Dear host family : My name is Lola and I'm 14 years old, although when I'm there with you I'll be 15. I am very excited to have the possibility and the luck to spend a year in the United States with a family with whom I can share tastes, customs and moments of day to day, so I want to tell you a little about me, so you can get to know me a little better. I live in a city in the Northwest of Spain. It is surrounded by the sea, with beaches and a promenade that runs along the coast. In my house I live with my parents and my little brother Lucas, who is 11 years old, and with my dog, Luna, 8 years old. My mother was born in Panama, my grandparents are Spanish and they emigrated there when they were very young. My father was born in Barcelona, where we usually travel to be with my grandmother, uncles and cousins. My brother loves to play sports. He practices football, basketball, athletics... And Luna, our mascot, is a light brown retrevier Labrador. She is a fan of the beach and food. Even when it rains and it's very cold, she enjoys swimming in the sea. We all take care of her and love her very much. I often take care of walking her and playing with her. When allowed, in winter, we take her to the beach so she can enjoy the sea. She loves swimming and rolling around in the sand. I consider myself an organized, responsible, and friendly person. I grew up in an environment where respect, responsibility, and teamwork are fundamental values. Since I was little, I have loved dancing, which is why I have been taking modern dance classes at a dance academy with some school friends for years. I also practice athletics, a sport I really enjoy. I love beaches as much as my mother, who grew up in the Caribbean surrounded by them. Although I don't practice them regularly, I have done water sports, surfing, or paddle surfing at various summer camps. I really loved them. These are activities I would love to learn. Where I live, the main problem is that the weather usually doesn’t cooperate. Traveling is another one of my hobbies… Panama, London, Porto… and many cities in Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, Seville…) I still have so much of the world to discover!! This year of exchange will allow me to get to know a new country. I also enjoy learning new things and discovering different ways of seeing the world. I believe this experience will be unique for me, it will help me learn many new things, and live in a way different from what I am used to. At first, I am a shy person, but when I gain a bit of confidence, I loosen up and am fully myself. That is one of the many reasons why I want to spend a year on exchange: to make new friends, experience a new culture, gain independence, try new activities... and, above all, prove to myself that I can adapt and overcome any difficulties that may arise. I hope this letter helps you get to know a little more about me, my tastes, and my hobbies. If you feel that we could be a good fit, I would love to talk with you and get to know you. Thank you very much for the opportunity. Lola.