Dear host family, My name is Justine and I would like to go to the United Sates. As I write this letter, I'm 16, but when I arrive I'll be 17 (so I'll be celebrating my 18th birthday with you:) . I'm a very sunny girl, I like to meet new people and I like to do all sorts of different activities. My parents have been separated for 10 years. I have 2 real brothers and 1 half-brother. I get on quite well with my brothers, although I often argue with them (never violently, of course). In my family, we help each other out and do lots of activities together. We never stay cooped up in our room doing nothing all day. In my family, I'm the tallest. I'm 2 and 3 years older than my brothers. I also have a stepmother and a stepfather. I love them both very much. So I have a large family. At my mother's, I have a dog that I love very much. I love animals and that's why I go horse-riding. I've been doing it for over 10 years, I also do racket sports, I run and I do Krav Maga (a combat sport). In short, I'm quite sporty and I like to exercise. My lifestyle habits are fairly ordinary. I don't follow a made-to-measure lifestyle, I just take it one day at a time. I think I'm a pretty easygoing girl, I adapt very well to new situations. At first I'll probably be a bit shy because it'll be a whole new environment for me. But once I get my bearings I'm super nice and funny sometimes. At school I'm not doing too badly. I go to a school with a certain level, so that's why my grades don't always keep up. But I do and will always do my best. The things I like are: taking care of myself, I love to make beautiful outfits, sports, music, TV series, some books, shopping, visiting friends, spending time with my best friend, crafts (I need to touch things and get my creative juices flowing). I love going out with my friends, it's a real part of my life and I really need to see people my own age. I don't find it hard to make new friends; I've often been away at camp, so I'm used to arriving in places where I don't know anyone. And I always end up with new friends. That's what reassures me about making new friends (boys or girls). Of all the possible destinations, I chose the United States because it's a country that has always attracted me. The culture is so different from Europe. And I think that later on it will be a plus for 2 reasons. The first is that I'll have experienced two different ways of life, and that will enable me to be very open-minded about everything and not make any inappropriate judgments about people. And the second is that I'll meet totally different people with different points of view from what I've always known. And that's what I really like about living abroad. I think that by coming to live with you, I'll be bringing some of the European way of life with me. You'll also be able to discover a new way of living and being through me. I'll tell you all about the life I have here, I love it. I thank you in advance for your hospitality and I know how lucky I am to be able to live this experience with you. Justine