Dear future Host Family,

Since I was little, I always loved the US, its culture, its language and everything; so when I started growing up and I saw that there were exchange programs, I started talking with my parents to see if they could let me have this opportunity. I want to have a year with a family in the US because I love the culture there, and I also think that the family that will welcome me there would also like to see my culture from Spain. I also love the language and the fact of studying there in an American High school. I think it’s going to be a very exciting year.

My name is Daniela, I’m a 15 years old girl from Madrid, Spain’s capital. I’m a very friendly girl, I love making new friends and meeting new people, and I also love helping people, as I’m very empathic.
I have one younger sister called Carla (she is 10 years old), and both of us live together with my parents: my father, Ruben, who is 42 years old, and my mother Rebeca, who is 41 years old. Both were also born in Madrid, so we are a “madrileño” family (the way is called the people from Madrid). My favorite color is blue, and my favourite foods are hamburgers, pasta and pizza, although I also love vegetables . I love sports, and I practice soccer in a soccer team in Madrid. I train two days a week and on the weekend I play a match in a female soccer league. In Madrid, there are two main soccer teams: Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid. I’m an Atletico de Madrid lover, even when Atletico win tournaments from time to time. I also like volleyball, I play it at school and in a summer camp last year, but I don’t practice it in a team. In my free time, I love reading (both in Spanish and in English), watching films, cooking, hanging out with my friends, spending time with my family and dancing (I went to a dance academy when I was 8 years old).

When I meet my friends, we usually go to a shopping center, we play soccer, we do sleepovers, or we just sit on a bench and talk.
I have two best friends, called Paula and Pablo. Paula and me are best friends since we were babies, because my mother and her mother are also best friends since they were little, so I have basically grew up with her. And Pablo is my best friend since our 1st year of High School. Right now, he is studying in Montana, as he has also done an exchange year program.

However, when I’m with my family, we usually go to the cinema, go out for dinner, play board games, go for a walk, watch movies at home… I love all plans, and I’m lucky because the weather in Madrid is great for outdoor activities, and also because I have a very big family. All my uncles get on really well, so we make lots of plans together, we always get all together in Christmas time, to welcome the new year. We are 30 people and we barely fit!.

An other thing that I love are dogs, but it’s not easy to have a pet in Madrid due to the type of houses in the city. My uncle has a small dog, called Godin. Its name is in honor to a famous Atletico de Madrid soccer player. He is a “Pomeranian dog” and he is 7 years old.

I think that my presence in my American Family will be also important, I will help on everything, I will share my culture, for example preparing a typical dish from Spain, and I think that is also important, as I don’t go only to learn, but also to share my traditions. Finally, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my letter and considering helping me with this great opportunity. I’m looking forward to knowing you.

Lots of love,

Daniela.