Dear American Family, 

Hello, I'm Reisya, but my friends and family call me Rei or Rui. You can call me by whichever name you find easier. I come from Indonesia. I'm 16 years old, currently an 11th-grade student in an international science class. Let me tell you about myself, starting with my hobbies. I love photography and reading science-fiction books. I engage in these hobbies during my leisure time, and sometimes I go out with my friends for photo hunting together. I also enjoy listening to music and I often try singing to express myself.

Besides studying in school, I expand my knowledge by joining extracurricular, such as the Red Cross Society (a humanitarian organization in Indonesia called PMR for teenagers) and also I participated in an English community by making videos, such as joining in podcasts and practicing speaking. Alongside this, I enjoy volunteering to learn and teach other friends English and participating in competitions with my peers, like debates. I get the chance to share my knowledge with my friends. We sometimes form a group discussion to talk about various issues. This practice has been with me since I was in junior high school. Hence then, I realize that I became more open-minded and be able to collaborate other's idea during group discussions. They consider me a highly sociable person, with a good sense of humor and diligent.

Currently, I live with my mother. While my father and brother are in distant places, we still maintain a close relationship as family. Regarding my family, you might wonder what we do together. Our weekdays are quite hectic, but we cherish our weekends. My father seldom stays with us. Even though we are separated by miles, we always keep in touch by calling daily. When my father visits, we sometimes covering songs together by playing guitar and teaching me how to play as well. Sharing silly jokes is one of my favorite parts of spending time with him. Talking about my mother, she is a kind and generous person. She always supports me whenever I feel pressured or overwhelmed through deep conversations. We enjoy cooking and cleaning the house together at the end of the weekend, which is one of my favorite times with her. Regarding my brother, during our childhood, we often fought. However, as teenagers, he has matured into someone I deeply respect. We engages in meaningful conversations when we have time together. He is my strongest supporter, regardless of the circumstances. He's a caring and a sociable person.

Moving on to my school life, it has been fun and mature. Understanding each other has allowed me to make friendships not only with people my age but also across different age groups. My friends and I often enjoy playing traditional games and engaging in guessing games. After a hectic week, we like to spend our weekends hanging out together.

I would like to share a bit about the town I live in. I reside in the capital city of my province, known for being an oil producer, with many oil palms. Wherever you go, you can easily find oil palms. Specifically, my town is recognized for its economic growth and as a center for the development of Malay arts and culture.

Regarding my dreams, since I was a little, I'd like to be a doctor in the future and open medical treatment freely for some environments that are far from hospitals. I choose being a pediatrician as my goal because I saw every way I passed, many children didn't get better medical treatment due to economic status. So, that's why I've decided to be a pediatrician in the future. This exchange will give me a lot of opportunities to experience cultural understanding thru education, social and even exploring more about how advance the technology used in the USA.

Living in the USA is one of my biggest dreams, something I think about every single time. I have always admired the American education system, known for being among the best in the world. This opportunity will help me broaden my perspective and improve my critical thinking. One of my specific goals is to navigate and embrace diversity. Being away from my parents will be a significant challenge, but I see it as an opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and explore knowledge independently. I plan to connect with international students and participate in local activities, forming discussion groups that will help me and my friends explore new ideas in a comfortable way.

I hope that language and cultural differences will not be barriers to our communication, but rather avenues for sharing and expressing affection. I look forward to a wonderful and unforgettable year. During my stay, I would love to share insights about my country, teach you some words in my language, and showcase our rich cultural heritage. I am excited to help you learn more about my culture, food, lifestyle, and more. I am a curious person with a strong desire to explore the world and I will always be there to lend a hand whenever you or the host community needs. I can't wait to cook with you together; you should try Indonesian food, which has its own unique tastes, such as Rendang and Bakwan!

Thank you for reading my letter. I can't wait to meet you !

Best regards,

Reisya (Rei/Rui)

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