Hello Future Host family, My name is Sophie. I'm really excited to spend a year in the US and experience everyday life with you. I have always loved the idea of becoming part of a different culture instead of just visiting it. It might sound a little crazy but I´m also excited to experience the school spirit! When it comes to me, I would describe myself as a cheerful, curious, and open minded person. At first, I can be a little bit shy, but when I feel comfortable, I love talking and spending time with others. I also like to listen to other people. Speaking of cheerful, there is one thing you should definitely know about me: I absolutely love to laugh. Especially in the evenings I laugh the most and mostly about the dumbest things. One time I laughed about a tiktok filter I used on my brother. He looked so funny with it and his reaction was even funnier, so I couldn't stop laughing for minutes! I just love to spread good energy. ​ ​I live with my parents and my two younger brothers in Germany. We live in a "special" place because France and Switzerland are 20 Minutes away from my home. My mom is Romanian, which makes me half German and half Romanian. She comes from a city where the people speak more Hungarian than Romanian. That's why I can't speak Romanian, but I can have small conversations in Hungarian. ​I have a close bond with my family. I like to joke around, but I also know when it is time to be serious. I really enjoy being part of family life. Cooking together, eating together, talking about the day or just hanging out in the kitchen. I would love to join your everyday routines and also try new things together. With my family, I do a lot of things. But one of my favorite things with my family is spending summer evenings together. We usually have dinner together in our garden, we talk a lot, laugh, and enjoy spending time with each other. I think these moments strengthen our family bond. ​When I’m not spending time with my family, I love being surrounded by my friends. ​With them, I talk and laugh a lot. And we always do a mix of things. We try everything new and I always love it! So it never gets boring for us. ​I also go jogging with a friend, and we usually run between 5 and 10 kilometers. But one time we ran spontaneous 20 kilometers. We didn't give up although it was really hard. After that, we were proud of ourselves and we had a lot of fun. Sometimes I also go to running competitions. Another sport I like to do is swimming. I love it the most when it's hot outside. I would be so happy if I could join sport clubs when I'm in the US. Whether it's cross country, a swim club, or something totally different. To balance out all the sports, I love listening to music. I listen to almost everything and often dance in my room. Not so long ago, I started to teach myself how to play the piano with Youtube tutorials. ​Aside from music, another big passion of mine is baking and cooking. I often end up making cookies or brownies and I’m usually the person who “tests” the dough a little too early just to make sure it’s good. My family calls it impatience, I call it quality control. I would be happy if we cook and bake sometimes together. I would be excited to learn your favorite dishes and also share some German food with you.I love trying new food and I always say that there is too much good food to pick just one favourite. But I'm not a fan of spicy food. Of course, I will help with chores around the house. My favorite chores are doing the dishes and loading/emptying the dishwasher. But I always help where help is needed. ​​I enjoy trying new things as you maybe know now, whether it's food, sports, or other activities. I also love rollercoasters, waterslides, and anything adventurous. For example, I once tried water skiing. I was very nervous first, but then I had a lot of fun. I think it's important to step out of your comfort zone and be open to new experiences. I absolutely love to travel and to see new places! It doesn't matter for me if it's seeing new places in the near or more far away, I am always excited for a road trip or exploring new cities. With my family we often go to the beach in France, but we also go hiking in the mountains or visit lakes. All kind of traveling are very special to me and I enjoy it every single time. To recharge my Batteries, I sometimes enjoy having a little bit of quiet time. During those moments I like to read or to listen to a podcast/music. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. Knowing that I will be doing an exchange year makes me instantly happy. I’m so curious to learn about your daily life: What is your favorite family tradition or your absolute favorite meal? I hope we can do it together! More than anything, I'm looking forward to becoming a real part of your family, making unforgettable memories, and having a second family in the US. I can't wait for the day we finally meet! Love, Sophie