Youth For Understanding USA

Turning 15 this July, meet Xabier from Spain! Xabier describes himself as a kind, cheerful, and extroverted young man. His hobbies include reading, discovering new music, and meeting new people. He also loves spending time with his family and friends, doing activities such as hanging out at the mall, trying new restaurants, going to the movies, or traveling. Xabier hopes that his exchange year will help him to grow as a person, and that he will become stronger from this experience. He looks forward to making new friends and becoming involved in school activities as well. Xabier thanks you for hosting, and hopes that this will be an enriching year that will end in a life-long friendship! Arriving in August of 2019. DIRECT PLACEMENT TO CALIFORNIA

SHORT-TERM PROGRAM, MUST BE PLACED IN ANN ARBOR: Meet Charlotte, who will be volunteering as a chaperone for the USA for You program in Ann Arbor! Charlotte describes herself as an open-minded, loyal, and tolerant person who loves to laugh. She was previously an exchange student through YFU in Uruguay, and now studies International Management while working for an exporting company. She is also an active volunteer with YFU Germany, and is excited to travel to the USA as a chaperone for the USA for You program. When she has free time, Charlotte loves spending time with her friends, cooking, playing board games, and visiting flea markets. Charlotte is thankful that you are willing to welcome her into your family, and looks forward to meeting you soon!

Introducing Paul, a 15-year-old boy from Germany! Paul loves sports, especially American football. He also loves to ski, play soccer, and golf. As you can see, he is a very sports-minded young man! When he's not playing sports, you might find Paul working out at the gym or playing PlayStation games with friends. His favorite subject in school is Math, and he plans to become a tax accountant in the future. Paul and his friends see him as one who is self-confident, helpful, and athletic. His teachers say that he is excellent in Math and Natural Science, and that he gets along well with teachers and peers. During his exchange year, Paul hopes to discover a new way of life, make friends from different countries, and hopefully play American football. Paul is looking forward to becoming a part of your family! Arriving in August of 2019

Genuine, honest, and uncomplicated, 16-year-old Enno from Germany is known around school for being friendly, helpful, and kind! Both sporty and musical, Enno attends a school that focuses on music, theater, and the arts. He plays the drums and the piano, and recently helped to organize a concert tour for young musicians. Enno also loves sports, though! He plays both tennis and basketball, and during the summer, he likes to ride his longboard or go stand-up paddle boarding on a local lake. During the winter months, Enno loves to go skiing. Enno works as a bike messenger for a local company, delivering items to different shops in the area. He also loves doing volunteer work, and helped to collect shoes and clothing donations for a recent project. At home, Enno helps with the laundry, groceries, gardening, and occasionally helps to do some cooking (his specialty is potatoes au gratin!). He and his friends like to watch movies or go swimming, and they even took a dance class together to learn how to waltz and tango. Enno enjoys learning languages, history, and politics, and might like to become a lawyer. In the meantime, he says that he is open to try just about anything and is looking forward to many new experiences! Arriving in August of 2019

Meet active and musical Hilda, a 15-year-old student from Germany! Hilda writes that she is ambitious, loves to cook, and is definitely a team player. She recognizes her main hobbies as playing the guitar, participating in gymnastics, and reading. Hilda has loved books ever since she was able to read. Other hobbies for Hilda include going to the theater and cinema (with a special love for live concerts), swimming and surfing in the sea, painting, traveling, writing, and playing the ukulele. As well as being a member of her school's choir, Hilda also enjoys listening to music. Some of her favorite musicians include Ed Sheeran, Twenty-one Pilots, and the Beatles. She considers herself environmental, and is continually learning about our planet. Friends and family are also important to Hilda. With her friends, Hilda enjoys taking silly pictures, shopping, visiting their favorite restaurants and cafes, going to the movies, and having sleepovers. With her family, whom she describes as spontaneous and fun-loving, Hilda shares the love of baking and traveling. Hilda writes that she is looking forward to trying new sports on exchange such as volleyball, basketball, field hockey, and maybe even surfing. Will you welcome Hilda into your family? Arriving in August of 2019

