Youth For Understanding USA

Active and energetic, Tristan from Uruguay is excited to experience the American culture during his exchange semester! Tennis and volleyball are his favorite sports, but he also loves trying new activities with friends, ranging from water sports and rugby to chess and yoga. When he's not studying or practicing his sports skills, Tristan can be found drawing, reading comics, working out at the gym, or playing with his dog. Tristan's friends describe him as a caring person who can always brighten your day. His teacher adds that he is curious about the world around him, and greatly believes in himself and his achievements. With a thirst for knowledge, Tristan is eager to try new activities during his time in the USA. He looks forward to the academic and athletic opportunities that his American high school may provide, and is especially eager to make new friends from across the globe! Will you choose Tristan as your Uruguayan son? Spring Semester 2020

Do you enjoy trying new foods? Aaliyah from Germany would love to whip up something special for your family in the kitchen! Cooking and baking are favorite hobbies for this young lady, especially making Italian cuisine with her mom. Perhaps, you can swap family recipes? Aaliyah would love to take a cooking class while in the USA as well. When she's not practicing her culinary skills, Aaliyah enjoys playing basketball and soccer with her dad, having movie nights with friends, or studying. Aaliyah is passionate about languages, with a goal to become fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese! For her future career, Aaliyah can see herself working as a lawyer or a judge. During her exchange year, Aaliyah is excited to discover a new culture, attend an American high school, and try new activities. Her parents would like you to know that she is a friendly and helpful person who is always wearing a smile. Make a dream come true by inviting Aaliyah into your family!

Attention Harry Potter fans! Paula from Germany would love to talk to you about all things from this wizarding world. She loves reading to escape to faraway places, and enjoys discussing her favorite stories with friends. When she's not wrapped up in a book, Paula attends ballet lessons, practices her table tennis skills, and enjoys skiing. Paula is a part of her school's drama club as well, an activity she would like to continue in the USA. She also loves being around animals, and would be happy to help care for her host family's pets. Coming from a close-knit family, Paula looks forward to time spent playing board games, rock climbing, or simply hanging out with her big brother. At school, Paula works hard to achieve excellent grades and is described by teachers as a team player. In the future, she dreams of becoming a math, science, and sports teacher. This cheerful young lady is excited to experience the beautiful landscape and friendly citizens of the USA. Through her exchange year, she would like to develop a greater acceptance towards different people. Paula is so thankful for the opportunity to share this experience with your family!

Full of laughter and with a caring heart for others, Paula from Uruguay is excited to become a member of her American host family! This sociable girl loves to surround herself with friends, often riding bikes, working out at the gym, and going to the beach together. At school, Paula is fascinated by the subject of Biology, and dreams of becoming a nutritionist in the future. Paula values eating healthy and being active, so she is eager to try a sport during her exchange year. She also loves to spend time outdoors, and is open to any new adventures that come her way. While in the USA, Paula hopes to make many friends, mature as a person, and live new experiences that will shape her into a global citizen. Paula thanks you for welcoming her into your heart and home! Winter Year 2020

Meet Daan, an ambitious, helpful, and family-oriented young man from Germany! Family is at the center of Daan's life, which includes his parents, younger brother, and pet dog. Together, they make time for evening meals and conversation around the dinner table, traveling to faraway places, and often visiting their grandparents who live nearby. Daan and his brother are dedicated soccer players, and have been playing on the same team for the past 10 years. Although soccer is an important part of Daan's life, he is also open to trying traditional American sports such as football or basketball while in the USA. During his free time, Daan can be found riding bikes with his friends, working out at the gym, spending time outdoors, and studying to earn excellent grades. When he has finished high school, Daan already has an internship lined up at an insurance agency so that he can explore this potential career path. Daan has been fascinated by our beautiful country since his first visit. Now, he dreams of meeting the people who live here, attending an American high school, and learning more about the culture and language. Daan thanks his future host family for welcoming him into their home and for making his dream of an American exchange year come true!

