Dear future host family,

I never imagined that I would find myself in this position, sitting behind my computer and composing a letter to my potential future host family. My mind is filled with a mix of emotions and thoughts at this moment. I will do my best to describe my personality, hobbies, my life, provide you with an overview of how I live, and tell you why I decided to be an exchange student.

Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Magdaléna, and I’m thrilled at the opportunity to be part of your family for a whole year. The main reason I decided to do this is because I fell in love with the “American dream life” that America is so famous for. I’m sure it won’t be exactly how I imagine, but I’m incredibly grateful for even having the chance to experience something like this.

I’m 15 years old and while I’m certain that my studies in Czechia have given me a lot, our education system prioritizes memorization when compared to the American one, which I believe is more focused on critical thinking. That is one of the reasons that motivated me to explore studying abroad, to get to know other school systems and educational perspectives.

My big inspiration is my sister. She’s 17 years old and currently studies in the UK. I’ve been dreaming about moving to another country for as long as I can remember, but her own journey helped me take this opportunity.

Except for her, the two most important people in my life are my parents. I owe them my life, and I couldn’t wish for better ones. They always support me and help me with whatever I need. I’m literally the luckiest person to have parents like them in my life. My family loves traveling and exploring new places, so I’ve been to the US once before, and I had already fallen in love with it. Besides that, we have a little tradition – at least once a week, we have a movie night when the whole family watches a movie together. We also do a lot of other things together, such as going to our cottage on weekends and playing board games. We love spending time together and trying new things.

I almost forgot to mention the smallest member of our family, which is my kitten Mikeš. He’s a little black cat with white paws. I love spending time with him, and I would kindly appreciate any furry friend in my future home in America.

If I should describe myself somehow, I would say I’m a typical teenage girl with a very extroverted and happy soul that loves to meet new people. People describe me as an empathic, understanding, and supportive person who tries to be there for those who need me. What I really appreciate about myself is that I have a great sense of humor, and I love it when people around me have it as well. I’m also a very energetic and adventurous person. On the other hand, sometimes I can be quite stubborn and a bit short-tempered. I have to admit that when I have a bad day, I can be a little moody. In general, I’m a very optimistic person, but once in a while, I have times when I overthink things too much and then I see problems that aren’t even there. Besides that, I’m also a sporty person, so let’s move on to my hobbies.

I love playing volleyball, though unfortunately, I’ve never done it professionally because I was afraid it’s too late to start. But once in a while, my friends and I go to play just for fun. Another sport I’ve tried that really caught my attention is surfing. I’ve done it a few times, and I would really love to improve my surfing skills in California. The same applies to tennis. But my main hobby is dancing. I have been a dancer for about 6 years now. It is my passion, relaxation, and a way to release tension. I’m not talking only about the one style I do professionally; I mean dance in general. It helps me express my feelings when nobody’s around, and it allows me to stop thinking about everything and just focus on dancing. An absolutely unique feeling that I’ve never experienced anywhere else is when I’m on the stage. It’s so loud and so silent at the same time; I can’t even describe it. Also, the girls in my team are very close to me, which I’m very happy about because the group spirit has a significant impact on teamwork. That’s also why I would like to continue dancing in the USA or try cheerleading.

Another hobby of mine that closely relates to this is music. Not only listening to music but also playing the piano is a big relaxation for me. Unfortunately, I don’t have much time for it lately, but when I was little, I played a lot, so I still have a very close relationship with it.

One of my biggest hobbies is cooking. I cook almost every time I have time for it. I love trying new things and creating new combinations. I would say I’m a pretty creative and open-minded person, so maybe that’s why I’m so into it.

A significant part of my life is my friends. I love them with all my heart, and even though we sometimes have our disagreements, we’re always there for each other. I have no idea what I would do without them. I’m a very extroverted person, so I hope I won’t have any problems fitting in with a new crowd. It already hurts that I won’t see them for a whole year, but everything has its ups and downs. I’m sure it will be worth it.

Going to America has always been my big dream, as it has been for many other kids. Thus, I thank you for giving me, or any other kid, this opportunity to experience something so amazing. My expectations from this trip are to mature individually, experience a new life, culture, places, and, of course, people. I’m very open to whatever I’m going to experience. The only thing I’m hoping for is an amazing year with a lovely family that will give me a safe home, love, and fun.

Can’t wait to meet you!
Magdaléna