Dear Host Family,

First of all, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to become a part of your family, experience life in America for a year, and share your traditions. I am excited to immerse myself in American culture, meet new people, and experience the American high school system. My father worked in the U.S., and my stepbrother spent a year there as an exchange student. Both had wonderful experiences, which has inspired me to follow in their footsteps.

My name is Nele, I am 16 years old, and I live in Germany with my parents, my older brother, and our dog, Dayo, a Rhodesian Ridgeback. However, to be honest, I am not home very often because my days are quite busy. Though I love spending time with my family whenever I can! I am an active person, curious about many things, passionate about my hobbies, and always eager to explore new experiences and create lasting memories.

I grew up in a very athletic family, which is probably why sports play such a big role in my life. I play volleyball at a competitive level for my club, which means my weeks are filled with training, and weekends are often dedicated to league matches. Besides volleyball, I also enjoy playing tennis, hiking, cycling, skiing, and many other sports with my family. Additionally, since my father is an entrepreneur in the travel industry, we have had the chance to visit many different countries together. I have also been to the U.S. before—we traveled through California and spent a week in New York City. This year, we will be visiting Florida for a week during Easter break.

Apart from sports and traveling, music is another passion of mine. I play the piano and listen to music every day, sometimes to relax on my way home from school, other times to lift my mood. I also enjoy cooking, baking, painting, and doing various creative projects. Family is

very important to me, not just my immediate family but also my grandparents, my half brother and his girlfriend, my uncle, aunt, and cousins. And then there’s my second family: my volleyball team, my friends, and my classmates. While I know I will miss them, I am also very excited to get to know you, make new friends, and embrace American life.

I am currently in 10th grade and genuinely enjoy learning, which helps me maintain good grades without feeling overwhelmed by stress. I also work as a tutor for classmates and younger students and volunteer as a school mentor. As I prepare for this new chapter in my life, I am completely open-minded and eager for everything that awaits me. Once again, I cannot thank you enough for making this experience possible!

Best regards,

Nele

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