Meet the lovely Valentina, a 16-year-old girl from Brazil! She gets top ratings from her teachers, who say that she always tries her best and earns excellent grades. Her friends say that she is funny, active, kind, helpful, and patient. Valentina views herself as one who is sociable, friendly, and loves to make jokes. Valentina is a passionate swimmer, swimming on a team for the past 9 years, and hoping to continue this sport in the USA. She also loves trying new sports, reading books, traveling, and skiing with her family during vacations. She would love to live with animals as she has no pets at home. Valentina hopes to return home to Brazil with experiences that will change her life for the better. She is so excited to spend a year in the USA with you! Arriving in August of 2019

"I like to laugh a lot," writes 16-year-old Adrian from Germany! He also adds when asked to describe himself, "I like to help other people, I like sports and meeting with friends." Adrian is described as easy-going, laid-back, reflective, communicative, and patient. He is interested in sports in general, and plays with his friends for fun. To keep fit, he jogs and goes to the gym once per week. He likes to eat healthy, but admits he loves a good burger or a pizza now and then! He has an interest in History and Politics, and is always willing to join in on discussions. Reading is another strong interest of Adrian's because he likes to "drift into another world." He is the older of two boys in his family. Together, they enjoy skiing, snowboarding, swimming, and visiting with relatives. They love to barbecue together, and try to eat breakfast and dinner together daily. As Adrian looks ahead to his exchange year, he hopes to improve his English, have a great host family experience, and make many new friends. "I am grateful for your willingness to be my host family and I am looking forward to meeting you and spend a year with you and your family," says Adrian! Arriving in August of 2019

Friendly, funny, and self-confident Lisa, a 16-year-old from Germany, has interests ranging from baking to swimming! "I really like to cook and to bake, to be creative and to try new recipes and flavors." It is something she also enjoys doing with friends, especially baking cookies. As for swimming, Lisa says "I love water and to be free in it and the silence that is always there." She also enjoys playing the guitar and singing. Lisa lives with her mom, dad, two younger sisters, one younger brother, and two dogs. "We are a big family so it's never quiet and action is always there." Her favorite subjects in school are Biology and Chemistry, and one day she would like to be a pediatrician. Her main reason for going on an exchange is to meet new people and to be part of the American way of life. "I want to know how it is to be in a new family and to know where the cultural differences are. I would be so glad and grateful if you would let me be a part of your family," says Lisa! Arriving in August of 2019

Introducing Rei, a 15-year-old girl from Japan! She is sociable, cheerful, and full of laughter. Rei is an active girl who plays tennis on a team and enjoys skiing with her family in the winter. She would like to continue these activities while on exchange, but she is open to new experiences as well. Rei also has an adventurous spirit, with a love for outdoor activities such as mountain climbing and hiking. In Japan, she is a part of a volunteer group which guides tourists around the city. Also musical, Rei has played the violin since she was 3 years old as well! Perhaps, she can play beautiful music for your family? Rei would like to come to the USA to become fluent in the English language, learn about our culture, and meet new people. She hopes to become independent and make many fun memories while on exchange! Could Rei be the newest member of your family? Arriving in August of 2019

Estelle is a 16-year-old girl from German-speaking Switzerland who loves to be in motion! She takes jazz and hip-hop lessons each week, but also enjoys sports in general and even simply working out. Estelle is seen as an important member of her class at school. Her teacher describes her as non-judgemental, and very good with other students who may be different. Estelle is also known to be adaptable and open-minded. She enjoys getting together with friends to hang out or watch movies. Many of her friends are in her dance classes. Estelle's parents were exchange students, which has fueled her dream to come to the USA. She is excited to see how America may be the same, or different from the many movies she has seen! Estelle lives with her parents, 3 younger siblings, and the family dog, with whom she has a special bond. Estelle takes her studies seriously, and even tutors younger students for extra pocket money. She intends to go to a university and study Law or Psychology in the future. Estelle is excited to get to know you and for the adventure to begin! Arriving in August of 2019

