Dear future host family, Hi, I hope you're all doing well. My name’s Olivia, but everyone calls me Liv. Fun fact: The name Olivia literally means olive tree, but olives are the only food I won’t eat. I want to start off by thanking you, not only for taking your time to read my letter, but also for considering welcoming me into your home. I understand that a lot of sacrifice goes into being a host family and, as a host family, you guys are volunteers, but I promise having me around won’t feel like volunteer work. I hope to become a part of your family, not just your daily life. I was given a deadline to complete this letter, and honestly, I spent a lot of time thinking, writing, and rewriting. After all, this letter feels like the “make or break” part of my application, where I get the chance to showcase who I am and connect with you guys to the point where you can envision me being a part of your lives for an entirety of 6 months. That’s a lot to ask of a letter, although I’m confident that by being authentically me you’ll see why I’m the perfect fit for your family. So, the big question: why do I want to go on exchange? The answer starts with my parents. I’m the product of two backpackers who fell in love while working at Camp America. When your parents meet in a foreign country and fall in love, you’ll definitely hear stories about it. So I indeed did hear stories about my parents’ world travels, but the stories that stuck out to me were the ones in America. Hearing about their experiences full of adventure, connection, the unexpected, and a lot of fast food initiated my interest in American life, and I knew I wanted to create my own. Over the years, I’ve seen glimpses of everyday American life through films, shows, and social media. Watching people experience that life only strengthened my desire to live it myself. I’ve been lucky enough to travel to different countries, and while those trips have given me priceless memories and life skills, travelling as a tourist is very different from actually living somewhere and becoming part of a community. I’ve never been to America, and although I could simply visit, that isn’t what I’m looking for. I want more than a trip. I want the chance to experience your country as a member of the community. I’m looking forward to experiencing American high school firsthand and being a part of your family’s Thanksgiving—especially the food and your unique traditions. I’m just as excited for simple things like going on grocery trips to Costco, and I cannot forget about riding the legendary yellow school bus. These are the experiences I’ve dreamed about, and they’re the ones I hope to carry with me long after the exchange is over. So, a bit about me: cooking has been my special interest since I was a kid, I struggle waking up early, I value some downtime to recharge my social battery, I absolutely love animals! I have a dog named Brandi. Music is a big part of my life, I love game nights and feeling a part of a community, and last but not least I used to be afraid of mascots. My loved ones would describe me as responsible, loyal, that I have a strong sense of justice, I’m loving, caring, and that I’m very community orientated. I have an amazing group of friends that I trust with my life; we enjoy going down the street, swimming together, and sitting by fires listening to music. My parents are separated, so I have two homes. I’ve grown a lot from the challenges that came with their breakup and have strong relationships with both of them. My mum is my best friend—we like to cook together, go to the gym, go shopping, or do each other’s nails. My dad and I enjoy going to the beach, jetskiing, camping, and above all, going on unplanned road trips just the two of us. We both agree they always make the best memories. I can't wait to meet you and make lifelong memories in this journey together. I don’t know who you are yet, but I already know you’ll change my life. With love, Liv