Youth For Understanding USA

Shunta is an enthusiastic student from Japan with big dreams of making a global impact! He plans to study international liberal arts at university and hopes his exchange year will help him explore a new culture and gain a broader perspective on world issues. Known for his positivity, adaptability, and kindness, Shunta is adventurous, friendly, and always ready to help. He loves sports like basketball, baseball, boxing, and dance, and enjoys listening to a mix of classic, Western, and Japanese pop music. A talented musician, he plays both the piano and guitar, and his favorite subject is history. In his free time, Shunta enjoys hanging out with friends, eating out, and watching movies, while staying active with regular jogs. Grateful for the chance to be part of a host family, Shunta is excited to learn, grow, and share his culture. Could you be the family to help him on this amazing journey?

Eva, a 15 year old girl, from Germany is excited to meet you! Eva is an open-minded and curious person loves to try and learn new things. She has a positive outlook, and friends describe her as attentive, ambitious, and creative. Eva has many interests but loves to dance! She is looking forward to the possibility of taking a weekly dance class while on exchange and would like to continue boxing as well! While on exchange Eva is also interested in trying new sports like cheerleading, ice hockey, or rugby. At home, Eva has two cats and loves snuggling up with them and relaxing with her family as well as going into the city to see movies, go to museums and visiting the shops. Though Eva is a vegetarian, she is okay with picking meat out of a dish or eating around it. She is also comfortable with making her own meals if necessary. Eva has never been to the USA before and is looking forward to her exchange year to learn about the culture, meet new friends and make lifelong memories. Eva would like to say she is grateful that you will share your home with her!

Looking for a real winner of an exchange student? Youre sure to score big with Tobias, from Germany! Active Tobias loves to play soccer, both with his friends and with his team. When he is not playing, you are likely to find him at the field refereeing matches for younger kids. The second of four kids, Tobias pursues his own sport, as do his siblings. Weekends are always busy sharing breakfast with his family then each goes to their own games or matches. When not playing soccer, Tobias enjoys hanging out with friends, playing video games, studying for exams, and just talking. His goal while on exchange is to try some American sports like ice hockey, basketball, and baseball. He hopes to learn new skills and experience unique situations that he wouldnt face at home. He follows in the footsteps of his older brother, who is on exchange in the US this year. His family enjoys traveling to neighboring countries, exploring and often camping. They like to swim, ski, play cards and games. Good-natured and reliable, Tobias is sure to find a place in your heart!

Meet Yuechen (nickname Emily) from China! Emily is described by her friends and teachers as reliable, empathetic, and altruistic. She comes from a tight-knit family and values spending quality time with them, including her mischievous cat. Emily has enjoyed playing both soccer and baseball for the past 6 years and hopes that she could participate in sports while on exchange. She also enjoys spending time with her friends going out to eat, shopping, playing sports, or just talking about life. Emily loves to read science fiction, her favorite writer being Isaac Asimov, and also enjoys Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes. Emily had the opportunity to participate in a global citizenship summit in Canada which focused on sustainable development. Based on that experience Emily is excited about getting the opportunity to spend a year in the US. She would like to eventually attend University and is considering pursuing a STEM or art degree. She is profoundly grateful that you would open your home and hearts to her. She is humbled by your willingness to welcome a stranger into your home and is ready to make the year a memorable one.

Meet Ryota, a considerate and cheerful 16 year old young man from Japan. Ryota is sincere and competitive, and enjoys cooking Japanese food. He has excellent tennis skills, and also likes ballroom dancing. His friend says that he is earnest, kind and polite. His teacher says that Ryota is a good communicator, actively participates in school events, and is dedicated to academics. Ryota will make a great addition to your family!

Introducing Luisa, helpful & independent 15 year old young lady from Germany. Luisa lives with her parents, 2 siblings, her grandparents and 2 cats. She loves cheerleading. In her spare time, she coaches children in athletics and gymnastics. Luisa also loves to bake cakes and muffins. Her friends say that she is intelligent and self-reflective. Her teacher says that she is highly motivated, has good social skills, is joyful, and has excellent English language proficiency. Luisa plans to be a lawyer in the future. Will Luisa become the newest member of your family?

