Dear Future Host Family, First of all, thank you so much for considering me as a potential member of your family for my exchange year. Im incredibly excited about the idea of living with you, learning about your culture, becoming a part of your daily life, and experiencing typical American traditions like Thanksgiving and celebrating holidays together with you. It's something I have always been curious about and can't wait to be a part of! To give you a better idea of who I am: I would describe myself as open-minded, courageous person, and someone who values positivity and enjoys making the most out of life. Humor is a big part of my personality, and i enjoy laughing and sharing stories with the people around me. Some say Im likely to "Overshare". At the same time, Im strong independent, and determined when it comes to my goals. While I can sometimes be a bit shy at first, I tend to warm up quickly and genuinely enjoy meeting new people and forming new connections. Im a very creative person, and my hobbies reflect that. Even though im not active in a sports club at the moment I still like to be active. I love skiing in the Winter, I have been doing and enjoying it since I was 8. Tennis, pottery, and painting are also important in my life. Any activity that allows me to create something or experience something new excites me. That being said Im always up for trying new sports or hobbies and can't wait to discover what might become my next passion during my exchange year. Although I love spending time with others and being active, I also appreciate moments to myself. Sometimes you just need to recharge, light a candle, and listen to some music - It helps me to reflect and to stay balanced. Growing up, Ive always valued respect and understanding, which my family has taught me through their actions. I come from a liberal family, and while my parents are divorced, I am lucky to have a diverse and supportive family structure. I have a half-brother, one Dutch stepsister, and two Slovakian stepbrothers so im used to a culturally diverse family environment. My father is Italien, and even though im still working on learning the language, I feel deeply connectet to my roots and love spending time with my family in Italy. One of the things i enjoy most is being outdoors during the summer. Whether its relaxing at the beach, hiking, riding my bike with friends, watching beautiful sunsets, or simply spending time outside, I feel my happiest in nature. I also really enjoy shopping trips with friends or family, cooking, and baking. I don't even remember when I first heard about exchange years, but it has fascinated me for years. From the moment I first heard about it, I knew it was something I wanted to do someday. The world is simply too big not to explore, Im so grateful that my parents made it possible for me to already have visited 13 countries, and that i have the oppertunity to absolve a exchange year. How amazing is it that i get the chance to attend a school for 10 months that's completely different from the one I have been at my whole life? This opportunity is too exciting to pass up, and i feel so so so lucky to take part in such a unique experience During my exchange year, Im looking forward to stepping out of my comfort zone and immersing myself in new experiences. I hope to grow as a person, learn new skills, and broaden my horizons while building meaningful connections with you and your community. Thank you again for opening your home and your lives to exchange students like me. I cant wait to meet you and start this exciting journey together. warm regards, Laura-Sofia