Meet Our Students

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.

My name is Rose-like the flower and the French word for the color pink by the way! I have two older siblings, a brother and a sister, and we are very close and supportive of each other. I have also been very close to my parents as well, spending time with my family is really important. I even traveled with my dad for work to San Francisco! We were able to pack many things into just a few days! I would say that I am kind-hearted and a good listener for everyone who needs it. It's really important that my friends, family members, or even strangers feel comfortable confiding in me. I am a BIG fan of jokes, I like telling them but I like laughing at other people's jokes even more--and even if they are not that funny! I have always liked experiencing new things, so that's why I have tried many sports: I practiced roller skating, gymnastics, and horse riding. My ultimate passion will always be dancing, because it allows me to relax and also to express some feelings that can't be explained with words. I am truly so curious and I would love to try new sports in America. This experience will make me grow up, it will allow me to figure out what I need and what I really want to do after this exchange. It would also help me to become more independent, and I can't wait to celebrate typical American holidays like Thanksgiving; maybe if I have the possibility I would LOVE to go to homecoming or prom and to see football games. I have no doubt that I will meet amazing people during this unique experience that will forever be part of my life.

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!

Meet Ilya a respectable motivated young man eager to be part of a family and another culture. He lives with his mother and brother and tries to maintain a positive and respectful environment at home. He understands the importance of household responsibilities and chores. His cooking skills are still improving so he can share some delicious meals with you. Ilya enjoys sports to stay healthy but enjoys playing competitive video games because he loves the challenge. Ilan has always been interested in languages. It's not just the grammar and vocabulary but traditions, people, and ways of life. That is why he wants to immerse himself in a new culture. He is ready to join in family activities, respect house rules and be part of the family!

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. 

Who needs someone to get up early to watch F1 races with them? We have your girl! Meet Nora from Estonia. She lives with her mom, dad, older brother, and turtle. She is a big fan of F1 but also horses! She rides competitively with two horses, a moody, tricky one and a sweet young one. She would love to be a professional international competitive horse rider some day! Or she would like to work in F1. Another passion of Nora’s is pancakes. Her dad was a chef, and she loves making pancakes for her family along with other things. Nora’s favorite subjects are English and Biology, but she also likes physics. Nora’s favorite word in English is sweetheart, and she truly is a sweetheart. Apply to host Nora today!

Martina (Marti) is a sunny, animal-loving student from Italy who’s passionate about understanding people and their behavior. She studies human sciences, rides horses competitively, and enjoys skiing, gymnastics, and cooking homemade pizza with her Dad. When she was 10, she spoke with a girl who had just returned from an exchange year in the U.S.—and from that moment, it became her dream to do the same. Now, she’s excited to finally make it happen! Marti looks forward to learning about American culture, making new friends, and growing through this experience. She hopes to be part of a warm, welcoming family and can’t wait to share laughter, traditions, and everyday life together. If you're looking for a joyful, curious, and caring student to share your home and heart with—Marti is ready to become part of your family.

Meet Lina, a semester student from Germany. Lina is close with her mother, father, adult sister and younger sister.  Family is very important to Lina. She has monthly dates with her mom when they make time to do things together such as laser tag or hiking. Lina also loves her dog Buddy, whom she is responsible for taking care of.  She describes herself as an independent, open-minded person who likes challenging herself and stepping outside of her comfort zone.  She considers herself a perfectionist when it comes to her grades and personal goals. She spends her free time with a large friend group; however, she has a best friend who is very important to her. She loves cooking. She enjoys watching movies and her favorite genres are romance and horror.   Lina plays tennis and does yoga. She plays the piano and going to concerts. Lina writes, “Thank you very much for considering hosting me and for opening your home to an exchange student. I would be very grateful to become part of your family and share this special experience together.” 

Meet Marly from Germany! She is always ready and prepared for her next adventure in life. Marly loves to find humor in situations and honesty is important to her. She is athletic and currently rides horses. She has been riding since she was very young. She used to own a horse and knows how to take care of them. When she is not riding horses, she plays tennis or at the gym working out. Marly just like her mom, loves kids. She babysits in her free time, hangs out with friends, and she loves going to her local soccer games. Marly has a family of 3 besides herself. Her mom, dad and older sister love to travel to other countries and learn new cultures. Both her mother and sister were exchange students in the USA. She has heard such good stories and even has met the host families of both her mom and her sister. Let’s help Marly continue the family tradition and follow her dreams.

I want to express my deep gratitude for welcoming me into your home for this exchange year in the United States. This exchange represents much more than just a stay: it is a chance to discover a new culture, open myself to new perspectives, create strong bonds, and grow personally. I live close to the ocean, which has allowed me to develop a passion for outdoor activities like surfing. I also love tennis and skiing, two sports I pursue with great enthusiasm! My sister is currently in Montreal (Canada) for her studies. We are very close and I love spending my time with her, and she hears all of my gossip! I really love animals and I have two cats: Gribiche and Axoa who take care of me every day! I am very curious and eager to learn about your culture, traditions, and way of life. I hope to share with you many moments of laughter, discovery, and friendship. I am also excited to improve my English skills and to share with you aspects of French culture, such as our cuisine, customs, and village festivals. I feel so lucky to be able to go to the United States! Thank you for giving me such an incredible opportunity, and I truly understand the value of this unique experience. It will help me grow, mature, and become more responsible. I look forward to meeting you soon and beginning this wonderful adventure!