Dear host family! My name is Matilda, and I am very excited to introduce myself. I am really looking forward to meeting you and becoming part of your family during my exchange. I mainly live with my mom, her partner, and my older brother, Baltazar. I also spend every other weekend—and often more time whenever we feel like it—with my dad, his partner, and my younger brother, Lorenzo. I feel very lucky because I have a close relationship with both sides of my family, and I enjoy spending time with all of them. I also have a very close relationship with my extended family. I love spending time with my grandparents, and I always enjoy family gatherings because they are moments when we can relax, laugh, and spend quality time together. Both of my parents work in the mining industry. My dad works in supply chain, and my mom works in corporate communications. Since most of Chile's mining operations are located in the north of the country, we lived in the city of Antofagasta from the time I was born until I was three years old. In 2014, we moved to a bigger city because of my dad's job. At home, I have several responsibilities. I keep my room clean and organized, wash the dishes on some evenings, help with cooking on weekends, and make sure our dog is fed every day. At my dad's house, I also help take care of my four-year-old brother, Lorenzo. We enjoy playing together, watching his favorite movies, and taking the dogs for walks. I believe helping around the house and taking care of each other are important parts of family life. In my free time, I enjoy playing volleyball, spending time with my friends, going for walks, and baking sweet treats to share with my family. I also love trying new recipes, and I would be excited to learn how to cook some traditional dishes from your country. I enjoy simple activities that allow me to spend time with the people I care about. I would describe myself as a mature, responsible, and open-minded person. I believe I have good emotional intelligence, and I try to stay calm and positive when facing challenges. I know that an exchange year will bring many new experiences and unexpected situations, but I am ready to learn, adapt, and make the most of every opportunity. One of the main reasons I decided to become an exchange student is because I want to improve my English, learn about a different culture, make lifelong friends, and experience daily life with another family. I believe this experience will help me grow not only academically but also as a person. I have been to the United States three times, and every visit has made me even more excited about this experience. I love hearing people speak English all around me, and I have always been amazed by how many different options there are for almost everything—even something as simple as seeing five different kinds of Oreo cookies in one store! Those little differences make me curious, and I enjoy discovering the everyday things that make each culture unique. My parents have always encouraged me to learn English and experience other cultures. My mom was inspired by her older brother, who spent a year as an exchange student in the United States. Although she never had the chance to do an exchange herself, once she started working she saved enough money to spend five months in Vancouver studying English. She often tells me how much that experience helped her, both personally and professionally, and she believes that speaking English well is very important in Chile, especially for future career opportunities. My dad attended a bilingual school and speaks English very well. Seeing how important learning English has been in both of their lives has inspired me to follow a similar path. Building meaningful relationships is something that is very important to me. I think that, especially during the teenage years, friends become a very important support system because we often go through similar experiences and can understand and help one another. At the same time, I truly value family relationships, and I hope to become part of your daily life, creating wonderful memories together and learning from each other. Thank you very much for opening your home and welcoming an exchange student. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I cannot wait to meet you, learn about your traditions, and share a little bit of my own culture with you. I hope we will have an unforgettable year together. See you soon!