Hello dear host family, my name is Jan, I am 15 years old, and I live in Germany in a small town between Duesseldorf and Cologne with my parents. My dad works as a tax advisor, and my mom is a strategic buyer. 40 years ago my mom has also spent a high school year in the United States (in Inverness in Florida). I am an only child, so I am really excited about living with a host family, especially if there are siblings. But of course it is perfectly okay for me if you don't have any childreen. I think it would be great to experience a different family life and spend time together. Family is very important to me. I enjoy eating dinner together, talking about our day, or doing things as a family. Last year, I stayed at a host family in Ireland for one week. It was a great experience, and I especially liked spending the evenings together, cooking, talking, and playing games. It also made me want to spend a longer time abroad. I would like to become more independent, improve my English, and learn the life in another country. I know there will be challenges, but I am looking forward to them because I think they will help me grow. I have always wanted to experience life in the USA because I think the culture, school life, and family traditions are different from Germany. I am excited to experience things like school events, football games, and your Family traditions. I want to see what life is really like in the USA. In my free time, I play soccer in a club. I like being part of a team, supporting each other, and working towards a goal. Playing soccer has taught me teamwork, discipline, and not giving up when things get difficult. At school, I am a member of the robotics team. We work on different technical projects and have even taken part in the German Championships. I enjoy solving problems, building things, and working together with others. It would be fantastic if my high school offers also robotics. On weekends, I usually meet my friends. We often go to soccer matches or just spend time together. I really enjoy the atmosphere in the stadium. Sometimes I also like relaxing at home and playing video games on my Xbox. I also took piano lessons for three years. I really enjoyed learning to play, but I recently decided to stop because I wanted to focus on school, robotics, football, and preparing for my exchange year. Maybe I’ll have the chance to play again in the future. I also enjoy traveling with my family. We like visiting different cities, hiking or spending time at the beach. I think it’s exciting to discover new places. School is important to me. I do well, even though studying is not always my favorite thing 😉. I know that working hard is important, and I always try to do my best. I especially enjoy the math and informatics classes. I would describe myself as reliable, friendly, open-minded, and respectful. I am more of a calm person, but I like meeting new people and usually adapt quickly to new situations. At home, I help with everyday tasks and take responsibility for my own routine. For me, it goes without saying that I will take on tasks in my „new home“ as well. I also enjoy playing board games because they are a fun way to spend time together. I would also love to get to know you. What do you enjoy doing together as a family? Do you have any traditions that are special to you? And is there a place near your home that you would be excited to show me? I can’t wait to learn more about you and hopefully become part of your family. I would also be happy to tell you about Germany and share my own culture with you. I Hope we can create many great memories together. Thank you very much for taking the time to read my letter. I would be very happy to become part of your family, and I hope to meet you soon! Warm regards, Jan