Hi, I am Gracia!

I am 15 years old (though I will be 16 when the exchange starts), and my friends often describe me as trustworthy, loyal, open, friendly, optimistic, and funny. In my free time, I enjoy creative activities such as drawing and reading. When I’m bored, I often teach myself new things like 3D modeling or the basics of programming. If I’m not doing that, you’ll usually find me drawing, designing, or reading. I love combining creativity and logical thinking in everything I do.

Once a week, I go horseback riding at the stables, which is something I really enjoy. Spending time around horses is one of my favorite things to do. On weekends, I usually watch Formula One, and on Sundays, I volunteer at the kids’ church. I’ve been volunteering there for almost two years now, and I really enjoy telling stories to the kids and working with them. Every year, I also help out at a summer camp. I think I developed my skills with children because I’ve been doing activities like this from a young age.

I have four younger siblings—one brother and three sisters—whom I often take care of when my parents are busy. Life at home can be quite chaotic, but I’m used to it. When it gets overwhelming, I like to retreat to my room for some quiet time. My family is quite large overall. My mother’s side of the family is from the north of Germany, where her parents still live, while my father’s parents live nearby as our neighbors here in the south.

In 2023, my grandfather sadly passed away. I still hold loving memories of him as a smart and wise man. He worked hard alongside my father and loved sharing stories from his childhood with all of us grandchildren. He and his brother founded the winery that my family still runs today. We live in a small rural village with around 2,300 residents, surrounded by vineyards and a small lake. I’m very fond of my hometown because it’s where I grew up, my closest friends live here, and much of my family is nearby.

Since our village is small, I attend school in the nearby city and usually take the bus. However, as I’m writing this, I’m in the process of getting my motorcycle license. You could say I’m a fan of horsepower—whether it’s horses, motorbikes, or cars! Because of this passion, I hope to work with cars in the future. I want a career that provides financial stability but also aligns with my interests. My dream is to combine this with traveling the world.

After finishing school, I hope to study abroad—Italy would be my dream destination. At school, I’m learning English, French, and Spanish, which also helps me in my free time as I study Italian. I’ve even started learning some Russian because I find the language really fascinating.

During my exchange year, my main goal is to immerse myself in life on the other side of the world. I want to make new friends, experience everyday life abroad without my family, and find a second home. I’m excited to make the most of this relatively short but life-changing opportunity!

I would be deeply grateful for the opportunity to be your host student. I am excited to meet you and find a second family in a new country!

With kind regards, Gracia

Interested in hosting—whether 6-8 weeks or the entire school year?