Dear Host Family,

My name is Maddi. I am 15 years old and I am in Year 10 at school. I live in Spain.

For a few years now, I’ve dreamed of having this experience: studying in the US with a host family. This way, I can learn about American culture, share experiences, and live like an American student while improving my English. It’s a dream that I see getting closer every day!

I am a calm, kind, responsible, and independent person who enjoys chatting and spending time with family and friends.

I live with my parents, my sister, and my dog in a little town situated on the north coast of the Basque Country. My town is quite famous because it has the longest left-hand wave in all of Europe. I truly love my family! They encourage and support me. With the help of my family and my future host family in the USA, I know I will have a great experience and live my biggest dream of being an exchange student in the United States.

My father is an interior designer, and my mother is a teacher. I also have a younger sister. We love spending time together, talking and playing. Although she is younger than me, I love her so much. My dog is called Walber; he is a German Shepherd, he is 6 years old, and he is a big part of our family! My grandparents also live nearby.

My extended family also lives in the same town where I do. I really like spending time with my cousins; they are role models for me, and I learn a lot from them. My grandma is one of the most important people in my life. I love spending time with her, talking about her experiences when she was my age, listening to her advice, and just spending time together!

My school feels like a big family, where students and teachers know each other very well. We are surrounded by nature, and it is a really special place.

My friends are a really important part of my life; they are a great support! I have known some of them since kindergarten. Others I’ve met over the years. We usually spend a lot of time together, for example, going to the beach, playing sports, dancing, going to the cinema, gossiping… Just relaxing and having fun.

I almost forgot! In Spain, football is very important and popular, especially here, where we have a football team. We go to see a match whenever we can!

I love young children! At school, I often do projects with them and help teachers with different activities. I really enjoy spending time with them; I connect with them, and they also enjoy spending time with me. I think this is a great positive trait!

My hobbies include playing sports, reading, and watching series like Gossip Girl, The O.C., and Pretty Little Liars… One of my favourite movies is Mamma Mia!, and my dream is to go with my best friend to Skopelos, the island where “Mamma Mia!” was filmed, when we turn 18! I usually listen to music; some singers and groups are from Spain, such as “Morat” and “Hey kid”… But I also listen to some American and British singers and groups, such as “Coldplay”.

The sea is a really important part of my life. I love spending long hours there in the summer with my friends and family. Like every teenage girl, I love fashion and shopping!

I also like travelling. I think it is really important and a way of learning and seeing the world through different eyes. I have travelled to several countries, such as France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. I have also travelled to Mexico and all throughout Spain.

I love spending time with my family. My parents think it’s very important, so they try to make lots of plans for the four of us to enjoy. They instill in me values like hard work, gratitude, honesty, responsibility, and the freedom to make my own decisions. I feel very lucky to have them because, even though they can be strict sometimes, they’re also very understanding, and I know I can count on their support for anything I set my mind to.

My expectations in life are to live life to the fullest, not to worry about what other people think of me and not let that stop me. I want to travel a lot, to meet and learn from new cultures and people. And also to enjoy every second enjoying my friends and family, expending a lot of time with them.

I am particularly excited to learn the differences between the Spanish and American high school systems, and I want to try new activities and clubs that aren't available at my school here. Beyond the classroom, I am ready to learn about the American lifestyle completely—whether it’s celebrating holidays differently, learning a new sport, or simply sharing in the family’s daily routine. I understand that integrating into your home means being a helpful member, and I am prepared to assist with chores, care for pets (I already love Walber!), or help with younger siblings if you have them. I see this year as a two-way exchange: I want to absorb everything about your culture, but I also look forward to sharing my Basque and Spanish traditions, like preparing pintxos or teaching you a few words in Euskera!

Finally, I’d like to say that becoming part of your family would be incredibly exciting. I’m a 15-year-old girl who wants to experience this, but I’m also very responsible, independent, and willing to help and integrate into your family life.

I believe that living with a family from another country is the best way to understand other cultures, and it will help me become more independent and responsible—qualities I consider invaluable. I hope to meet you, and I hope we can build a great relationship.

Thank you for reading this little bit about me,

Maddi

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