Dear future host family,

First of all, I would like to thank you for considering choosing me as your future exchange student. I would be very happy to become part of your family for about five months and experience your daily life. Of course, I don’t know anything about you yet, but I am very excited to get to know you soon. Until then, I would like to tell you a little bit about myself, my family, my hobbies, and the reasons why I chose the USA.

My name is Lara, I am 15 years old, and I live in a village near Zurich, Switzerland. Switzerland is famous for its mountains, cheese, and of course, chocolate – maybe you have already tried some? I live here with my parents, my older brother (17), and our two dwarf rabbits, Timi and Nina. My family means a lot to me; we have a close bond, laugh a lot together, and do as many activities as possible. We love traveling and have already visited several countries – the USA impressed me the most. On weekends, we often go on trips, and in the evenings, we like to watch movies or major sports events (such as soccer tournaments, hockey and tennis matches, or ski races) and play board games together. I enjoy going shopping with my mom and helping her with baking – I always get to taste the dough. I often go to soccer games of our favorite team with my dad and brother, and my dad and I like to have discussions about soccer.

At home, my brother and I take care of small tasks around the house. We clean our rooms, set the table, and take care of the dishwasher. Once a week, we clean our rabbits’ enclosure, feed them every day, and give them fresh hay and straw. Our rabbits live in an outdoor pen in the garden, where they have plenty of space to hop around.

I love sports, especially soccer. I have been playing in a club since kindergarten. Soccer is my biggest passion – both playing and watching. I enjoy watching games on TV, but I love being in the stadium even more, experiencing the atmosphere and excitement firsthand. I also enjoy reading, meeting up with my friends, going to the mall, to the cinema, or out to eat. My favorite foods are pizza, pasta, fajitas, and nachos – in general, I love Italian and Mexican cuisine. In winter, I go skiing, sometimes snowboarding, and in summer, I love spending time in and on the water (stand-up paddling). I used to play the piano, but unfortunately, I had to stop recently because I didn’t have enough time to practice because of school.

I always treat the people around me (family, friends, teachers) with respect and would describe myself as friendly, honest, helpful, and adaptable. My friends say that I am funny, reliable, and a good listener. At first, I can be a bit shy around new people, but I hope this exchange semester will help me change that.

One of the highlights of the year for me is Christmas. On Christmas Eve, the whole family, including my aunt, uncle, and cousins, comes together. We always have a special meal and enjoy spending time with each other. On Christmas Day, we have another family tradition: the four of us watch Home Alone and Home Alone 2 together – of course, with a big bowl of popcorn.

I am excited to become part of your family, experience the famous ‘school spirit’ at an American high school, and take part in American traditions such as Halloween or Thanksgiving.

This exchange semester is a unique opportunity for me to make my dream come true: living in the USA, making new friends, experiencing a new culture, and hopefully creating many wonderful memories. I am sure that during this time, I will not only improve my English but also gain many valuable experiences.

I can’t wait to meet you!