Meet Our Students

Félicien is a motivated and sociable student who grew up in Belgium and now lives in France near the Swiss and German borders, giving him a strong appreciation for different cultures. A passionate basketball player for 14 years, he also referees games and coaches younger players, which has helped him develop leadership, patience, and responsibility. Félicien enjoys staying active, spending time with friends and family, and trying new experiences, including water skiing in the summer. Excited to experience American culture, he looks forward to becoming part of a host family while sharing his European background and love of sports.

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.” 

“Living with a host family is something I eagerly anticipate, as I believe it will deepen my understanding of American culture and daily life in a meaningful way.” Ethan, a scholarship student from Taiwan, is excited to spend his study abroad year in the U.S. and to become a part of your family. He looks forward to the diversity of America. English is one of his favorite subjects, and he hopes to improve his language skills while in America. He is active at school, participating in the drawing club and being a member in the high school band. His favorite instrument to play is the guitar. He has a passion for drawing and art, as well as outdoor activities. He enjoys badminton with his friends. Ethan is working on his swimming skills and enjoys being near water. While he doesn't have any pets at home, he loves animals. Perhaps a trip to the zoo and an aquarium awaits Ethan! “I will do my best to be respectful, helpful, and a positive member of your family during my stay.”

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!

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.

Daphne is an exchange student from Taiwan who brings curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm to every opportunity. Raised in a family that deeply values education, she has developed a strong appreciation for learning, cultural exchange, and personal growth. Inspired by her father’s artistic perspective, Daphne finds joy in noticing life’s small details and sharing meaningful moments with others. Music plays an important role in her life. She has participated in choir and a cappella groups, studied piano, and is currently learning guitar. Daphne enjoys connecting with others through conversation, books, and shared interests. She is eager to experience the American education system, explore subjects such as business, writing, and drama, and immerse herself in new traditions while proudly sharing Taiwanese culture — especially the joy and celebration of Lunar New Year. Energetic and ambitious, Daphne looks forward to growing academically and personally while building lasting connections during her exchange year.

Marcos is a cheerful happy person that loves to make others laugh. He is from a small town in Spain and is the youngest with three siblings. All of Marco’s siblings were also exchange students to the United States. He is a mature and well-mannered young man that loves to be outside and has a black belt in martial arts. Marcos loves to cook and play the piano. He is now learning to play the trombone. Marcos likes helping others and sports such as golf and flag football. He balances his love of activity with his love of music and relaxes to recharge his batteries. He is excited about improving his English in America and living with a family that is engaged and has a close relationship. Marcos loves time with others and is looking for a loving family in the United States.

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!

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.

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.