Dear future host family, my name is Olivia and I am really excited to be an exchange student 27/28. My family and friends would describe me as heartfelt, fair, funny, creative and kind human being. An exchange year is a dream since I was in the US for the first time during summer holiday, where my family and I were doing an road trip through California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada. We did this road trip when I was 13 years old. What made me wanna do an exchange year so bad is when I first met the open, welcoming and friendly people in the US, it made me feel really warming. When we went grocery shopping, the cashiers asked how our day was and were we are from, this little gesture brightened up the whole day. In Germany the people are not really friendly, not open minded and more like direct, that is such a frustrating feeling for the day and we as a family do not really like this behavior. Also what made me wanna do an exchange year is that I want to meet new people, to have a second family and a second home in a different country. I am also really interested to make experience with a different culture like celebrating Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas in America and maybe celebrating Easter. As well I am really excited about a Highschool-teenage-life with new friends, new sport, friday football games and new Subjects. For me an exchange year means that from to the moment I step on the plane my life will change forever and i will make thousands of memories i will be telling my kids one day. Now I want to tell you what I like and what I do not really like. I really like spending time with my family and my friends, especially I like spending time with my mom because she is like a best friend forever to me. My father and I are pretty similar from our characters, we both are „Dickköpfe or Sturköpfe „ in German which means that we are both quite headstrong, this sometimes brings us to small arguments but those are most likely getting clarified really quick, and I know I can always count on him when I need him. I also have a older brother who is turning 18 years this year, which means he is full-aged and an adult in Germany…he is the best brother on earth, he is the respect fullest and kindest person I know. I could not wish me a better brother. I also really love animals and my favorite animals are dogs, we also have two dogs named Oscar and Willi. Those two dogs mean everything to me and I am excited every day to see them after school. I do really like nearly every animal except any type of insects and especially spiders, when I see a spider in my room or somewhere in the house I scream after my father or my brother, and bag them to remove the spider. I also don t like the thought of leaving my family for 10 months. But I think that is pretty normal. As well I am a little bit scared to leave my dogs for 10 months because I don t want them to forget me. I think it would be amazing if my host family have host dogs and it would help me not to be too sad. Now one more thing I really like is traveling and going on road trips. One more thing I love to to is to bake and cook and eating the things I made myself and eating and snacking in general, and I hope I can some times cook and bake for my host family as well… I do not have a favorite dish because there so many things I like. Like every exchange student I am also excited to try American fast food and restaurants and I am excited to go to Walmart and Target.. I love making jokes and I don’t like when my everyday is joyless. With friends I like to go shopping generally I love clothes, beauty and make up. I really like spending time with my family and friends but sometimes I need time for myself where I like to hear music or to watch a series or movie. I would love for my host family to feel like my actual family and I would be beyond happy to have contact to you all my life. Thank you for taking time and reading my host letter and I am looking forward to hear from you ,my host family ,soon…… Olivia