Meet Our Students

Tihalina from France, writes “I want to discover the world not through books or screens, but through smiles, meetings, and everyday gestures.”  She and her family have adopted goats who they refer to as the “Queens of the garden”.  Besides loving her four-legged family members, she enjoys a close-knit home life with her two brothers and dad. She describes herself as independent and enthusiastic.  She has a wide range of interests including music, reading, photography and scouting which she enjoys due the respect for nature and teamwork that it fosters.  She is also very involved in sports and physical activity such as tennis, basketball, ping pong, track, dance, and roller skating.  She is also very dedicated to the philosophy of cultural exchange. She is extremely focused on bringing unique cultural experiences to the table-literally- she loves to cook crepes, kouign-amman and her family’s special recipe from the Southwest of France,  canelés Bordelais.  Tihalina also wants to learn about and take part in such American traditions as Thanksgiving.  Please consider opening your home to a student who is full of appreciation of other cultures and wishes to learn all she can as well as share the uniqueness of her own with you. 

Meet Le Yuan from Taiwan.  His name “Lee” means “joyful” in his mother tongue of Mandarin- a name he says fits him well.  He describes himself as a positive, curious person who loves to smile.  He drew inspiration to embark on this adventure after living in the UK for a year with his family, he encountered and overcame cultural differences, learning a lot in the process. That experience taught him to step out of his comfort zone, now that he is a teen he is ready to experience these things on his own, as an exchange student in the US living with a host family.  He described himself as calm and easy-going.  He is also responsible and caring in that he describes routinely helping out around the house, cooking, cleaning and taking out the trash.  He also states that he is extremely grateful for this opportunity and very appreciative. His goals for himself for this exchange year include, making friends, joining clubs, and improving his English. He loves sports- he has been playing soccer since he was six, plays table tennis and enjoys long distance running.  He plays board games too including the game of “Go” an ancient Chinese strategy game. He is excited to meet his new American family!

Arianna from Italy lives with her family, which includes her mom, dad, brother, and their beloved dog, Lola, an Australian Shepherd, she loves animals. Her little brother is her favorite person. She describes herself as a funny girl, who loves talking, making new friendships and new experiences. Arianna has a deep passion for cooking, particularly when it comes to baking cookies. Her other interests include theatre, bicycling, listening to pop music, traveling and exploring new places and watching movies (her favorite genre is horror). Ari loves children and has worked as an entertainer at a summer camp for the past two years. She has also tried various sports, including dance, swimming, basketball, tennis, and gymnastics, with tennis being her favorite, she played for six years. After high school, Arianna dreams of becoming an au pair in the United States. She chose to participate in an exchange program to share Italian culture with her American family and community by cooking traditional dishes. Additionally, she aims to become more independent and improve her English skills. Although she is uncertain about her future, Arianna knows she loves working with children and envisions a career as a teacher. That's all from Italy for now, looking forward to meeting you!

Anna lives in Italy with her older brother and younger sister. She did gymnastics for years, but due to the stress on her body, she now helps coach young girls in gym and began snowboarding with her dad and siblings. She also loves to run. She is interested in trying out new sports in America, perhaps cheerleading, but also likes music and the arts. Anna likes the outdoors, but likes to spend time inside also, usually in the kitchen. Baking and making traditional Italian dishes are her passion. She loves to cook and bake and would love to help her new family learn new recipes also. She has responsibilities in her home in Italy and expects to have similar ones in her new home. Anna is excited to be part of a family and learn more about the American culture. She is excited about riding a school bus, decorating her locker and experiencing high school in America.

Hannah is a thoughtful, motivated student from Taiwan who brings a wonderful balance of responsibility, creativity, and warmth. As president of her Applied English Student Association, she’s already shown strong leadership and the ability to manage events and handle pressure with maturity. Outside of school, she stays active through boxing and handstand training and loves cooking everything from traditional Taiwanese dishes to pasta, steak, and curry. She’s also a big fan of musicals—both live and on screen—which she enjoys sharing and discussing with others. Hannah describes herself as 40% outgoing and 60% introverted: she loves exploring with her host family but also respects quiet time to recharge. She adores animals, enjoys trying new things, and is working hard to strengthen her English before arrival. Ready to step out of her comfort zone, she hopes to become a true part of a family’s daily life. Families looking for a capable, kind, and culturally curious student won’t want to miss the chance to host Hannah.

