My Dearest Host Family, thank you so much for getting interested in my profile and reading this letter – hopefully you will choose me to live with your family! I will take this letter as a chance to introduce myself and share my thoughts on my stay abroad with you. My name is Sasha and I’m an active and positive teenager. I was born in Russia and live in the big, historical, exciting and advanced city for my whole life. I’m in the 9th grade of the School. I will need 2 years more after the Exchange program to get to graduation and enter the University. At school my favorite subjects are Math, Chemistry, English, Geography and Social Science. In my free time I do a lot of sport – I play soccer – and I also enjoy doing all kind of activities with my family and friends. I like going for walks, listen to the music, playing bowling, tennis, pool, and sometimes when the weather is bad– enjoy PlayStation games with my friends. I like travelling a lot and we sometimes go for short trips in the country or longer ones abroad. It could be beach holiday, mountain skiing, boat or discovery trips – our family enjoys that all! At weekends, we often go to the country house – it is 100 km to the west of Moscow in the nice area of Ruza town – real nature escape for all of us. There is a garden, there are lakes and forest nearby and great company of neighbors and friends. I have a younger sister – Lisa, 8 y.o., she arrived when I was almost 7, so I know how to deal with younger kids (and even the babies!) as I often help my parents to take her to school, to pick her from dancing classes or to simply stay with her at home when parents are away. She is great and super cute, of course could be a headache)) but I love her and she also takes care of me. My typical week looks like as follows: my sister and I get up at 7.30, have quick breakfast and leave for school at 8.20. When the weather allows I go by scooter, otherwise – by bus. Sometimes, I first take my sister to her school, then go myself. There are normally 7-8 lessons and I finish at 3 pm, have a couple of hours for the homework (do it mainly at school) and a little walk with my friends and then go to my soccer training. I am back home at 8 pm. We always have a joint meal together with the family – this is our precious time to exchange and share the news and updates. Although my schedule looks busy – I do enjoy that all and I believe you could always find time for fun, activities, family and friends…and not to forget the school and school results! I think I am very lucky with my parents – my home is a safe and pleasant environment. Conflicts are unavoidable in any family but we know how to deal with that and can always talk this through and find the way forward, ideally same day. My mum works as a General Manager in German pharmaceutical company, she has a very tough schedule. My dad is a doctor by education, he teaches Physiology in the medical university. Apart from keeping my room clean and doing my laundry I have no fixed responsibilities but could help with cutting the lawn, loading/unloading the dishwasher, vacuum-cleaning the cars or doing supermarket if my parents ask me. If to describe my personality – my friends say I am easy-going, open and adventurous, prefer having fun to having fights. I could be stubborn but could also laugh at that after. You can count on me – If I promise I try my best to deliver. My both parents are originally from Siberia – so I am tough in tolerating different weather/living conditions😊 Since a couple of years, I have been thinking about the exchange program in the USA. The idea was brought by my mum who was having an internship experience after the University and have friends whose kids participated in such a program. So, I became first curious and then very excited and enthusiastic about such an opportunity! I believe I will have unforgettable memories with you and new friends in America. And you, my dear host family, will get new friends in Russia! Thanks a million for considering hosting me as your exchange student - I’m really looking very much forward to get to know you soon and I am so excited to become a part of your family. Warmest Regards, Sasha