Dear Host Family,

I hope you are well and that you will enjoy getting to know me through my introduction.

My name is Alexis, and I live near Paris with my parents and my sister Jeanne, who is 10 years old. We live in a modern building on the 6th floor, where we love taking care of our plants when the weather is nice. Each of us has our own room. In mine, there are few toys as I have decided to donate or sell them online. The money I earn goes into my savings account to fund my school year in the United States.

My parents are nice but quite strict with us. They insist that our apartment and our rooms are always tidy and clean. They often say that our exterior reflects our interior. Even though I doubt it, I obey to avoid unnecessary conflicts. Jeanne and I would love to have a pet, like a dog or a cat, but our father disagrees as long as we live in an apartment.

My father works in a French investment bank and has had the opportunity to work in New York and London. His experiences abroad inspire me. My mother works in Human Resources in a French Luxury House in an environment where English is essential. I had the chance to do a one-week observation internship in her company last year, which I really enjoyed. We discovered various professions related to creation, graphic design, and the legal aspect focused on counterfeiting, all requiring a perfect mastery of English.

From a young age, I have loved the English language, especially through pop-rock music and American series, which has helped me improve my English. During trips with my parents, I enjoy being able to communicate in English. My goal is to become bilingual, which motivates my desire to go to the United States for a school year.

Currently, I am in 10th grade at a renowned private high school in Paris. The teachers are demanding but kind, and I feel good there. I know almost everyone, but I have a close group of friends that I have known for 7 years. Even though we are not in the same class, we meet every day for lunch, making music, or playing basketball, my two passions! I chose the “music” option for three hours a week, initially at my mother’s request, but I do not regret it. Music helps me progress and concentrate. I started playing the guitar at the age of 9 and have also been playing the piano for 3 years.

Besides music, I love sports. I have practiced several disciplines such as fencing, badminton, and karate, but basketball is my favorite. I play it regularly with friends. This summer, my friend Karl suggested we go see a basketball game during the Olympics, but unfortunately, it was on the day of our vacation departure… I was really disappointed.

Every winter, I go skiing for a week in a winter camp with my school. My level is now good. My friends and I look forward to this moment for 11 months. It’s a fantastic week with many activities besides skiing. This year, I will be a chaperone to help the younger ones. It is a great responsibility, but I feel ready.

I am attentive to others and, being reserved and sensitive myself, I easily identify children who may feel a bit isolated. I think I have the ability to put people at ease and create connections.

For summer vacations, Jeanne and I often go to our grandparents’ house in Tahiti. It is just magical; we spend our time at the beach with our cousins, surfing, and canoeing. It’s really nice. Returning to Paris is always a bit difficult. There, I love spending time with my grandfather, who has discovered a true passion for repairing electronic devices. The smaller the pieces, the more he loves it, maybe because it reminds him of his former profession as a surgeon. I love helping him.

I am a nice, easy-going teenager. I love my friends but also enjoy spending time with my family and cousins. I adore my sister Jeanne. Even though she has quite a personality, we get along very well. I often come home from school with her. One of her flaws is that she talks a lot. I like doing simple things like going to the supermarket with my parents, walking with them in Paris. It’s like being in an open-air museum. I love the architecture of the bridges and some buildings. Near our home, we have a woods, and whenever we can, we take our bikes for long rides.

I like helping my parents cook, maybe because I’m quite a foodie. I love good food. My parents, as well as my two grandmothers, cook very well. Maybe I could introduce you to French cuisine?

I hope my daily life shows you that I appreciate simple pleasures. I am easy-going, sociable, responsible, and curious. Thank you for reading. I hope you will want to host me. In any case, I look forward to spending time with you.

Thank you,

Alexis