Meet Our Students

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.

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.

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 Luana who is from an Italian city bursting with history and postcard-perfect scenes. Italian born and Peruvian at heart, she shares her lively home with her mom, stepdad, two sisters, her rabbit, and a hamster named Taco. Luana describes herself as active, cheerful, curious and positive, a bit shy at first, then she becomes very sociable. She is a very responsible and reliable person. Luana loves hanging out with friends but also treasures her quiet moments. She enjoys going to the gym and having a healthy lifestyle. She has played volleyball for 2 years, she enjoys being part of a team. Her downtime she enjoys being with friends, music with happy vibes, and quality family time. She enjoys cooking especially desserts and lasagna is her favorite, and she also looks forward to making Peruvian dishes. At school, Law is her favorite subject. She keeps her room tidy “because I like living in an organized space and I work hard to do this every day”. She's got it all figured out—or at least seems like she does!

Andy is a warm, respectful student from Taiwan whose curiosity and determination shine in everything he does. Raised by educator parents, he’s thoughtful, well‑mannered, and eager to pitch in—whether that’s helping with chores or cooking Taiwanese favorites like egg pancakes and fried rice. A passionate biology student, he’s dedicated to hands‑on learning, from science fairs to field dissections, and dreams of becoming an ophthalmologist. Andy is also a competitive speedcuber, a half‑marathon runner, and a surprisingly talented hand‑flute player who loves making people smile. With his kindness, grit, and genuine desire to be part of family life, he’s the kind of student who fits right into a Southern home. Don’t miss the chance to welcome him before someone else does.

"Javi" is from Spain and describes himself as fun-loving and always smiling.  He is extremely family-oriented and has 3 older siblings.  He loves swimming, golf and tennis, but soccer is his "passion".   He loves sports and family and every summer his family and cousins, go to a lake house to play sports and enjoy the beach. Javi would love to have a career as a lawyer and play professional soccer.

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. 

She’s a dynamic 16-year-old (17 when she arrives) from Italy with a passion for athletics, art, and cultural discovery. A competitive hammer and discus thrower for over a decade, she’s also a dedicated art student who loves painting, drawing, and exploring new techniques. Her hobbies include cooking, caring for animals, watching films and TV series, and learning about music and languages from around the world. She dreams of studying in an American high school to challenge herself, grow independently, and connect deeply with a new culture. Host her—and help her turn curiosity into connection, and talent into transformation.

More to follow...

Meet Maria, a cheerful, curious, and outgoing student from Italy who loves connecting with people and embracing new adventures. She has been part of scouts since childhood, where she discovered her love for camping, hiking, and learning practical skills like building a fire safely. Her passion for animals' shines through her dedication to horse riding—she finds peace in grooming and caring for horses and dreams of one day owning her own. Creative at heart, Maria enjoys drawing, a hobby inspired by her brother, and she often fills her free time with music from artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter. She also has a Siberian cat named Jimmy and has cared for many pets over the years, reflecting her nurturing spirit. In the summer, she volunteers as a child entertainer, bringing joy and laughter to kids, which shows her patience and kindness. Maria studies languages at school, adding Spanish and German to her English, and hopes her exchange year will help her discover her future path—perhaps as a veterinarian, combining her love for animals with helping others. She is the youngest of three children, all living at home, and treasures the lively, supportive atmosphere of her family. She admires her mom’s dedication as a teacher and runner, her dad’s love for music and reading, and her siblings’ unique passions. Maria is ready to embrace new routines, share her talents, and bring warmth and energy into her host family’s home. Don’t miss the chance to welcome her—you’ll gain not just a student, but a lifelong friend and unforgettable memories!