Dear host family or host parents,

My name is Gianluca, I`m sixteen years old and currently attend the 10th grade of a local high school. My hobbies are basketball and the boy scouts. I live with my parents and my younger sister in a coop housing project, where we support and help each other – young and old.

Mark Twain once said: ”One must travel to learn.” This quote has inspired me and during my year in the states, I would like to make as many new experiences as possible. I would also like to find out what life is like as a member of a host family and learn new things about the American way of life. I’m therefore looking forward to experiencing the many facets of the USA. My goals are to improve my English, to make new friends and to strengthen my personality. In addition I would like to gain new insights into a different culture so I can broaden my horizon. In return, I would also like to share aspects of my own culture.

I`m fascinated by the American landscape and nature, as for example the Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon. I very much like American food. I love to cook and bake and try out new tastes and recipes. This obviously means I also like to eat: I especially love BBQs. I think it`s great that you can get your driver`s license in the U.S. at the age of sixteen. Maybe there is a chance for me to learn how to drive at school. In terms of sports: I know how to play volleyball but I would like to get better at basketball because I have enjoyed playing it during sports lessons in school.

At the beginning of the 9th grade I took part in a school project where we had to ride our bicycles from Germany to the Belgium coast in two weeks. During the trip the four of us only had 500 Euros to spend. We had to buy our own food and find places for the night to sleep. Sometimes people would let us sleep in their gardens or we slept out in the fields. This project taught me to become more self- reliant and the importance of teamwork.

The year in the USA will be a special challenge for me, but I am determined to master this challenge and I know that it will help me to grow as a person.

Thank you for your interest in hosting a student from abroad and I`m very much looking forward to getting to know you and staying with you.