Alberto is a student from a small town in northwest Italy who attends a scientific high school with a sports focus. His program combines academics with sports-related studies, including economics and law of sports, and five hours of physical activity each week. He enjoys his classes, has a good relationship with his classmates, and likes spending time with friends after school. Alberto hopes to study in the United States because he is curious about new cultures, experiences, and sports. He sees this opportunity as a way to grow personally, improve his English, and become more independent. Having already completed a one-month exchange in France, he feels prepared to live away from home and embrace new challenges. Family is very important to Alberto. He lives with his parents, two brothers, and his dog, Frisky, an 8-year-old golden retriever. He loves animals and enjoys walking his dog, visiting his grandparents, traveling, hiking, and cooking with his family. Sports play a major role in Alberto’s life. He learned to ski at age three and enjoys skiing with his family and friends. He has played soccer and basketball and continues to go to the gym regularly. While in the U.S., he hopes to play basketball or soccer again or try new sports. Alberto is excited to learn about American culture, share his daily life with a host family, and build meaningful relationships during his exchange year.

Meet Lilou, from France who lives with her parents, two brothers, and her beloved dog and cat. She has a deep affection for all kinds of animals. Describing herself as energetic, enthusiastic, social, sensitive, and curious, Lilou is thrilled about her upcoming exchange program in the United States. While she enjoys various sports, volleyball is her favorite, and she is an active member of her volleyball club. She appreciates the teamwork and trust that volleyball fosters, saying, “Volleyball has taught me to encourage others, handle pressure, and persevere even when things don’t go perfectly.” In addition to sports, Lilou interests include cinema, creating day vlogs, fashion, playing board games, visiting zoos, ice skating, and camping. She loves embracing new experiences, and bonfires with s'mores would be a great experience for her. Having already participated in a French film, her aspiration is to become an actress and engage in film productions. Lilou is excited to share her culture with you and is eager to assist in the kitchen. “I believe that I can bring a lot of energy, positivity, and joy to your family.”

Tomás is an energetic and curious student who is excited to experience life in the United States and become part of a welcoming host family. As Tomás shares, “I truly can’t wait to start this life-changing journey, share my daily life with you, and learn from a new culture.” He enjoys staying active and has a strong passion for soccer, especially cheering for his favorite team, FC Barcelona. Tomás hopes to join a school team or club and is also excited to try new American sports. He has a strong musical background, having studied piano and tuba for seven years. In his free time, he enjoys reading adventure novels, watching movies, spending time with friends, and being outdoors. Tomás is sociable, positive, tidy, and enjoys cooking and sharing meals with his family.

Meet Romy, she is a student from rural France with a warm, adventurous spirit and a deep love for nature, animals, and family life. Active and curious, she enjoys soccer and fitness, reading, cooking, board games, spending time with friends, and being outdoors, and she is thrilled to experience American traditions and everyday family moments. Highly motivated, Romy dreams of becoming a lawyer one day, possibly in the United States, and sees this exchange year as an important step toward strengthening her English, broadening her worldview, and building meaningful connections while sharing her French culture.

Amy, from the Netherlands has a close relationship with her family. She describes herself as “a funny, outgoing, and social person who loves connecting with others and trying new things”. One of her greatest passions is playing volleyball; she thrives on being part of a team. In addition to volleyball, Amy enjoys various activities, including spending time with friends, shopping, ziplining, playing board games and reading. She is eager to stay active and hopes to join the volleyball team and try something new, such as cheerleading or another sport at her American high school. Traveling is another of Amy's loves; she has had the chance to explore many different countries; “I love learning how people live in other countries, what they eat, how they celebrate, and what daily life looks like for them. It’s fascinating to see how different yet similar people can be around the world.” Amy is excited to share Dutch traditions with others, cook typical dishes, and celebrate holidays as they do back home. She is particularly looking forward to experiencing Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas with her American family.