Dear Host Family, I hope you are doing well as you take time to read this letter. My name is Lennard, and I´m looking forward to having the opportunity to live with you and experience the American way of life. Thank you for that! I want to share a little about myself so that you can get to know me better before we meet. One of my greatest passions is basketball. For me it´s more than just a sport, it is a challenge to myself to improve every day. I spend most of my time practicing etc. and I would love to continue playing basketball while I´m in America. Because I´ve heard so much about how strong the basketball culture is in the U.S, I would like to experience it myself and be a part of it. Beyond just the basketball culture, I want to get a feeling for the US culture and take in as much as I possibly can while I´m there. When I´m at home, I spend most of my time on my hobbies, and I´m seeing my best friend quite often because he´s part of my city’s basketball team. But we also try to meet outside of practice like once or twice a month. I also like to do activities with my brother like hitting the gym together or playing a round of NBA2k. My mom is the most important person in my life because we talk about literally anything and support each other. I´m a huge family guy so spending time with other family members is important to me. The people I know who that have already done a year abroad told me that it was the best experience of their life. This was one big factor which made me interested in this program. I´m excited to make memories that will last a lifetime and see life from a completely different perspective. I also think that just is a really good way to learn how to stand on your own feet and grow up. My family situation is unique. My parents are separated, but I make sure to spend time with my dad, even though he lives three hours away. My mom works as an HR specialist and can work from home four days a week. She also manages our household, which can be a lot of work since she’s raising my brother and me on her own, and we live in a house. Despite her responsibilities, she still finds time for her hobbies, like dancing and Zumba, and she picks me up from basketball practice every day even though it can be very late. My dad works as a manager of facility planning for Europe. His job keeps him very busy—he has long hours and commutes two hours every day. When he’s not working, he spends his time with his wife and my half-sister, Lea, who is three years old. I have a great connection with Lea, even though I don’t get to see her very often. I also have a brother who is three years younger than me. He’s like a friend to me because he always understands me, and we experience so many things together. Sometimes we argue a bit but that is part of being siblings and slowly it gets better. He’s someone I can always count on, and I’m grateful for the bond we share. Overall, I believe I am a determined and focused person who always strives to be better. I’m an open and curious individual who loves meeting new people, exploring new perspectives, and trying new things. I’m also someone who enjoys being active and doing activities rather than spending the whole day doing nothing. I’m looking forward to becoming part of your family, learning about American culture, and creating unforgettable memories. Thank you so much for welcoming me into your home. I can’t wait to meet you all soon! Sincerely, Lennard