Dear host family,

I am D. and I'm 16 years old. I live in a small town in Italy not too distant from the seaside and I go to a science-oriented high school near my house. In fact, I'm very passionate about science, and in general I've always been a curious guy, since when I was a kid and I used to play in my backyard, staring at the sky with the grass caressing my skin, looking at the little birds to them draw them onto paper. And I used to go crazy when the feathers didn't look as good as in my head, so that I kept erasing them and drawing them back until they looked good. Drawing helped me develop critical thinking and made me learn how to solve problems by myself, qualities that I brought with me even when I made the choice to focus on science and music, other big passions of mine, instead of drawing. So I started playing the piano, I was in 7th grade; at my school you could choose to join a music class, and since I had a piano at home that I liked to play for fun, I told myself: "Why not?" and I started taking piano lessons. I immediately fell in love with it, and I became really good, even getting to win a few prizes. I still play it a lot now, at least one hour a day, even though I'm not taking lessons anymore. Do you know "La Campanella" by Paganini-Liszt? That's what I'm learning to play now. But I always think about the future, and I am very ambitious, so what I am focused on right now is science, chemistry and physics, because I dream of becoming a researcher. I care a lot about scientific olympiads and last year I ended in the top 7 national in chemistry games. This year I am competing in chemistry and physics and I am studying a lot to prepare for these competitions. My school helps me a lot because it offers many advanced courses. I have a friend that's one year older then me, who's also into these sort of things; a few times he helped me convince teachers to offer these courses even though there were not many applicants. I take these courses once or twice a week in the afternoon, because I go to school from 8:15 to 13:15, so I have lunch and then I go back to school for one or two hours, it depends on the course. Then I study, I play the piano or listen to music, and at around 6 p.m. I go to the gym. That's something I have in common with many of my friends. I go to the gym three times a week, that's how it's been for the last three years. I like it because I get stronger and I become able to to exercises I couldn't do before, like muscle ups. And it also teaches you how the body works and how it reacts to stimulation.

I spend also a lot of time with my family, I love my parents so much and I have a very good relationship with them. My father works as an accountant and my mother is studying to become a teacher; In this period she's very busy with her study so I'm giving her all my support, doing chores and motivating her to give her best. I also like to spend my time with my sister, she's forteen years old and we go along very well. We often play videogames together, or I help her with her study. I like to help her because it makes me feel proud when she learns something from me and it cames in handy. I really like to be helpful and to go along with everyone. For this purpose I always try to make myself better and put my opinions under judgement.

So this is me, I hope you liked this letter.

Thank you for giving me some of your time!

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