Dear Host Family, My name is Louise, and I am very excited about the opportunity to spend a school year with you in the United States. We are a family of five plus one very independent cat, living together in a small town in France. I have a little sister and a little brother. I cannot imagine living without them, even though we sometimes argue. My parents both work; my father is a notary, and my mother is a project manager in the health sector. My family is quite active and dynamic. We love to go out on weekends, meet friends. Family is very important to us, and all my family members are quite outgoing. They say I am a bit more shy than them, but once I get to know people well, I am no longer shy! The rest of my family lives all over France, but we manage to see them several times a year. I get along very well with my cousins, who are a bit older than me. We meet every year at Christmas and spend a week together during summer at our family house, enjoying together various maritime activities. I enjoy sharing activities with my family, but it is also important for me to spend time with my friends. My friends are also very important to me. I love spending time with them. We have been a group of friends since middle school, and we organize activities together. Living in a small town, we don’t have many options for going out, but sometimes we take the train to the big city about thirty minutes away. Most of the time, we spend time at each other’s houses, having sleepovers. In my daily life, I am quite independent. I go to and from school by myself using the school bus. My school day starts at 8:15 AM, and it takes about 30 minutes by bus to get there. I usually finish school around 5 PM. After school, I either go home to do my homework or go directly to my handball training. I train twice a week and participate in the club’s activities. When we can, we have a tradition of sharing dinner together every evening enjoying a healthy meal. On weekends, I often have a handball match. I also make sure to keep time for my schoolwork. I like to read and study in the quiet of my room. I am quite serious and responsible about my studies and aim to do well in my exams because I want to become a doctor, so I need good grades. My majors are mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology. I also love skiing and have been skiing for over 10 years. Living not so far from the mountains, I go skiing when we don’t have handball game with my family and friends. I really enjoy being outside in the mountains while skiing! Besides sports and spending time with my family and friends, I love discovering new places and new things. We have been fortunate to travel to many countries in Europe with my family. My parents have always shown me the importance of other cultures. I think this has made me always interested in different ways of living. I have done exchange in German families several times and I really enjoyed discovering a new way of life, such as their school system and daily habits. Even though each adventure is a bit stressful because it is full of unknown, I know it is always a positive experience! I have had this project of spending a year in the USA in mind since I started middle school. It motivated me to learn English! I can’t wait to discover some American traditions such as Halloween or thanksgiving, to participate to high school life, and watch sport at school… This experience will allow me to learn more about myself and grow. This year with a host family will give me the chance to open up to new horizons and will help me to have different perspective on life, which will be an important part of my development as a young adult. I am very motivated to become a part of your family and to fully integrate into your daily life. I am excited to share in your activities, traditions, and routines. I believe that living with you will be a wonderful chance to learn about your culture and to experience life in the United States. I am excited to participate in family activities, whether it’s helping with household chores, joining in on family outings, or celebrating holidays together. I want to be more than just a guest in your home; I want to be a true member of your family. I am looking forward to building good relationships with each of you and creating lasting memories. I am open to learning and adapting to your way of life, and I hope I can also be a good representant of the French culture! I would like also to share some of my own culture and traditions with you as well such as French meal or French activities! Thank you for welcoming me into your home. I am looking forward to meeting you and experiencing this adventure together. Louise