Dear Host Families,

My name is Laia Morente Alcober, and I am 14 years old. I’m from a village near Barcelona, Spain. Currently, I am studying in 9th grade in Barcelona, and I will be entering 10th grade in the United States. In my family, we are four children, and we must help our parents a lot. I have two sisters, aged 9 and 18, and a 20-year-old brother. We get along really well and love spending time together. For example, I enjoy cooking and reading with my mom every weekend. I discuss science with my older sister and teach my youngest sister how to play the guitar. My dad always takes me to my music and taekwondo classes. My brother Pau and my sister Júlia participated in the same exchange program, and they had wonderful experiences that greatly encouraged me.

I consider myself a responsible, independent, mature, and intelligent person. I am also very helpful and polite, although I can be quite demanding of myself at times. I really like to try new things and travel. I adapt very well to new situations and environments. I’m open-minded and flexible, which helps me adjust quickly, whether it’s in a new school, a different culture, or meeting new people. I enjoy embracing new experiences and challenges. My daily routine includes attending high school, where I take many classes, but my favorites are biology, mathematics, and physics. After school, I have dinner and then attend my extracurricular activities. I practice taekwondo, study music theory, play the guitar, and sing in a choir, as I absolutely love music. In my free time, I enjoy reading a lot, particularly fantasy and romance books. I also love animals—I have four turtles and many fish. When I was younger, I had four cats, and one of them stayed with me until I was 12 years old.

Here in Catalonia we have mountains and beaches. I enjoy hiking in the mountains, skiing in winter, and spending time at the beach. I appreciate all types of climates, and I am sure I will love my new destination!

Through this exchange program, I hope to improve my English while experiencing American culture. This is important for my future career. I want to gain cultural insights by interacting with people from diverse backgrounds and achieve personal growth through new challenges.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I would love to share my new experiences with you!