Mihiro is a brave, musical, and artistic seventeen-year-old from Japan who is eager to travel to the US and take part in family life. At home, she lives with her elementary and preschool aged brothers, and finds great joy and entertainment in playing with them. She would be happy to continue being a big sister in the States! Music is a big part of Mihiro's life--besides listening to her favorite bands on the train while on the way to school, Mihiro is a talented musician herself. Euphonium, violin and piano are Mihiro's instrumental specialties, and she has played an instrument or two since she was small. If possible, she would be happy to join a band or orchestra at her new high school. Calligraphy is another of Mihiro's specialties, and she is a certified instructor of Japanese calligraphy (see her samples at the end of her host family letter--they are beautiful!) Mihiro and her family often watch movies together, complete household tasks together, and curl up in the evenings to watch episodes or read books. Love stories, documentaries, and romantic comedy are among Mihiro's favorite genres (anything except horror!), and she often cries due to all of the feels in the storyline, which entertains her brothers very much! In the US, Mihiro would like to make forever friends. Mihiro is eager to learn more about American holidays, such as Halloween, Christmas, and Easter. Mihiro would be a delightful, calm, and respectful daughter to add to your family, and she is very much looking forward to meeting you!

Meet 15-year-old Pacome, nickname Pac, from France! Pac enjoys playing sports especially tennis. He hopes to also play basketball and football while he is in the U.S. Pac's grades are excellent. He particularly enjoys science, mathematics, and history classes. Pac's teachers describe him as thoughtful, easy-going and open-minded. At home, Pac enjoys playing tennis, hiking, skiing, traveling and playing board games with his family. He also enjoys relaxing by spending time with friends, drawing, watching movies and watching television. Pac especially enjoys cooking and baking including crepes and lemon meringue pie. Pac is looking forward to sharing his French culture with his host family. Perhaps you could make crepes together!

Meet Natsuki, a cheerful and hardworking 17 year old girl from Japan. Natsuki is a member of student council, and helps plan school activities. She also loves playing volleyball, and loves her teammates. Her teacher says that she is curious, open minded, and has excellent English language proficiency. Her friend says that she is cheerful, reliable and kind. Natsuki plays the piano, but would love to learn how to play another instrument, such as guitar. Will Natsuki become the newest member of your family?

Thitikorn, who goes by Sun, is ready to share his Thai culture with his host family while on exchange. Sun describes himself as cheerful, creative, kind and friendly. His friend would agree but also add helpful and funny. He loves to play volleyball and would love to continue playing while he is on exchange. Sun also loves studying English and listening to all kinds of music. He comes from a small family, being an only child, so he is hopeful for the opportunity to have host siblings. His teachers sing his praise by saying that Sun is "diligent and respectful and will exceed any expectations" that you will have of him as an exchange student. Sun can't wait to come to the United States to start this chapter of his life as a member of your family. He wants you to be part of his real family, not just his host family. Will you open your family to Sun?

Introducing Boonjira (nicknamed Peemai), a generous, kind, and friendly 15 year old girl from Thailand. Peemai enjoys playing sports, especially tennis, badminton and basketball. And she enjoys watching sports as well. Her teacher says that Peemai studies hard, is reliable and cooperative, and has excellent English language proficiency. Her friend says that she is open minded and eager to help. Will this young lady become the newest member of your family?

Meet Hannes, an energetic and open-minded exchange student from Germany! As the middle child in his family, Hannes has mastered the art of adapting to all sorts of situations. He has a passion for sports, with a love for dancing, tennis, piano, and basketball. Hannes is excited to try new sports during his time in the USA, particularly baseball, and is eager to join a basketball team to experience American team sports firsthand. Family is incredibly important to Hannes, and he values the close bond he shares with his parents and siblings. He describes himself as a free spirit with a kind heart, always eager to connect with new people. When he's not spending time with friends or diving into his favorite video games, Hannes enjoys some quiet time reading a good book. Hannes also has a creative side: he loves cooking, listening to music, and spending time outdoors. Whether he's experimenting with new recipes or exploring nature, hes always ready for an adventure. In school, Hannes is particularly passionate about history and mathhe finds numbers fascinating and enjoys delving into the stories of the past. During his exchange year, Hannes hopes to form lifelong friendships, learn from different cultures, and become a cherished part of an American family. If you're looking for a friendly, curious, and well-rounded student to host, Hannes would be a fantastic addition to your home!

Does your family love adventure? Lasse, a 15-year-old boy from Germany would love to be your newest family member! Lasse lives with his younger brother, his parents, and an exchange student from the US, and all of them have encouraged Lasse to use his exchange year to meet new people and become more fluent in English. Lasse's parents describe him as a sporty and responsible young man who loves running or biking through the forest near his home with his family. He also enjoys windsurfing on vacations to the North Sea, and skiing in Austria. Lasse hopes to try a new sport in the US (possibly boxing, wrestling, or track!) Although Lasse lives near a forest, he also lives near a city, where he enjoys going to the gym to weight lift, and meet up with friends. Besides physical fitness, Lasse also enjoys reading, computer programming, creating websites, and volunteering in his school. Helping others is the big draw of his volunteer work, one of his jobs at school is a bus monitor (he helps get younger students on the bus safely) and another is mentoring other students what have had problems with cyberbullying. Lasse hopes to continue to help people in the future as a law enforcement officer. This energetic and compassionate young man is hoping to call YOU family.

