Meet Our Students

Emie is from a small French beach town and loves to meet new people and explore new cultures. She loves running, swimming, drawing, and enjoying time with family. Emie is the oldest sibling and has one younger brother. She also likes dogs and especially cats. Emie speaks English and French and wants to become more bilingual by living with an American family. She is a sunny, happy person that loves to help others and is excited about experiencing the American dream.

Rafa (16) is 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.”

Álvaro (16) resides in a quaint city in northern Spain, rich with over 2,000 years of history. He considers himself an open-minded and curious individual, always eager to learn. Álvaro and his family have adopted a beautiful mixed-breed puppy they rescued from a shelter. For the past two years, he has volunteered at the same shelter, walking abandoned dogs. In his free time, Álvaro enjoys working out at the gym and is a devoted soccer fan. He is excited to learn about American sports, particularly the NBA. Another significant passion of his is skiing; he has been skiing for several years and has recently begun exploring off-piste trails (not permitted on program). “I love the feeling of freedom and personal challenge as I go down the mountain. Overall, I truly enjoy outdoor sports, especially in winter.” Additionally, Álvaro participates in tennis and karate competitions, both of which he has been involved in for several years. “I love the speed and strategy of tennis, and karate has taught me discipline, respect, and how to remain calm.” History is his favorite subject. Álvaro is determined to make the most of his experiences, enhance his English skills, discover new perspectives, and create unforgettable memories!

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 Emma, 15, from France.  She writes, “I want to live the everyday life of an American teenager….I want to understand the culture, traditions, and way of life of an American family…it is a dream to be part of a family abroad, to share moments with them, to celebrate holidays together, and to learn from each other.” She describes herself as coming from a very close-knit family which includes her parents, her little sister and her beloved dog, Urion. Her parents own their own bakery, and she is eager to help them where she can.  She envisions herself helping her host family in their home as well and baking French pastries with them as a way of sharing her traditions. She is also looking forward to learning her host’s traditions and thinks the best way to learn about another culture is to live with a host family.  Her hobbies include jazz dance, afro dance, swimming and reading.  Besides caring for her dog, Emma also has experience caring for and riding horses. Please consider opening your home to Emma, she is looking forward to making this a year a year of friendship and sharing with her host family as well as personal growth and increased confidence!

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.

Alberto is a 16-year-old 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 Tihalina,16, 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 Ludovica, everyone calls her Ludo! She is 16 and lives in a popular tourist town in Italy. Ludo has one older sister who was also an exchange student. So, she had the great stories and memories from her sister and wants to create her own adventure and memories with an amazing host family here in the USA. Ludo is an athlete and has been playing volleyball since she was six years old. Her passion for the sport allows her to challenge herself and strive to do better. Ludo ski's each winter in Italy, has played tennis and done gymnastic in the past. It is clear that Ludo has such a creative imagination, especially with her drawings and her paintings. She has found that drawing clears her mind and opens up imaginary thinking. Ludo is a family orientated person, whether it be playing board games with everyone, completing puzzles, or winding down to watch with family a good old fashion horror movie. Ludo loves participating in volunteer opportunities. She understands kids and loves being able to create fun activities for them. Ludo has a soft heart for animals, she loves cats, dogs and even helps take care of horses. Becoming a doctor to save lives is her lifelong goal. She has a plan and wants to excel at it to be successful in the future. Ludo loves just being a funny and excited teenage girl. It is important to Ludo that she gets to be a part of her host family daily life. Whether it be hanging out at home playing Uno, helping cook or participating in any family outings. Ludo is very open minded with wanting to learn new cultures all while making new friends. Be a part of Ludo's future memories!

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.