Dear Future Host Family,

I am excited to share a little about myself and my family with you, and I am thankful for you taking this time to read my application.

My name is Martina, I’m sixteen, I am from Italy and I love to travel. I live with my mum and my sister, we also have a playful dog, she is a mini schnauzer, she is four, her name is Nairobi, she loves to join in on our adventures and she brings lots of joy to our home.

My mum works in a Pharmaceutical company and I love spending time with her because we have a lot in common. My dad works for a chocolate company, and after he gets out of work, he takes yoga classes with my stepmom, who is a university professor. I go to their house one weekend every two weeks. My sister is two years older than me, we share our room and even if sometimes we argue we love each other.

My grandparents from my dad’s side spend most of their time in France, because my grandma is French, but they also have a house in Italy, near us; they always had a big influence in my life.

As for my personality, sometimes I can be a bit shy in new situations, but I try to step out of my comfort zone and, usually, after some time I become more extroverted and friendly.

I enjoy meeting new people and learning about different cultures, which I think helps me connect with others. My strengths include being open-minded and empathetic, I really value understanding different perspectives even if it’s not what I think. I can also be quite organized, which helps me manage my time and commitments effectively.

On the other side, sometimes I struggle by analyzing situations too much, which can prevent me from making quick decisions.

I’ve always wanted to live some typical American experiences that Italian schools don’t do like homecoming and prom but also football games and activities that create the school spirit, or things like having more involving classes that make learning things easier and funnier.

Travelling is one of my biggest passions, I love exploring new places, experiencing different cultures, and trying local foods. In fact during the holidays me and my family usually go visit some new places around Europe and, sometimes, we go even outside. I’ve been in places like Mauritius, England and Egypt but, my favorite ones are the time when we went to New York, during christmas of 2022, and when my mom and I came to see my sister’s graduation when she was on her exchange year in America last May.

I love going to concerts with my family and my friends, I like different kinds of music and my favorite artists at the moment are Harry Styles and Niall Horan.

I enjoy cooking and trying out new recipes, especially with my family and my friends. Additionally, I like taking photos or videos of the things that I do to keep them as memories, in fact one of the main subjects at my current school is related to photography, it’s called audiovisual and multimedia program.

Some of my favorite food include Italian dishes like pasta and pizza, as well as sushi and fast food. I have a sweet tooth, so desserts like chocolate cake and ice cream are always a treat!

I like holiday traditions, especially gathering for festive meals during celebrations like Christmas, where we share stories and create memories. I also enjoy celebrating New Year’s with friends, where we often have fun activities. I’m ready to learn about your family’s traditions as well!

Through this experience, I hope to grow personally and culturally, making lasting connections while also sharing my own background and experiences. I look forward to discovering new perspectives and creating wonderful memories together.

Thank you for sharing this incredible experience with me, can’t wait to see you