holidays like Thanksgiving or Halloween because we do not celebrate those like that at home. Are there any special traditions for these holidays in your family? I am very curious about the American school system and looking forward to experiencing the school spirit and events like Homecoming or the football games. I would love to join a sports team, such as swimming or cheerleading, or take part in another after-school activity, like theater or choir. I am looking forward to all the little moments, the talks at the dinner table, new routines and some surprises. Thank you for welcoming me into your family. I can’t wait to get to know you. With warm regards Clara