Meet Our Students

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!

Tim describes himself as inquisitive, respectful, and vibrant young individual, always eager to explore new horizons and wholeheartedly engages in every endeavor he undertakes. Tim loves sports, particularly gym workouts/ weight training, running, and swimming. Additionally, he was a member of a JunoMichi sports club, a variant of judo, for 8 years. His artistic side: he loves drawing/art, creative projects and enjoys cooking. Family is very important to Tim. He also has a love for nature and relishes spending time outdoors. During a school internship last year, he had the incredible opportunity to spend a month in Mozambique. “Living away from my usual environment taught me to take initiative, manage my daily life, and adapt to new situations.” He is genuinely excited about discovering the American school system. “My goal is to cultivate genuine bonds with you, sharing laughter, stories, and unforgettable moments while fully integrating into your family.”

Meet Candela “Cande” from Spain! She describes herself as a as a caring, responsible, organized, funny and well-educated teenager. She comes from a close knit immediate and extended family. Her hobbies include padel (a sport similar to pickle ball) volleyball, skiing, dancing, reading, playing boardgames and watching movies. Cande recently started attending an international school where she is surrounded by classmates from all different cultures. She stated that she “fell in love with” the US when she visited with her family in order to pick her sister up from camp. She looks forward to learning about our culture, our educational system and participating in new activities through her school and host family. Cande writes, “I think I can bring a positive and caring attitude to your family….I would be very grateful to share my culture and traditions as well as learn from yours.”

Bella is a kind and energetic student who is excited about the opportunity to become part of an American family. She comes from a close-knit home where sharing meals, conversations, and everyday moments together are an important part of life. Bella has spent many years training in rhythmic gymnastics, a sport that has taught her discipline, perseverance, and strong time-management skills. She also enjoys dance and staying active, and loves the teamwork and excitement that comes with sports. Bella values kindness, respect, and communication, and she looks forward to experiencing American school life, joining activities, and learning about new family traditions. She is also excited to share her culture and create meaningful memories with her host family. Bella says, “I hope to become a real part of your family and share many happy everyday moments together.”

Maelis is a student from Italy who brings warmth, positivity, and a strong sense of family into everything she does. She grew up in a loving, supportive family and truly values connection, kindness, and creating meaningful relationships. Maelis is active and enjoys beach volleyball, hiking, and being outdoors, but she also appreciates simple moments like cooking, walking, and spending time together at home. She attends a language-focused high school where she studies English, French, and Spanish, and she is fluent in French thanks to her multicultural background; she also won an Italian government scholarship. Maelis loves cooking traditional Italian meals and would be excited to share her culture with her host family. She is affectionate, responsible, and a great listener, with experience caring for younger children. Independent and adaptable, Maelis is excited to experience American life, become part of a host family, and create lasting memories together.

To learn more about me, please see my Dear Host Family Letter!

Introducing Emma from France, who is bursting with excitement for her upcoming year in America—an opportunity she has eagerly waited for many years. Emma lives in France with her parents, younger brother, and their beloved cat, Nala. She describes herself as a “cheerful and open-minded person who delights in both the small everyday joys and the thrill of new adventures”. She sees herself as “funny, kind, honest, and sensitive.” Emma loves to travel. She is a huge fan of Star Wars, and a memorable moment was when her parents reenacted the iconic scene between Anakin and Padmé in Italy, creating unforgettable memories. In addition to her adventurous spirit, Emma enjoys baking treats like cookies, cakes, and desserts. She has a creative side, engaging in various handcraft activities, and she is passionate about music and playing the piano. In terms of sports, she enjoys snow skiing and basketball. She is eagerly anticipating her time in American schools, looking forward to joining clubs, sports teams, and other activities.

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!!!

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!

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.