Dear future host family, My name is Lia, I’m from Germany, and first of all, I am very happy that you are taking the time to read my letter. Living abroad with a host family is something I am truly looking forward to, because I believe it is the best way to get to know a new culture and to live the adventure of my life! I’ve been dreaming about doing an exchange for a long time, and now I’m finally writing this letter. I still can’t quite believe it! In order for you to get to know me a little better, I would like to tell you about myself, my everyday life back in Germany, my family and friends, and how I like to spend my free time. If someone asked me to describe myself, I would say that I am very empathetic and kind. My life mottos are “kindness always comes back to you” and “make everyone feel like a somebody”, and I really try to live by them. I am sarcastic, very talkative, always laughing, extroverted, and optimistic. I love going out with my friends whenever I can, but once in a while I don’t mind staying in bed for an entire weekend. Some people might call me lazy, but when I’m passionate about something, I completely forget about being lazy. One of my biggest passions is theater. I go there often and enjoy it very much. I also dance, which I really love. In my free time, I enjoy being out with friends, but I also like watching movies or reading books. I’m not really a sporty person, except for dancing and sometimes going to the gym. I’m more the kind of person who sits on the bench and watches her friends play, even though most of the time I have no idea what’s actually going on on the field haha. Still, I’m very excited to try some American sports during my exchange year! I’m a very emotional person, but I definitely see that as something positive. I always show people how much I love and appreciate them, and I’m excited to meet new people and welcome even more people into my heart. I also enjoy going to school, mainly because of my classmates, and I’m very excited to experience what school life in America is like. My family and friends mean a lot to me. At home, my family and I value spending time together. We often eat dinner as a family, talk about our day, watch movies, or simply enjoy each other’s company. Even though everyone has their own routines, family time is something we appreciate. I’m incredibly grateful to have such a loving family and so many amazing friends, and I’m sure that you are a loving family as well. I’m looking forward to becoming part of your family, sharing everyday moments like having dinner together as well, talking about our days, watching movies, or simply spending time together. My life in Germany has a certain structure, but I’m very excited to get to know a new one in America. During the week, I usually go to school, study afterward, participate in my hobbies, and then spend the evening with my family watching movies or reading by myself. On weekends, I enjoy my hobbies as well, do activities like going to the cinema or concerts, or simply relax with friends by playing board games or just spending time together. I’m definitely more of a night owl than a morning person. I’m used to helping out at home, like sometimes doing the dishes, vacuuming the house or keeping my room clean. I can be a bit chaotic at times, to be honest. Still I respect rules and routines. I’m willing to help with household chores, and I think communication is very important when living together as a family. I have already gained some experience traveling, both with my family and on my own, for example through vacations without my parents or school trips. For example, I went to France for two weeks with my friends last summer. These experiences have helped me become more independent and confident in new situations. I have also already been to America, and now I’m even more excited to be there again and for a longer time! I think that my openness and extroverted personality come from the fact that my mom never made me feel like I was “too much.” Because of that, I’ve always felt encouraged to be myself. I have been a class representative, participated in school and church activities, and I’ve always been open toward everyone. During my exchange year, my biggest goal is simply to live life to the fullest and experience the everyday life of an American high school student. I’m excited about events like Homecoming, getting to know American culture in a deep and meaningful way, improving my English skills, and maybe even seeing a little bit of America. Most importantly, I hope to make another place feel like my second home. Living with a host family is especially important to me because I want to experience everyday American life, learn from each other, and truly become part of your family. After finishing school, I’m interested in continuing my education and exploring paths that allow me to work with people, especially children, and express my creativity through things like theater. I believe that this exchange year will help me grow personally and gain important skills for my future. I believe I would be a good exchange student because I’m open-minded, respectful, willing to communicate, and genuinely interested in becoming part of your family and community. Thank you so much for reading my letter. I truly appreciate it! Hosting an exchange student is something very special, and I am more than grateful for the opportunity to experience this. Warm regards. Lia