Dear Host Family, First of all, thank you for your hospitality! My name is C., and I am an Italian girl. I love music, cinema, reading, traveling around the world, and discovering new things. I have visited many European countries with my family, and my last trip was to the United States, specifically to New York. I consider myself an outgoing person once I get comfortable, although I might seem a bit shy at first. I love being surrounded by people because it makes me forget all my worries and fills me with happiness. I play volleyball and am the captain of my team, which is something I’m very proud of. Being a captain means sharing your strength with others, and while it’s not always easy, it’s incredibly rewarding. I love the feeling of being on the court, hearing my teammates’ motivational shouts, and truly feeling like part of a team. Reading is another one of my passions—I especially enjoy fantasy and adventure books, but I also love classics and novels. When I read, I feel an incredible sense of peace, as if I’m living the story myself. I am very empathetic, sometimes sensitive, and highly motivated to achieve my dreams and goals. I believe I am mature, fun, full of life, and capable of making people laugh. I dream of living a life full of adventures and creating many memories to share with my future children. My family is quite traditional—I have a mom, a dad, and a twin brother with whom I’ve shared my life since birth. Because of our busy schedules, we don’t always spend much time together, but we make sure to enjoy our weekends as a family. I have many cousins all over Italy, but my favorites are the ones who live in my city and are my age—we have a great relationship and often hang out together. I attend a scientific high school, which focuses on subjects like mathematics, chemistry, science, and physics. However, I also study humanities, including Italian literature, English, Latin, history, and philosophy. My favorite subjects are mathematics and philosophy, though I enjoy most of the others—except for Latin! Unfortunately, I’m not in the same class as my best friends, but I see them every day during breaks, in the afternoons for extracurricular activities, and on weekends or during holidays. I study hard to get good grades, but I also take part in many activities throughout the day. I play volleyball twice a week, participate in church activities such as catechism, volunteering, and mentoring elementary school children, and I also work as a babysitter for a ten-year-old boy. In addition, I am involved in several school projects, including the school newspaper, student volunteering, sports, and student associations that organize events like ski trips, volleyball tournaments, school-branded apparel, and discussions on current affairs. Whenever I have free time, I love hanging out with my friends or spending time with my family. Since I was a child, I have had two big dreams: one is to become an actress, as I am fascinated by the idea of stepping into different roles, experiencing different emotions, and telling stories. My other dream is to become a pilot and fly through the clouds. I have wanted to go to the U.S. for this experience ever since I was little. At first, it was because I watched American movies and TV shows and imagined myself living in that world. Now, I am drawn to the culture and the differences between your country and mine—they fascinate me, and I would love to experience them firsthand. I hope to be fully included in the daily life of my host family, whether it’s running errands together or simply sharing meals. I would love to have host siblings to share this incredible experience with, to help me understand their lives and culture. I love the sun, warm weather, and its proximity to the ocean. I have always wanted to try surfing (though I hear the ocean can be quite cold!), and I have always loved the energy and atmosphere of the sea. I hope to learn a lot from you and from your country, and I also hope you will learn something from me and my culture. Looking forward to meeting you! Best regards, C.F.