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!

Andy is a warm, respectful student from Taiwan whose curiosity and determination shine in everything he does. Raised by educator parents, he’s thoughtful, well‑mannered, and eager to pitch in—whether that’s helping with chores or cooking Taiwanese favorites like egg pancakes and fried rice. A passionate biology student, he’s dedicated to hands‑on learning, from science fairs to field dissections, and dreams of becoming an ophthalmologist. Andy is also a competitive speedcuber, a half‑marathon runner, and a surprisingly talented hand‑flute player who loves making people smile. With his kindness, grit, and genuine desire to be part of family life, he’s the kind of student who fits right into a Southern home. Don’t miss the chance to welcome him before someone else does.

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 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.

Aishabibi is a kind‑hearted, thoughtful student from Kazakhstan who instantly makes people feel comfortable. She grew up in a close, loving family and brings that same warmth into everything she does. She helps with cooking, cleaning, and keeping the home running smoothly, and she especially loves baking with her mom. Active and energetic, she enjoys football, volleyball, and boxing—sports she’s been around since childhood thanks to her grandfather, a former coach. She’s deeply curious about the world, passionate about languages and international relations, and eager to learn from a new culture. She uses Salbutamol only rarely for mild asthma. A family who welcomes her will gain a grateful, hardworking daughter who will leave a lasting mark on their hearts.

Alberto is a student from a small town in northwest Italy who attends a scientific high school with a sports focus. His program combines academics with sports-related studies, including economics and law of sports, and five hours of physical activity each week. He enjoys his classes, has a good relationship with his classmates, and likes spending time with friends after school. Alberto hopes to study in the United States because he is curious about new cultures, experiences, and sports. He sees this opportunity as a way to grow personally, improve his English, and become more independent. Having already completed a one-month exchange in France, he feels prepared to live away from home and embrace new challenges. Family is very important to Alberto. He lives with his parents, two brothers, and his dog, Frisky, an 8-year-old golden retriever. He loves animals and enjoys walking his dog, visiting his grandparents, traveling, hiking, and cooking with his family. Sports play a major role in Alberto’s life. He learned to ski at age three and enjoys skiing with his family and friends. He has played soccer and basketball and continues to go to the gym regularly. While in the U.S., he hopes to play basketball or soccer again or try new sports. Alberto is excited to learn about American culture, share his daily life with a host family, and build meaningful relationships during his exchange year.

Friedrich lives with his parents and three siblings as he describes his family as close, supportive and spending a lot of time together.  At school, Friedrich describes himself as a serious student, his favorite subjects include Art, English and German.  He has also participated in several school plays.  For hobbies he enjoys playing handball, photography and gardening. His friends describe him as calm, trustworthy and easy to get along with. Additionally, he describes himself as tidy and organized.  He is excited about attending High School in America, his mother was an exchange student in the 11th grade and had a lot of fun.  He looks forward to experiencing different teaching methods, school spirit and pep rallies, and he would love to try baseball.

"Javi" is from Spain and describes himself as fun-loving and always smiling.  He is extremely family-oriented and has 3 older siblings.  He loves swimming, golf and tennis, but soccer is his "passion".   He loves sports and family and every summer his family and cousins, go to a lake house to play sports and enjoy the beach. Javi would love to have a career as a lawyer and play professional soccer.

Meet Adelaide from France where she lives with her father, mother, and younger brother, and their family bond is very strong, playing a “huge part” in her life. She describes herself as joyful, funny, and smart, though she can be a bit reserved when tired, responsible and somewhat competitive, Adelaide has a wide range of interests including: Tennis, Running, Dancing, Music, Singing, Pilates and going to the gym. Currently, she attends a boarding school with approximately 700 students. During her stay in the United States, she hopes to join a choir and the dance team. In her free time, she enjoys reading detective novels and watching detective and medical series. She has explored India and aspires to find a future career that allows her to uncover new places and have unique experiences. “So, to start these dreams, I want to start with the United States, because it’s iconic and full of diversity”.

Anna lives in Italy with her older brother and younger sister. She did gymnastics for years, but due to the stress on her body, she now helps coach young girls in gym and began snowboarding with her dad and siblings. She also loves to run. She is interested in trying out new sports in America, perhaps cheerleading, but also likes music and the arts. Anna likes the outdoors, but likes to spend time inside also, usually in the kitchen. Baking and making traditional Italian dishes are her passion. She loves to cook and bake and would love to help her new family learn new recipes also. She has responsibilities in her home in Italy and expects to have similar ones in her new home. Anna is excited to be part of a family and learn more about the American culture. She is excited about riding a school bus, decorating her locker and experiencing high school in America.