Dear future host family,

My name is Lenia and I am 16 years old. First of all, I would like to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to live with you and become part of your family. I want to do a year abroad in the USA because I really want to get to know the American culture and it has always been my dream to live in the USA.

I live with my mom, my little brother and my stepfather. My parents are separated and my dad lives with my stepmother in Saxony state. My dad has a dog, her name is Maja. I really like taking her for walks or teaching her tricks. I love animals and especially dogs. I used to have a cat and several rabbits. I also have two big stepbrothers from my stepfather’s side and two big stepsisters from my stepmother’s side. I spend every other weekend and often during the vacations with my dad. But I go to school where my mom lives.

I would describe myself as a rather quiet person, but when I feel comfortable around people I quickly become very open and love to talk. I am always friendly to all people, children and animals. I am also very adventurous, spontaneous and love to experience new things. One of my weaknesses is that I am unfortunately not self-confident. However, I am trying to work on this and hope that I can improve it during my year abroad with you.

My hobby has been volleyball for two years, which I play two to three times a week. Before that, I played handball for eight years. I actually like all sports and I am open to trying out new things. I also like drawing and love listening to music and dancing to it. I spend a lot of time with my friends at the weekend. For example, we have a volleyball tournament, go shopping or just meet up and have a sleepover. I really like listening to American music and I love traveling to new places and having adventures. Since I love sports, I also like to eat healthy. My favorite food is actually all kinds of pasta, for example pasta with spinach and salmon or pasta with feta cheese and tomatoes. But I actually eat everything, even if I don’t know it before, I like to try it out.

The most important holidays here in Germany are Christmas, Easter and German Unity Day. We spend these with the whole family. One of our family traditions is to eat carp on Christmas Eve and duck or goose on the Christmas days. I hope that my upcoming time abroad, far away from home, will have greatly improved my English, that I will have made many new friends, become more self-confident and independent and that I will have collected unforgettable moments and memories that will last forever.

This is the end of my letter. I hope you like it. I want to thank you again for taking the time for me. I can’t wait to meet you and have a new experience in my life.