With a love for American Football, Ben from Germany is hoping to score a touchdown by becoming a member of your family! Ben would love to continue playing football during his exchange year, and is eager to discover his host family's favorite teams. When he's not practicing on the field with his team or with friends, Ben works hard as a paperboy to earn money for his year in the USA. He also lends a hand to his parents by babysitting his younger sisters and taking care of their two pet cats. When their busy schedules allow, Ben's family enjoys playing boardgames and testing out their endurance at adventure parks. At school, Ben studies hard to achieve very good grades, and has a special interest in the English language and building creations with his hands in his Industrial Arts class. In the future, Ben plans to become a teacher. Described as having a big heart, Ben is looking forward to the new experiences that his exchange year will bring, which will shape his future! Will your family be cheering on Ben from the football stands next school year?

Say hello to Marvin, an ambitious and kind young man from Germany! Marvin feels inspired and creative through drawing, listening to music, and playing his guitar. He especially loves learning the chords to play along with his favorite songs! Being active and spending time outdoors is also important to Marvin. He can often be found jumping on the trampoline in his backyard or practicing flips and tricks on the diving board. Marvin and his brother also love to play friendly games of table tennis together. While in the USA, he is excited to learn a new sport, such as American football or basketball. Weekends for Marvin are often spent playing sports with friends or taking Sunday bike rides with his family. Described as a committed and helpful student, Marvin has been serving as a Class Representative for three years running. With a fascination for Biology, Marvin plans to follow in his father's footsteps and work in research and development for diabetes in the future. He has already had the opportunity to intern in his father's lab, which further inspired this decision. During his exchange year, Marvin is looking forward to learning what it means to be a part of the American way of life through his host family. He thanks you for coming along on his greatest adventure yet!

Daniel from Brazil has a need for speed! Inspired by his race car driving grandpa, Daniel has been active in go-kart racing for the past three years. Playing tennis with his family and soccer with friends keeps Daniel moving as well. Daniel is also very open to trying new activities in the USA, and discovering new American sports that are not common in his home country. He already has a favorite American football team - the Miami Dolphins! Described as easy-going and fun to be with, Daniel looks forward to barbecues with his family, playing video games, and hanging out friends on the beautiful beaches of Brazil. At school, Daniel's favorite subjects are Math, History, and Geography, and he has a keen interest in learning new languages. Daniel's goals for his exchange semester are to become more adaptable, mature, and open-minded. "I will do my best to make this experience the best it can be," Daniel proclaims! Spring Semester 2020

Emely is an adventurous and ambitious teen from Germany! With a love for nature and animals, Emely looks forward to horseback riding each week. She also showcases her sense of adventure through frequenting amusement parks. During quieter moments, you might find Emely getting lost in a fantasy or romance novel. Emely walks to school each day, where her favorite subjects are Math, PE, and History. Her teachers describe her as a student who is always interested in learning, giving her best, and looking for a challenge. When she has finished school, Emely dreams of becoming a police officer and later, starting a family of her own. Time spent with friends is consumed with riding bikes, swimming at the lake, and watching comedy and action films at the local movie theater. Emely especially looks forward to the Christmas holiday, when she and her friends visit a traditional German Christmas market. She is excited to take part in her host family's traditions as well! Will there be a seat for Emely at your table this holiday season?

"Seize the day, enjoy what you are doing and share your joy with others," are words that Laetitia from Germany strives to live by! This compassionate and thoughtful girl loves to surround herself with family and friends, and is easily inspired by those who work to make the world a better place. When she's with her loved ones, Laetitia enjoys fun activities such as bowling, hiking, playing sports, and traveling to interesting places. She is active in her school's choir, plays the piano, and her latest adventure has been learning the self-defense art of Krav Maga. Laetitia also finds time to volunteer at her church as a confirmand leader. At school, Laetitia looks forward to learning new languages, and dreams of one day becoming a pediatrician. Through this exchange experience, Laetitia hopes to add new perspectives to her life, and would love to try a new sport or activity. Laetitia thanks you for your generosity and open hearts!