CHAPERONE: Henrik from Germany is thrilled to be chaperoning the USA for You program in Ann Arbor! With experience as a high school exchange student in upstate New York, Henrik now volunteers with YFU Germany to help new students have wonderful exchange experiences. Henrik has a keen interest in foreign culture and languages, and is now studying to become an English and Chemistry teacher. He loves traveling, and is looking forward to experiencing a new area in the USA with his future host family. Henrik's hobbies including playing golf, biking, cooking and baking, handicrafts such as woodworking, and having game nights with friends. He thanks you for hosting, and looks forward to meeting you soon! SHORT-TERM PROGRAM, MUST BE PLACED IN ANN ARBOR

"I like doing sports a lot," writes 15-year-old Moritz from Germany! Volleyball is his favorite, but he is open to trying any sport with a ball. His parents, who were also exchange students, have described to him the importance of sports in American high schools, and he is beyond eager to experience this for himself! Besides volleyball, he enjoys soccer, climbing, skiing, swimming, and sailing. When he has downtime, you can often find him on his computer playing games with his friends. Moritz also enjoys traveling, and has visited more than 15 countries - including a trip to the USA this past summer. After visiting with his mother's former host family in Washington state, they traveled to New York to see all the sights. This peaked his interest in being an exchange student himself, to learn more about the American culture and lifestyle. Moritz writes, "I thank you for giving me the opportunity to experience the American way of life. In return, I want to give you some insights into the German culture. I have a good sense of humor, so we should have a good time together!" Arriving in August of 2019

Chiara is a 16-year-old girl from Germany whose passion is soccer! She loves playing on her soccer team, which she explains is like a second family. However, she is looking forward to trying some new American sports while in the USA as she loves being active. Chiara says she likes everything about sports and outdoor activities. A good student, Chiara's favorite subjects in school are Art, English, and PE. She especially likes Biology because she hopes to become a physiotherapist in the future. Chiara's teachers describe her as a positive-thinker and a diligent student. Chiara says her relationship with her family is great. One of her chores is to walk their dog, and she admits to loving animals. When she has time to chill, she watches movies and listens to music. Chiara is grateful to her host family for being willing to welcome her into their family "because you are one of the reasons this year will be so exciting and unforgettably great!" Arriving in August of 2019

Meet Finja, a creative and intelligent 15-year-old from Germany! Finja has aspirations of becoming a film director or a producer. You will be proud to say you knew her before she was famous! She is preparing by writing and producing short-films with friends, as well as gaming videos featured on their YouTube channel. Finja also plays the piano - perhaps someday she will compose and play the soundtrack to her own movie! Finja likes school as well. She especially enjoys Science and Computer Science classes because she likes learning how things work. She also enjoys learning new languages, currently studying both English and French. Not only is she smart and creative, she's also athletic. Finja has been practicing Judo for 10 years, plus she's in the gymnastics club at school and likes rock climbing at the gym when she has the time. As if that weren't enough, she volunteers too! Finja helps out at a youth club and at a camp for young children. Will you welcome Finja into your home? Arriving in August of 2019

Sixteen-year-old Natsuno from Japan describes herself as friendly, kind, and honest! She plays the piano, but her main activities are sports and art. Natsuno plays basketball, practices karate, and snowboards. She also enjoys camping because she loves being in nature, and fishing because she thinks it is fun to catch fish. Her favorite hobbies include crafting and painting because she loves to create original pieces. Natsuno loves her Math class at school, and plans to attend a university and live overseas in the future. She is very close with her family, often shopping with her dad to help him pick out clothes, and exercising to music with her mom. Some of her chores include cleaning and helping with meals. Natsuno thanks you for opening your home to her and is looking forward to seeing you! Arriving in August of 2019

