Dear American Family,

Hello, my name is Zainab, and I'm currently 16 years old, though I'll be 17 by the time we meet. I come from a family of five: me, my parents, and my younger twin brothers, who are about 1.5 years younger than I am. We live in a small city, and as a family, we love exploring together, whether it's walking around town, discovering new places, or simply enjoying indoor activities like watching TV. My mom is my best friend, and she's as excited to hear about you as I am. She was the one who encouraged me to join this exchange program in the first place.

At home, my main responsibilities include tidying up my room and doing small grocery shopping. When I have a bit of free time, I enjoy making Azerbaijani-style tea for everyone, though I'm still working on my cooking skills. While I'm not a vegetarian, I do tend to prefer vegetables over meat (what they call flexitarian, I believe). I like helping my mom cook, even if it's just chopping vegetables or preparing ingredients.

I also have a small library at home with about 25 classic books in English, and I'm hoping to expand it with books in other languages, especially German and Spanish. Learning new languages is one of my biggest passions, and books are my closest friends on that journey. I currently speak five languages, and if possible I'd be thrilled to practice any of them with you or learn a new one to communicate better with you. Another interest of mine is taking care of animals. I love them, though, unfortunately, I don't have a pet at home. I consider the street animals in my neighborhood as my own, feeding and caring for them as often as I can. Some of them even recognize me and run up to greet me when they see me coming, they are adorable.

As for my friends, I have three close ones-two from my previous school and one from childhood. We're a group of four, and people usually ask where the others are when they see one of us alone. We love doing things together, especially social activities like going to concerts and book or study clubs. I'm grateful for our friendship, and I hope it lasts a lifetime.

Looking ahead, I have big dreams. This exchange program feels like the first step toward those dreams. I love my country and my culture, but I believe the best way to grow is to step outside of my comfort zone. After my exchange year, I plan to study computer science in Europe. I'm not sure where I'll eventually settle-maybe anywhere in the world, or even on the moon if that's what it takes to reach my goals. One of my biggest dreams is to be known for something good I've done. I hope to have an impact on the world, even if it's just a small one, and to do my best to help make it a better place.

One thing I'd like you to know about me is that I'm Christian, and the only one in my family and close circle. Oh, also I am a big fan of the animated tv series called "BoJack Horseman", we should watch it together! I'm looking forward to new friendships, experiences, and, most of all, an unforgettable (in a good way) year with you.
I'm very excited to meet you and start this adventure. Take care until then!

Sincerly, 
Zainab

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