Youth For Understanding USA

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 Natsuki (nickname Nuts) from Japan! Natsuki is described by friends and teachers as responsible, kind, and a good listener. He has been a class leader and participated on school committees and would like to find volunteer opportunities while on exchange. He is a soccer fan who has played soccer for 10 years, enjoys watching the Premier League, and would love to be able to continue to play while on exchange. He values his relationship with his family and they often like to pursue outdoor activities together. He especially appreciates the opportunity to combine his love of the outdoors with photography. He would also love to have the chance to go camping with his host family while on exchange. He likes to listen to a variety of music with his favorites being Ed Sheeran, Maroon 5, and ONE OK ROCK. During his exchange year he is hoping to learn about American culture, broaden his perspectives, improve his English skills, and to be a part of your family. He would like to use his exchange year to further an internationally oriented career so that he would make a more positive impact on the world.

Passsionate about languages and learning about history, meet Maelle, from France. Maelle says history helps her understand where she comes from and languages are a window to other cultures around the world. Family oriented Maelle plays lots of board games with her family, likes to cook, and together they enjoy going to movies, museums, caves, zoos and city tours. Mature Maelle attends a boarding school where she earns excellent grades. She likes to play volleyball, run, do Crossfit and Zumba and jazz dance. She also plays piano. While on exchange, Maelle hopes to improve her English, learn about American culture, make new friends and discover more about herself. While she enjoys being with friends, Maelle also enjoys solitary time when she can read, journal and reflect. An animal lover, Maelle takes care of two cats and has spear-headed animal protection projects in her community. She hopes her exchange year is the first of many cultural experiences. Her ultimate goal is to become an ambassador someday. Will you help her begin her journey of diplomacy by making her part of your family?

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?

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?

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?

Loyal and reliable Cedric, from Germany, is all set to follow in the footsteps of his mother and uncle. Coming to the United States on exchange is a family dream that continued with Cedric. Having many cherished memories shared with him, he decided very early in his life that he, too, wanted to come to the United States for his exchange year. Cedric describes himself as sporty, musical and able to connect well with other people. He loves spending time with his family and friends doing anything from biking to exploring a museum. He especially enjoys playing basketball and hopes to continue playing in his new school. He has also recently discovered a new love of photography and is eager to share his photos with his host family. While he is on exchange, Cedric hopes to grow personally, experience new things and make new long-lasting friendships. Will you open your home to Cedric and help fill his photo album with new memories?

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!

Saki is a delightful girl from a big, blended family in urban Japan that cannot wait to meet her American family! She loves to cook, and has a special dish that she hopes to make for you. Saki writes that she loves to be outdoors and active, and enjoys walking, running, watching sporting events and traveling, especially to the beach! She loves to play tourist anywhere, and hopes to see some interesting sights with her host family. Saki also enjoys listening to Korean (K-Pop) music, watch movies in both English and Korean, hanging out with her siblings, and visiting her mother on weekends. Babysitting for her younger sister and helping to maintain her father and step-mother's household takes up her after school hours, but Saki writes that she loves her little sister and finds it a pleasure. Excited to try all kinds of American food, Saki warns that she is not a fan of squid, octopus, or shellfish. Perhaps she will enjoy a bacon cheeseburger! In the US, Saki hopes to join a running team (cross country or track?) and would like to either try out dance or be involved with a team (poms? cheerleading?) so that she can make friends. She admits to being a bit nervous about making friends, but is determined to have a life-long friend and family network in the US. Saki is eager to make the most of her exchange year with your family!

Marius is a 16-year old boy from Germany. Marius describes himself as reliable, humorous, and even-tempered. He enjoys spending time with his three younger siblings, especially his six-year-old brother, whom he is currently teaching to play chess. In his free time, Marius likes to read, play the guitar, and hang out with friends. During vacations, he travels with his family, visiting places like his grandparents in the Ore Mountains or friends in Spain. His friends would describe him as funny and kind to everyone, and they meet almost every weekend. Marius hopes that his exchange year will make him more independent and confident, while also broadening his horizons and helping him make new friends. He aims to gain valuable experiences, learn new perspectives, and become fluent in the language. Welcome Marius into your family!

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!

Meet Ayumi, a cheerful and happy 16 year old girl from Japan. Ayumi plays the violin, and also enjoys table tennis and kickboxing. She also loves to cook and bake. Ayumi would love to try cheerleading and dance while in the US. Her teacher says that she is mature, is willing to learn, and has a warm and bright personality. Her friends say that she always smiles, is good at making plans, and is a hard worker. Ayumi is very excited to meet you, and would love to make some Japanese food for your family!

Do you love the sounds of music floating through your house? So does Yuna, from Japan! This friendly and cheerful teen plays violin and piano, saying she loves to experience firsthand the charm of music. She also likes to sing and actively participates in and English drama club at her school. Yuna has two older brothers, who do not live at home anymore, but says they enjoy playing card games and tennis together when they are around. At school, Yuna is known as a hard worker with a positive personality who takes on leadership roles that use and enhance her organizational skills and her ability to work collaboratively with people of diverse ages and backgrounds. Yuna enjoys cooking, saying fruits and vegetables are her favorite foods. She looks forward to cooking together with host family while on exchange, sharing recipes and different foods. Of her exchange, Yuna says I want to make lifelong best friends and share a deep and respectful relationship with my host family!

Kind and open-minded Rio from Japan is eager to start her journey to the USA and become your newest family member. Rio has spent many years perfecting the art of Japanese calligraphy and loves the beauty that flows from this art form. She has had several of her pieces put on display at a local exhibit hall and is ready to share this art form with her new family and friends. Rio displays great enthusiasm for the arts and crafts world and can be found designing anything from digital media to oil paintings to crocheting gifts for others. When not crafting, she enjoys being outside and likes to take nature walks. She frequently goes camping with her family and likes to cook over a campfire or read a good book while enjoying the peace of the outdoors. Rios favorite classes in school are English, math, and psychology and she hopes to pursue a degree in psychology. She finds it fascinating to help others understand and work through problems. Rio wants to improve her English so she can communicate better with others. Bring a smile to Rio by welcoming her into your family and letting her share her artistic talents.

Rinka, who goes by Lynn, from Japan, knew she wanted to spend a year in the United States after spending 3 weeks in Australia a few years ago. Lynn describes herself as a friendly and active person, and she can't wait to converse with you about anything and everything! Lynn stays active by playing basketball, volleyball, flag football, and running. She loves to be active! Lynn enjoys quiet time, as well--whether it's taking walks or relaxing on the lawn (or the beach!). As excited as she is about her exchange year, Lynn admits to being "a bit nervous", but is confident it will be amazing year filled with wonderful memories. Why not welcome Lynn into your life and make those wonderful memories together?!