Dear host family, 

My name is Heidi, and I am 15 years old, although I will be a bit older by the time. I travel to the USA. I live in a small town in Northern Germany. I attend a high school and I have just completed 9th grade. 

In my free time, I Love dancing and playing the piano. Even though I haven't been playing very long, I really enjoy learning it. When I'm not busy with my hobbies, I like to relax, watch series or movies, or spend time with friends. In the summer, we often go to the outdoor swimming pool and when it's cold outside, we enjoy baking together. When I'm completely by myself, I love listening to music, it helps me relax and just enjoy the moment. 

My favorite school subjects are English and art. Sometimes, I also enjoy P.E. 

I would describe myself as a cheerful and calm person. I'm also very open and always happy to help others. 

My family consists of my parents, my three siblings and our two cats. Both of my parents work in the justice system. My younger sister is twelve years old and still attends primary school, but she will soon move to a new school. My older sister is 29 and works for BMW, and my older brother is 34 and works as a civil servant. We enjoy doing things together, like going on trips and discovering new places or activities. We also love celebrating holidays like Christmas and Easter as a family. 

I want to go to the USA because I'm curious about what life is like at an American high school. I think it will be an exciting experience to get to know a new culture, meet new people, and be part of everyday life in another country. I also hope to improve my English and grow as a person through this adventure. 

Thank you so much for welcoming me into your family. I'm really looking forward to meeting you, experiencing life in the USA, and becoming a part of your daily life. 

Best wishes, 

Heidi 

Dear future host family,

First, I want to say that I am so grateful that you will welcome me into your family for 10 months. I know it is not a given, that is why I appreciate it very much. I hope we have a wonderful and exciting time together. My name is Emma, and I am 14 years old. I live with my mother, my father, and my sister in a house in the west of Germany. My relationship is incredibly good with each of my family members. My younger sister and I love each other so much. Once a week I train at the swimming club. I love swimming because when I am in the water my thoughts are silent for a moment, and I can relax. Sometimes we have competitions. But I also have musical hobbies. I play flute in an orchestra. Sometimes we do a concerts or play at traditional festivals. I also sing in a choir once a week. We even do concerts or organize the nativity play on the holy evening. When I am done with my homework, I read a lot because then I can enjoy myself and relax. But of course, I meet my friends as well and they have great significance for me. The most important one is my oldest best friend. We have been friends since preschool, so we were three years old and now we are still in the same class and best friends. We have sleepovers together or meet to go shopping or swimming. Another activity is that we go to the movie theater and look at different movie genres. Every time I meet them, I have a lot of fun. I am a nice, ambitious, and have a sense of humor. In addition to that, I would say that I am helpful, respectful, and responsible. My dad says that I have a sense of justice and loyalty. In my school holidays, I love to travel with my family. We have a caravan in which we travel a lot. I like Croatia because I love to swim in the sea, I like warm weather and to sit in the sun. Now I will tell you why want to do an exchange year in the United States. The main reason is that I miss the typical American high school spirit at the schools in Germany. I would like to get to know it with all the things that go with it like football games, proms, or Homecoming. Another reason is that I would like to know how you celebrate holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving. In general, I want to know the American culture and nature but also the school system. I also want to improve my English skills. In the USA. I want to get to know new people and myself better but also new hobbies and another form of family life. I would like to share new experiences with you and want to get to know your everyday life with things like dinner together or some holidays. In return for welcoming me into your family, I look forward to cooking and baking typical German food for you. I am open to new experiences, and I am looking forward to becoming part of a new family and sharing the 10 months with beautiful moments. Also, I am looking forward to this unique opportunity. I am also excited to meet you next summer, so I wanted to say thank you again. Thank you so much.

Best wishes,

Emma