Meet Our Students

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.”

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.

Meet Julia who brings a unique perspective to the program as a German student from a Polish background.  In school she speaks German, at home she speaks Polish.  She is proud of her Polish heritage, and her family celebrates many Polish traditions.  She would love to cook traditional Polish foods with her future host family including pierogies and chicken soup. Julia describes a very close-knit family life in which she enjoys shopping with her mom and helping with the housework. She is also very close with her dad and her older brother as well, even though he is now an adult living on his own. She is also a proud dog sister who loves and cares for her furry family member, Daisy.   Her goals for herself in this program revolve around becoming part of her host family, joining their life and being part of their everyday activities. She also talks about wanting to use this experience to grow as a person, “I believe this experience will help me grow as a person, understand myself better and become more independent and braver.” She loves experiencing other cultures and would one day like to work in tourism or for an international company.  Julia’s hobbies include swimming, she loves the water, going to the gym, cooking, watching movies and spending time with friends in nature.

Gaia is from a small town in Italy. She is a happy confident student with an older brother and parents that are very close. She loves to dance and trains twice a week and practices in her room to stay fit and healthy. She loves being close to the sea and spends meals with her family daily. This is a huge part of her culture, and she would love to share it with a new host family. Gaia loves to cook and would love to make Italian dishes for her new American family. She is excited to learn about a new culture and wants to improve her English. Gaia hopes to be a part of a close-knit family in the U.S.

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.

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 Arthur who has a big desire to continue learning English and the American culture is very important to him. Arthur is a true thinker of the world. He seeks the experience of culture and being a part of the American Schools is exciting to him. He wants to immerse himself in American traditions and all our Holidays. If you celebrate holidays, he is a perfect fit for your family traditions. Arthur, being very open-minded, will embrace all of his time in America. Arthur is athletic and enjoys sport competitions. He has been swimming for a long time. He loves bike riding and hiking or just walking around to see different environments from fields to forest. He feels very connected with the mountains and the beauty of the mountains. His adventurous side takes him to the wild rides of roller coasters, he loves them! He has a great bond with his family and can talk to his mom about anything and enjoys watching and learning sports with his dad. Let’s make Arthur’s wish come true to come to America!

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.”

Meet Lori, from central Japan. She is so excited to visit the United States as this will be her very first time abroad! She loves playing soft tennis, making sweets, cooking Japanese food like shogayaki (ginger pork), talking about music with friends, and going for relaxing walks. During her stay, she can’t wait to experience everyday American life and share Japanese culture (and treats!) with her host family. One day, she hopes to become a Japanese teacher. She is truly looking forward to meeting you!

Loïs is an energetic and motivated student with a strong passion for athletics, especially race walking and running, which he practices regularly. He loves the atmosphere of training and competitions and enjoys pushing himself to improve. Formula 1 is another important interest, and he often watches races with his family and friends. Sports are a big part of his daily life and something he shares with his younger brother and sister. Loïs comes from a close and supportive family and enjoys spending time together, whether traveling, cooking, or playing games. Curious and open-minded, he is excited to become an exchange student in the USA to discover a new culture, try American sports, and improve his English. These experiences are important to him as he works toward his future goal of becoming a pilot.