Meet Our Students

Meet Fanny from France!  Fanny is extremely enthusiastic about the opportunity to spend an exchange year in the U.S. It is one of her “biggest dreams” and she has been focused on making it happen since she was young. Spending an exchange year in the U.S. is what has motivated her to study English. Fanny explains that she is extremely grateful for her friends and family and values those relationships highly. Her friends describe her as someone who is very kind, thoughtful, funny, emotional and reliable.  One of her other dreams- going to an American football game and rooting for her team!    She also loves all animals especially her cats Bambou and Ficelle with whom she shares a deep connection.  Fanny loves to do crafts and dance (she is currently on a dance team). She also enjoys the self-discipline she gets from pushing herself at the gym and often clears her head by going for a run. She also enjoys all genres of music.  Baking is also one of Fanny’s hobbies, her specialty is cinnamon rolls because she loves the smell. Fanny is overflowing with energy and excitement; she is more than ready to make the most of her exchange year here in the US. 

Rafa is a student from Spain, where he lives with his parents, and younger sister. He describes himself as a cheerful, fun-loving, and sociable individual who is also respectful. With a naturally curious and slightly dreamy disposition, Rafa thrives on connecting with others, exploring new experiences, and infusing each day with positive energy. He loves animals but the only pet he has is his pet turtle, Poli. Rafa is filled with excitement at the thought of living with his American family and attending an American school. Swimming is one of his greatest passions; it brings him a sense of freedom, focus, and vitality. He hopes to join the school swimming team, as he enjoys the thrill of competition. Dance also plays a significant role in Rafa's life. He has been dancing and competing for many years. Additionally, Rafa enjoys traveling and has visited five countries in Europe. He delights in discovering different cultures, traditions, and lifestyles. “I understand that hosting an exchange student is a significant decision, and I genuinely appreciate your generosity and the opportunity you are providing.”

Doniyor is a high school student from Uzbekistan who comes from a close and supportive family. He enjoys helping at home, spending time with his sisters, and relaxing with family movie nights or evening walks. He has a wide range of interests, especially math, law, economics, and diplomacy, and hopes to study pre-law or international relations in the future. Doniyor loves staying active through sports like soccer, tennis, volleyball, swimming, and chess — and he even played on a professional youth soccer team. When he’s not studying or playing sports, Doniyor enjoys filming and editing videos, exploring his city, traveling, and hanging out with friends. He also has a fun and creative hobby: inventing meals using only eggs and potatoes (six so far!), which has earned him jokes about opening a “potato-only restaurant.” He describes himself as positive, curious, and friendly, and he enjoys making people laugh and feel comfortable. Doniyor is excited to experience American culture, improve his English, and build meaningful connections during his exchange year.

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.

Samuel is a curious, caring student from Spain who is excited to experience everyday life with a host family in the United States. Family is a big part of who he is, and he enjoys spending quality time together—especially cooking and watching movies. Samuel loves being in the kitchen and would be thrilled to share homemade Spanish dishes as a way of sharing his culture. Growing up around young children, thanks to his mother’s work in childcare, has made him patient, responsible, and comfortable helping with kids. He is also an animal lover and helps care for his family’s pet turtle. Adaptable, respectful, and open-minded, Samuel values communication and teamwork at home. He looks forward to improving his English, discovering American culture, and creating meaningful connections and memories with his host family abroad together.

Sofia is a student from Italy currently in her third year at a Humanities high school. She enjoys Italian literature and history and hopes to become an elementary school teacher in the future. She loves working with children and has spent the past three summers as a church summer camp leader for kids ages 6–10. Sofia is a curious, friendly, and open-minded student who loves discovering new places and experiences. Her greatest passion is dance—she has been dancing since age five, with experience in classical, modern, and hip-hop dance. Dance helps her feel confident and expressive, and she is interested in participating in dance or even cheerleading at her American school. In her free time, Sofia enjoys listening to music (especially rap, trap, and pop), attending concerts and theater performances, and spending time with friends. She also enjoys fashion, shopping, going to the movies, and spending time at the beach during the summer. Sofia is excited to learn about American culture and daily life while sharing Italian traditions with her host family. Her main goal for the exchange is to improve her English. She is clean, organized, responsible, and happy to help with household chores. Sofia also loves food—especially pasta and pizza—and enjoys cooking with her family and trying new foods. She is very excited to come to the United States and become part of her American host family.

Meet Naila from France!! Naila wants the life adventure of learning American culture and being independent in a new place to discover new people and traditions. Naila is a lover of family time, cooking with family, playing board games and spending quality time is important to her. She loves watching football with her brother and although she isn’t a passionate hiker like her mom, she will go and do it just to spend time with her mom. This shows that Naila is open to trying things for that good old-fashioned family time. Naila is an animal lover as she has 3 cats, she is not a fan of spiders and insects, but she respects them. Naila loves break dancing and ice skating. She has a desire to dance and learn more about dancing. Friends are important to her, and she is excited to make new friends in a new place. French music is a daily listen for Naila, and she is wanting to learn more about American music genres too. Besides her love for winter sports, she is very into fashion. Naila has a strong goal to be a surgeon in her adult life or a radiologist. Combined with her love of biology she wants to help people in need. Let’s open our home to Naila!!!

Marcos is a cheerful happy person that loves to make others laugh. He is from a small town in Spain and is the youngest with three siblings. All of Marco’s siblings were also exchange students to the United States. He is a mature and well-mannered young man that loves to be outside and has a black belt in martial arts. Marcos loves to cook and play the piano. He is now learning to play the trombone. Marcos likes helping others and sports such as golf and flag football. He balances his love of activity with his love of music and relaxes to recharge his batteries. He is excited about improving his English in America and living with a family that is engaged and has a close relationship. Marcos loves time with others and is looking for a loving family in the United States.

Maeva is an academically strong student who loves ballet and her close-knit family.  She lives in France and has older and younger siblings who she adores.  Her town is known for football, so it is an important part of her community.  She enjoys fashion, dance, and being with her animals. Maeva always rises to challenges and is excited to spend a year in the U.S. to experience American culture and traditions like Thanksgiving and Halloween while improving her English skills. 

Meet the wonderful Imke!! She is from a smaller town in the Netherlands and is looking forward to this fantastic adventure. Imke is social and talkative, she loves trying most new things like food and sports. She is from a large family of 5, so she is used to siblings and a larger family dynamic. Imke is open to traveling and learning about many different cultures. Imke is athletic in numerous sports like Tennis and Korfball. She plays at the club level and even volunteers to help teach the younger girls at the club she plays at. She enjoys the competition sports offer and the social aspect of making friends through sports. Imke is very family oriented and loves the idea of becoming a part of her host family. Playing boardgames, helping cook or just handing out and communication through humor is important to her. She is looking forward to visiting stores in America like Target, Sephora and Walmart are just a few on her list to be able to walk through and experience the store chains we have here in America. In addition, experiencing sporting events at an American High School is very exciting for her. Imke has a lot of team spirit and wants to embrace it all!! Let’s help give Imke the perfect host family that love sports, that is outgoing and believes family is important too.