Fifteen-year-old Ronja from Germany is a curious, open-minded girl who loves to laugh! Her friends will tell you that she loves to talk about any and all subjects as well. Ronja is passionate about the environment, and is an active member of the Scouts. She is also involved in various school activities, such as the student government and student medic groups. Her other hobbies include dancing, playing the piano, and performing and teaching German Wheel acrobatics. Ronja is close to her parents and younger sister, but she looks forward to creating a second home in the United States, a place that she can learn from and always go back to. Ronja hopes to learn about the American culture and improve her language skills while in the USA. "I hope you're going to be my host family and if so, thank you very much," says Ronja! Perhaps your family will learn all what German Wheel is as she explains it to you over a family dinner? Arriving in August of 2019

Meet 15-year-old Apolline from France who is a very active and multi-faceted teenager! Self-described as friendly but also serious and attentive, Apolline spends time throughout the week balancing school, playing the flute in an orchestra, attending a music education class, swimming, and participating in theater club at school. Other activities include running with her brother and father, cooking and baking, and playing volleyball and handball. Apolline writes that her family is an important part of her life, and they spend time together attending the circus, theater, restaurants, cinema, and family parties. Friends add another aspect of importance to Apolline, and she enjoys time with them hanging out and trying new activities and sports. Apolline looks forward to her upcoming exchange year in order to discover a new country and culture, meet new people, and make new friends. She thanks her new host family in advance for welcoming her into your family, and for allowing her to discover the American culture! Apolline needs a pet-free host family. Arriving in August of 2019 ,

Say hello to Paulina, a 15-year old girl from Germany who is best described as smart, creative, and reliable! She enjoys spending time with her family going to museums, having meals together, and traveling. Paulina loves visiting with her grandparents as well, as they only live three streets away. She helps her grandpa in the garden, and enjoys trips to the theatre together. At school, she is really interested in music, which is why she often spends time after school practicing the guitar with the school's band. Paulina is also a member of a German Scout Group that goes camping three times per year, and she enjoys practicing swimming and coaching young children in this sport. During her free time, Paulina loves to read, play her guitar, draw and paint, bake, and take pictures. In the winter, she goes ice skating every weekend but also appreciates time to relax by herself. Paulina is a person who enjoys spending time with others, she is friendly, is a very balanced person, and a peaceful family life is very important to her. She is excited about her exchange year, learning about the beautiful American culture and being a part of an American high school and family! Arriving in August of 2019

Artistic 16-year-old Aylin from Germany loves philosophy as she can learn about life, the world, and the differences between cultures! Aylin also enjoys dancing ballet and hip-hop, drawing, sewing, and fashion. She especially loves expressing feelings through dancing and drawing. During her spare time, Aylin meets with friends for barbecues, or simply to enjoy the outdoors. As she has interest in fashion and product marketing, as well as sport's science and health, she is still deciding on her future career. Aylin's parents work frequently to manage their fitness business, so Aylin has taken on many responsibilities, including helping to care for her two younger siblings. Her mother was an exchange student, and has encouraged Aylin to study abroad as well. Aylin is described as a lovable, honest, self-confident, kind, and open-minded girl. She looks forward to her exchange year to become deeply immersed in the American culture and way of life. Aylin is open to any new experience, and hopes to make new friends and become a part of your family. She thanks you for offering her this unforgettable experience! Arriving in August of 2019

Fifteen-year-old Japanese student Tsukasa is described as open, cheerful, motivated, and flexible! Interestingly, he was born in the USA, but moved to Japan as an infant. Tsukasa is excited to return to the country of his birth and make new memories with his host family! Other North American connections are strong: he spent 17 days on an exchange program in Canada living with a host family, and his older brother was an exchange student in Florida. Eager to improve his English language skills, he recently attended a two-week English language camp in the Philippines. During his exchange year, Tsukasa hopes to expand his perspectives and thinking, and to continue playing his favorite sports - tennis and baseball. His long-term career goals include the practice of medicine internationally. To prepare for being a contributing host family member, he is currently working with his mother to perfect his cooking skills so that he can treat his host family with Japanese meals! Arriving in August of 2019