Meet Tanakorn (nickname T-Off), a talented and easygoing 15-year-old boy from Thailand with a wide range of interests and skills. T-Off is passionate about technology and enjoys assembling PCs, a hobby that fuels his fascination with computers and inspires his dream of pursuing a tech-focused career. In addition to his tech-savvy side, T-Off is an avid esports player and robotics enthusiast. Beyond his love for tech, T-Off stays active by playing badminton, golf, and swimming. He also has a deep love for animals and enjoys spending time around them. His friends describe him as funny, helpful, and a joy to be around, while his teacher praises his respectful attitude, sense of humor, and strong English language skills. During his exchange year, T-Off is eager to unleash his creativity, try new things, and make meaningful connections. He cant wait to meet you and create some unforgettable memories together!

After spending a vacation in the US a few years ago, Emilia couldn't wait to come back for an exchange experience! Sports are a huge part of Emilia's life. A competitive cheerleader, Emilia spends multiple hours at the gym honing her skills. When she's not in the gym, she enjoys watching sports and is open to trying new sports on exchange. She is looking forward to a career as a sports journalist. Sports aren't the only activities Emilia enjoys. She also loves to cook and bake and be creative. She also enjoys talking history and politics. Emilia sees herself as a strong-willed person who is open to new things and fiercely loyal to her family and friends...and her pets. Emilia is excited to immerse herself in all her school would have to offer, as well as getting to know better the American way of life. Her deepest hope is to find a family and friends whom she can come back to see even after her exchange year is over. Will that family be yours?

Inquisitive and independent, meet Katharina, 16, from Germany. With a strong interest in politics and economics, as well as history, Katharina loves discussions about the world and wants to hear and understand the world views of others from differing countries and cultures. Her desire to study abroad was strengthened by an older brother and her father, who both were exchange students in the past. Her hobbies including reading, which calms her and allows her to dive into all the different worlds, listening to music, and hanging out with her friends. She likes to ski and hike, spending time in nature. Katharina has gained independence by doing most of the grocery shopping for her family and sharing in cooking and clean-up chores. Her family eats evening meals together and often enjoy sharing a movie on weekends. With friends, she often visits a coffee shop, does a little shopping, or checks out a bookstore. If you enjoy family time together, engaging in deep discussions about culture and world views, and sharing culture and family traditions, Katharina is sure to be a great fit!

We're pleased to introduce Carlotta, an optimistic and creative 15 year old girl from Germany. Carlotta considers geography and biology her favorite subjects, but is also fond of languages, especially English. She plays tennis and the piano, and loves to cook and bake. Carlotta loves to meet new people, and is considered a good listener by her friends. Her friends also see her as supportive and helpful. Her teacher says that she is well-behaved and respectful, is always prepared, and has very good English language proficiency. Will Carlotta become the newest member of your family?

Anna's main goal in life is to impact the world in a positive way, and although she is only 16, this young lady from Germany already has a great start. Anna is a member of the volunteer fire department, hopes to volunteer at an animal shelter in the US, and plans to become a lawyer so that she can defend the innocent. One of Anna's fondest memories is taking her elderly grandmother up to the country so that she could see the cows roaming the hillsides and listen to their bells clang, a childhood memory that Grandma dearly missed. This extroverted small town girl also loves to play beach volleyball, swim in the nearby lake, and have sleepovers with friends. Anna is excited to experience "American High School Spirit" and would love to participate in a high school sport, perhaps volleyball, or cheerleading. Any family would be lucky to host this kind and altruistic young lady, and she can't wait to get to know you!

Introducing Franka, a reliable and humorous 15 year old girl from Germany. Franka views herself as inquisitive, sociable and open minded. Her teacher says that she learns quickly and has excellent English language proficiency. And her friend says that she is creative. Franka has a job as a tutor, and another job as a waitress. When she's not working, she enjoys participating in track and field with her friends. While in the US, Franka would like to try playing basketball and soccer. This delightful young lady will be a positive addition to your family!

Say Hello to Levin! This 15 year old boy from Germany is ready for anything! Levin is a friendly and open individual who loves to make and listen to music. He also enjoys mathematics and physics and calls himself a problem solver. Levin plays table tennis at home and would like to continue this while on exchange but is also open to trying other activities such as basketball, baseball or men's volleyball. He is also a volunteer with his local church organization, helping other kids to prepare for confirmation. Levin has an aquarium in his room and likes to watch and feed his fish. Levin also likes to cook and bake with his family, helping to prepare dinner or dessert and after they sometimes play board games. Levin would like to thank you for giving him a chance this exchange year to participate in the American lifestyle and life at an American high school.