Dear Host Family,

My name is Lilou, and I am really excited to experience life as an exchange student in the United States. I hope this letter gives you an idea of who I am and what I could bring to your family.

I grew up in a close-knit family, even though it’s a blended one. I have an older brother, with whom I share the same mother but a different father, and an older sister, with whom I share the same father but a different mother (and of course, I can’t forget my two cats, I love animals!). My parents separated when I was seven, so I had to adapt to a new way of life. I’ve always been very close to them, and we have a strong relationship where I feel comfortable sharing my thoughts. From a young age, I developed a sense of independence. I’m rather studious and a bit of a perfectionist, and I take everything I do seriously because succeeding is very important to me. I find it hard to accept failure, which pushes me to always give my best, especially in sports.

Sports are a big part of my life, and I have been playing basketball for eight years now, it’s truly a passion for me. I also love volleyball, soccer, skiing… Honestly, I’m interested in all sports because they help me push myself, clear my mind, and stay physically healthy. Team spirit and competition motivate me a lot, and they also allow me to meet people who share the same passion. I have the same drive in school. Since I was little, I’ve always worked hard to reach my academic goals, expand my knowledge, and give my best every day. I spend about an hour on my homework each day.

When I’m done, I love listening to music, I think it’s important to have a wide musical culture. I enjoy everything from rap to rock to RnB, from the 1980s, 2000s, and current music. My favorite artist is The Weeknd (I was lucky enough to see him in concert!). I’m also a huge fan of TV series. On weekends, I like cooking or shopping with my mom and hanging out with friends. The week I’m with my dad, we often bike rides, or fishing, and in winter, we go skiing and snowboarding a lot.

I’m also interested in history, politics, and art, since my mom has shared her passions with me and taught me the importance of general knowledge from a young age. I’m curious about the world around me, and I love learning new things. I’m excited to learn about the hobbies, habits, and customs of my host family, and I’d love to share my own interests to enrich our mutual knowledge. I’d like to bring my enthusiasm, my eagerness to learn, and my curiosity for American culture into the life of my host family. I think my international perspective could bring some cultural diversity to my school and give other students the opportunity to learn about France.

I am especially interested in American culture. Since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by the United States, and when I first visited, I realized that everything I’d seen on TV could be real. I was captivated by the friendliness of the people, their patriotism, the food, the music, the landscapes, and much more. I hope to study there one day and maybe even live there permanently. This exchange experience would be a chance to see if American life would suit me long-term. My main motivation in joining this program is to improve my English, which will be beneficial for my future studies and for my general knowledge. I also hope that this experience will bring me more maturity and open-mindedness by discovering new cultures and perspectives. Becoming even more independent and self-sufficient is also something I look forward to, as these qualities will be essential for my higher studies since I would like to become a surgeon.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to stay with you and to share this amazing experience. I am very grateful for your hospitality, and I hope I get the chance to be a part of your family.

Lilou.

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