Meet Our Students

Ester is a kind, active student from northern Italy who loves family life, outdoor adventures, and sharing meaningful traditions. She’s been a dedicated scout since age seven and enjoys camping, cooking together, singing, and spending time in nature. She’s also sporty—she goes to the gym, loves hiking, snorkeling, and previously practiced figure skating. Ester is very close to her family and hopes to build the same warm connection with her host family. She enjoys music with her dad, shopping or walking with her mom, and watching shows with her younger brother. She’s excited to share Italian culture, stories, and everyday life while learning American traditions from the inside. Friendly, responsible, and eager to experience something new, Ester is ready to become a true part of a family.

My name is Rose-like the flower and the French word for the color pink by the way! I have two older siblings, a brother and a sister, and we are very close and supportive of each other. I have also been very close to my parents as well, spending time with my family is really important. I even traveled with my dad for work to San Francisco! We were able to pack many things into just a few days! I would say that I am kind-hearted and a good listener for everyone who needs it. It's really important that my friends, family members, or even strangers feel comfortable confiding in me. I am a BIG fan of jokes, I like telling them but I like laughing at other people's jokes even more--and even if they are not that funny! I have always liked experiencing new things, so that's why I have tried many sports: I practiced roller skating, gymnastics, and horse riding. My ultimate passion will always be dancing, because it allows me to relax and also to express some feelings that can't be explained with words. I am truly so curious and I would love to try new sports in America. This experience will make me grow up, it will allow me to figure out what I need and what I really want to do after this exchange. It would also help me to become more independent, and I can't wait to celebrate typical American holidays like Thanksgiving; maybe if I have the possibility I would LOVE to go to homecoming or prom and to see football games. I have no doubt that I will meet amazing people during this unique experience that will forever be part of my life.

Zilola is a creative fun-loving student that lives in a large city in Uzbekistan. She has a large extended family of cousins, and her grandmother is next door, so they spend a lot of time together over meals. Zilola loves to cook and wants to share this love with her American family. Zilola is part of an American English support class and helps others with the language. She is excited to practice her English in the U.S. and wants to learn the culture, while sharing hers. Zilola has tried many sports (water polo, karate, taekwondo, swimming, and dancing) and wants to stay healthy and fit during her exchange program, by trying new things. She considers herself an orderly and neat student, so she will always keep her room clean and loves to help around the house, when possible.

For more information about me, check out my Host Family Letter!

Skyler is a creative, open-minded, and adventurous high school student from Taiwan who is excited to experience life as an exchange student and share her culture with a host family. She lives with her parents and twin sister, and her family has encouraged her to be brave, try new things, and explore the world. Skyler enjoys both quiet time at home and going out with friends, and she has many interests including coding, drawing, Live2D rigging, dancing, reading, gaming, photography, and learning new activities like snowboarding. She is responsible, helpful with chores, and values getting along with others through patience, logic, and communication. In school, she has been active in dance, art, and computer science clubs, showing both creativity and leadership, and she hopes to become a game producer in the future by growing her skills in art and technology. She would also love to share Taiwanese culture through ink wash painting, paper cutting, snacks, and even homemade bubble tea, while bringing a thoughtful, fun, and positive energy to her host family.

Tihalina from France, writes “I want to discover the world not through books or screens, but through smiles, meetings, and everyday gestures.”  She and her family have adopted goats who they refer to as the “Queens of the garden”.  Besides loving her four-legged family members, she enjoys a close-knit home life with her two brothers and dad. She describes herself as independent and enthusiastic.  She has a wide range of interests including music, reading, photography and scouting which she enjoys due the respect for nature and teamwork that it fosters.  She is also very involved in sports and physical activity such as tennis, basketball, ping pong, track, dance, and roller skating.  She is also very dedicated to the philosophy of cultural exchange. She is extremely focused on bringing unique cultural experiences to the table-literally- she loves to cook crepes, kouign-amman and her family’s special recipe from the Southwest of France,  canelés Bordelais.  Tihalina also wants to learn about and take part in such American traditions as Thanksgiving.  Please consider opening your home to a student who is full of appreciation of other cultures and wishes to learn all she can as well as share the uniqueness of her own with you. 

More to follow...

Maelis is a student from Italy who brings warmth, positivity, and a strong sense of family into everything she does. She grew up in a loving, supportive family and truly values connection, kindness, and creating meaningful relationships. Maelis is active and enjoys beach volleyball, hiking, and being outdoors, but she also appreciates simple moments like cooking, walking, and spending time together at home. She attends a language-focused high school where she studies English, French, and Spanish, and she is fluent in French thanks to her multicultural background; she also won an Italian government scholarship. Maelis loves cooking traditional Italian meals and would be excited to share her culture with her host family. She is affectionate, responsible, and a great listener, with experience caring for younger children. Independent and adaptable, Maelis is excited to experience American life, become part of a host family, and create lasting memories together.

Meet Ilya a respectable motivated young man eager to be part of a family and another culture. He lives with his mother and brother and tries to maintain a positive and respectful environment at home. He understands the importance of household responsibilities and chores. His cooking skills are still improving so he can share some delicious meals with you. Ilya enjoys sports to stay healthy but enjoys playing competitive video games because he loves the challenge. Ilan has always been interested in languages. It's not just the grammar and vocabulary but traditions, people, and ways of life. That is why he wants to immerse himself in a new culture. He is ready to join in family activities, respect house rules and be part of the family!

Martina is from Italy and brings a thoughtful, creative, and caring personality to everything she does. She has a wide range of interests that reflect both her artistic side and her love for staying active. Martina enjoys playing the piano, drawing, swimming, and going for long walks outdoors—especially when she can be surrounded by nature. One of Martina’s greatest passions is animals. She would be especially excited to join a host family with a dog, as she would love taking it on long walks and spending time outdoors together. At home, Martina is already used to caring for animals—she has five cats, and at her dad’s house, she also helps care for a rabbit and three chickens. In her free time, Martina enjoys playing pool and reading, especially romance novels like The Truth Untold by Rokia. She is also deeply interested in biotechnology and dreams of one day working as a technician in a laboratory. Martina can clearly picture herself in a lab coat, analyzing substances and exploring the scientific world. As a second career path, she is also passionate about fitness and would consider becoming a personal trainer, as she enjoys spending time at the gym and staying healthy. Martina is excited about the opportunity to experience life in the United States. She looks forward to becoming part of a host family, sharing her Italian culture, improving her English, and creating meaningful memories during this unique cultural exchange.