Meet Our Students

Meet Lori, from central Japan. She is so excited to visit the United States as this will be her very first time abroad! She loves playing soft tennis, making sweets, cooking Japanese food like shogayaki (ginger pork), talking about music with friends, and going for relaxing walks. During her stay, she can’t wait to experience everyday American life and share Japanese culture (and treats!) with her host family. One day, she hopes to become a Japanese teacher. She is truly looking forward to meeting you!

Gaia is from a small town in Italy. She is a happy confident student with an older brother and parents that are very close. She loves to dance and trains twice a week and practices in her room to stay fit and healthy. She loves being close to the sea and spends meals with her family daily. This is a huge part of her culture, and she would love to share it with a new host family. Gaia loves to cook and would love to make Italian dishes for her new American family. She is excited to learn about a new culture and wants to improve her English. Gaia hopes to be a part of a close-knit family in the U.S.

Meet Marly from Germany! She is always ready and prepared for her next adventure in life. Marly loves to find humor in situations and honesty is important to her. She is athletic and currently rides horses. She has been riding since she was very young. She used to own a horse and knows how to take care of them. When she is not riding horses, she plays tennis or at the gym working out. Marly just like her mom, loves kids. She babysits in her free time, hangs out with friends, and she loves going to her local soccer games. Marly has a family of 3 besides herself. Her mom, dad and older sister love to travel to other countries and learn new cultures. Both her mother and sister were exchange students in the USA. She has heard such good stories and even has met the host families of both her mom and her sister. Let’s help Marly continue the family tradition and follow her dreams.

Rafa is a student from Spain, where he lives with his parents, and younger sister. He describes himself as a cheerful, fun-loving, and sociable individual who is also respectful. With a naturally curious and slightly dreamy disposition, Rafa thrives on connecting with others, exploring new experiences, and infusing each day with positive energy. He loves animals but the only pet he has is his pet turtle, Poli. Rafa is filled with excitement at the thought of living with his American family and attending an American school. Swimming is one of his greatest passions; it brings him a sense of freedom, focus, and vitality. He hopes to join the school swimming team, as he enjoys the thrill of competition. Dance also plays a significant role in Rafa's life. He has been dancing and competing for many years. Additionally, Rafa enjoys traveling and has visited five countries in Europe. He delights in discovering different cultures, traditions, and lifestyles. “I understand that hosting an exchange student is a significant decision, and I genuinely appreciate your generosity and the opportunity you are providing.”

Meet Arstenbek from Kyrgyzstan. He is a serious student with a fun side! He is excited to learn about American culture and wants to try baseball and American football. He enjoys hobbies like chess, Monopoly, and table tennis. He is a recipient of the prestigious FLEX scholarship for students that have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities. He spends weekdays at a boarding school where he is engaged in several interesting projects called GreenLand, Bilimbot, Olimpfund and Olimplearn. He describes the boarding school as an opportunity that he is extremely grateful to be a part of where he is learning cleanliness and respect for elders along with academic subjects. On weekends he is home with his family which includes his mother, father and ten-year-old brother. Helping out at home when he is there is very important to Arstanbek, he cleans, cooks and grocery shops for his family. He is also very passionate about his culture; he plays a traditional instrument called the Chopo-Chor. He also acknowledges what an amazing act of kindness hosting a student is and will truly appreciate this opportunity to its fullest.

Marcos is a cheerful happy person that loves to make others laugh. He is from a small town in Spain and is the youngest with three siblings. All of Marco’s siblings were also exchange students to the United States. He is a mature and well-mannered young man that loves to be outside and has a black belt in martial arts. Marcos loves to cook and play the piano. He is now learning to play the trombone. Marcos likes helping others and sports such as golf and flag football. He balances his love of activity with his love of music and relaxes to recharge his batteries. He is excited about improving his English in America and living with a family that is engaged and has a close relationship. Marcos loves time with others and is looking for a loving family in the United States.

Katharina, who is from northern Germany, enjoys the outdoors and exercise. She also rides her bike to school every day. Besides her studies, she is a school first aider and conflict mediator. After school she likes to meet up with friends and go to tennis lessons and horse riding once a week. Her sister spent a year in the USA, and it is a dream of hers to do the same. Katharina would like to get involved in Clubs and also learn a new sport like volleyball, basketball, or even dance. She can't wait to make new friends and meet her host family so she can learn more about our culture and celebrate our holidays!

Meet Indira an amazing student from Tajikistan!! She is so excited to meet her new host family for 2026/2027. Indira has worked incredibly hard to have this opportunity. She is ready to embrace this adventure of a new culture and becoming a part of your family. Her intelligence is a true gift; she loves gaining new learning opportunities' so much she is enrolled and taking higher level classes at the age of 16. Her wealth of knowledge gives her a great social aspect on life. She loves meeting people from all aspects of life and just getting to know who they are. She likes to cook and make desserts; she expresses that cooking is her LOVE language and wants to share her love for cooking with her new host family. Support family is important to Indira; she helps teach her younger brothers. She loves to volunteer her time in many different ways, through family or the community. Becoming a doctor is not just a dream but a way of living her life now for her future. She wants to help communities everywhere; you would be her first adventure in a new place. Help Indira grow with becoming a member of your family and host!!

Sofia is a student from Italy currently in her third year at a Humanities high school. She enjoys Italian literature and history and hopes to become an elementary school teacher in the future. She loves working with children and has spent the past three summers as a church summer camp leader for kids ages 6–10. Sofia is a curious, friendly, and open-minded student who loves discovering new places and experiences. Her greatest passion is dance—she has been dancing since age five, with experience in classical, modern, and hip-hop dance. Dance helps her feel confident and expressive, and she is interested in participating in dance or even cheerleading at her American school. In her free time, Sofia enjoys listening to music (especially rap, trap, and pop), attending concerts and theater performances, and spending time with friends. She also enjoys fashion, shopping, going to the movies, and spending time at the beach during the summer. Sofia is excited to learn about American culture and daily life while sharing Italian traditions with her host family. Her main goal for the exchange is to improve her English. She is clean, organized, responsible, and happy to help with household chores. Sofia also loves food—especially pasta and pizza—and enjoys cooking with her family and trying new foods. She is very excited to come to the United States and become part of her American host family.

Loïs is an energetic and motivated student with a strong passion for athletics, especially race walking and running, which he practices regularly. He loves the atmosphere of training and competitions and enjoys pushing himself to improve. Formula 1 is another important interest, and he often watches races with his family and friends. Sports are a big part of his daily life and something he shares with his younger brother and sister. Loïs comes from a close and supportive family and enjoys spending time together, whether traveling, cooking, or playing games. Curious and open-minded, he is excited to become an exchange student in the USA to discover a new culture, try American sports, and improve his English. These experiences are important to him as he works toward his future goal of becoming a pilot.