Dear Host Family,
     Hello! My name is Hasumi! Thank you so much for accepting me into your family!
I am a high school student in Okinawa, and I’m learning arts in addition to the regular subjects in my school. I have two younger siblings. My brother is good at magic and puzzles like Rubik’s cube. He can complete Rubik’s cube in 1 minute. My sister is in daycare, and she is so cute. I often watch Ghibli movies with her. My favorite one is “Howl’s moving castle”, and her favorite one is “Spirited away”. Although my sister’s name in kanji (Chinese character) is different, the name of the main character is the same as my sister’s. Also, my sister’s drawings and singing make me so happy. Talking with my mother is very exciting too! My father’s dish is so delicious. They always support me with the things I really want to do. Our family often plays card games before going to bed.
     I have lived in the school dormitory since I became a high school student so I barely see my family. However, the people such as my friends and teachers in my school are very kind to me so I got used to having an enjoyable school life right away. I have the same hobby as my roommate so it is really fun to talk about that!
     So far, I have been telling you about the people around me, but now I would like to introduce myself. I like drawing, walking, reading comic books, watching movies and others. But recently I’m really into music and sewing. For music, I love listening, playing and singing. I’m a vocalist in my band club too! Even though my band members have changed because I graduated from junior high school, I was able to be a member in a new band in high school. I sometimes play the guitar and the drum at my house with my father. I listen to many kinds of songs so I want to know your favorite one. And for sewing, I made the dresses for my sister a few times. If I have a chance, I want to show you the pictures of them.
In the future, I’m hoping to have a job related to design. I'm especially interested in fashion and architectural design. And that is one of the reasons why I decided to study abroad, because I could see many kinds of artworks and designs in America. I love typical Japanese styles like Kimono too, but I think it was a good chance to broaden my horizons. When I watch movies or TV dramas, no matter what, I just can’t stop looking at the building design and fashions. And if it was made outside of Japan, I am so excited to see how those things are coordinated. So, I want to see and feel the atmosphere by looking at it with my own eyes.
     Another reason why I wanted to study abroad comes from my family's experiences which I've heard about from my parents. I lived in Tokyo until I was two years old, but we left after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. My parents often said, “It's wonderful to live in one place as our own hometown, but wouldn't it be great if we could live in other parts of Japan or even in other countries if something happened? That's the kind of life we want to be able to have.” So, we've moved several times and 10 years have passed since we moved to Okinawa. Now, I want to experience living in America and learn about various cultures and become a more broad-minded adult, not just within Japan. I have learnt English actively from elementary school but I haven’t been abroad by myself so I’m very excited if I could do it! I long to talk fluently in English with native speakers. To be honest, I feel a little nervous, so I might ask you a lot of questions, but I would be grateful if you tell me about your country. And please ask me a question if you are interested in my country!
     Lastly, there is one thing I want to tell you. There is a traditional fried-sweet in Okinawa, called Sata Andagi. Its taste is similar to a donut. But it is considered auspicious, because the cracks that can be made when fried look like a smile. So, like Sata Andagi, I hope I will be able to make people happy with my smile! I am really looking forward to seeing you! Let’s make a lot of fun memories together!

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