Meet Emmanuel from Uganda! Coming from a large family, Emmanuel has grown up in a faith-centered home and attends church weekly with his parents and siblings. He looks forward to attending church with your family in the USA as well! At home, Emmanuel helps his parents with household chores such as caring for their cows, goats, chickens, ducks, and turkeys. He also looks forward to family camping and hiking trips. Emmanuel feels blessed to have the opportunity to study abroad in the USA. He strives to excel in each academic subject, and dreams of becoming a lawyer or starting his own business in the future. Emmanuel enjoys sports, often playing soccer and volleyball with his friends. During his spare time, you might find Emmanuel discovering new places or reading novels. A bit of trivia about Emmanuel... jackfruit is his favorite food, especially the satisfaction of climbing to the top of the tree to pick it himself! Although he hasn't had the opportunity to learn to bake, he hopes to explore this activity with his American family. Emmanuel thanks you for hosting and says, "I am grateful to be considered for this life altering opportunity!" English is the 1st language of Uganda. Winter Year 2020

Introducing Louis, a positive and social young man from France who enjoys meeting new people! Louis is a dedicated tennis player who looks forward to weekend practices with his teammates. He also has experience playing golf and swimming, and loves to spend time outdoors. During the winter, you can find Louis practicing his skiing skills with his family on the slopes, and in the summer, he enjoys fishing and relaxing on the beach. A typical teen, Louis and his friends often spend time together after school, working on homework, playing sports, going to the movies, or going out for sushi. An excellent student, Louis plans to fight the injustices of the world through a future career as a lawyer. Louis was inspired to pursue an exchange semester after traveling the west coast of America with his family. With a curiosity for new cultures, he is eager to experience the American lifestyle with his host family while gaining in maturity and independence. He would also love to learn an American sport, such as baseball, ice hockey or American football. "Thank you for giving me this opportunity to fulfill my dreams," says Louis! Spring Semester 2020

Meet Tomas, a musically-inclined student from Argentina! He expresses his creativity through playing the guitar and ukulele, singing in his church's choir, and listening to a wide variety of music. Besides music, Tomas likes to be active by playing soccer, handball, and swimming with friends. He also loves dogs and has a heart for volunteering within his community, working with a low-income charity that helps children with their homework. Tomas loves seeing their happy faces when he and his friends arrive! A very good student, Tomas enjoys his Biology and Chemistry classes most, and is planning for a career in engineering. Tomas comes from a small family who loves each other dearly. He enjoys watching soccer matches with his dad, playing board games with his big sister, and going to the movies as a family. Tomas is excited to experience his American host family's culture, and believes that it is important to be involved in family activities to get to know each other. Described as lively, full of laughter and always happy, Tomas says that with him, you will never be bored. He looks forward to meeting you in person and beginning this adventure together! Spring Semester 2020

Rowing is Jakob from Germany's greatest passion! He loves the strenuous exercise, self-discipline required, and spending time with his teammates. Before a race, Jakob can be found listening to music from hip-hop to Queen for inspiration. While Jakob would like to continue rowing during his exchange year, he would be happy to try new team sports, if this isn't possible. He is especially looking forward to learning about traditional American sports with his host family. When he's not on the water, Jakob enjoys drawing anime, playing computer games with friends, and reading e-books - he's a self-proclaimed Potterhead! With a fascination for biomedicine, Jakob plans for a future career as a physician or a researcher so that he can discover cures for diseases. Time spent with family is consumed with playing cards, watching Netflix movies, and traveling to explore new cultures. Inspired by his family's travels and a recent American summer camp experience, Jakob is excited to further his knowledge of our culture through his exchange year. He can't wait to get to know you!

Tave from Germany is looking forward to experiencing everyday life in an American family, spending time at school, and becoming a true member of his host family during his year abroad in the USA! He would also love to share his culture with his new friends and host family, perhaps by whipping up some traditional German pancakes in your kitchen. An active young man, Tave can often be found on the soccer field or tennis courts practicing with his teams. While in the USA, he hopes to try his hand at an American sport such as football or basketball as well. Recently elected as Class Speaker at school, Tave is fascinated by the subjects of Math, Chemistry, and History, and enjoys furthering his knowledge at home through books and YouTube videos. Family is very important to Tave, often playing cards and boardgames, riding bikes, swimming, or sharing in great conversation together. Tave was inspired to pursue an exchange year after traveling throughout America with his family, leaving him with a special appreciation for our National Parks and free Coca-Cola re-fills. Now, Tave is excited to make the USA his second home with the help of your family!