Axel’s native languages are Catalan and Spanish, and he has studied English for ten years. His favorite subjects in school are Mathematics and Science, and he would like to work in the field of music in the future. During his exchange, he hopes to play in a band.

Axel lives with his parents, who are both teachers (his father a primary school teacher, his mother a secondary school teacher), and an older brother as well as a younger sister. Axel is comfortable living with pets and does not have any dietary restrictions. He will be 15 at the beginning of his program.

Berta's native language is Spanish, and she has been studying English for 10 years, and French for 4 years. Her favorite school subjects are Languages. She would like to pursue a Degree in Teaching in the future. During her year in the US, she wants to improve her English, explore new activities such as cheerleading and new sports, and become more independent and open-minded.

Berta lives in Spain with both of her parents. Her mother, Rocío, is a teacher, and her father, David, works as a plumber. She has one younger brother, Bosco, who is eight. She has no pets at home, no allergies, and no dietary restrictions. Berta will be 16 years old when she begins the program.

Eliana describes herself as being a creative, funny, positive, and open‑minded person. Her teachers and friends describe her as a kind, emphatic, mature, and responsible student who communicates with clarity, sincerity, and thoughtfulness; genuinely cares about the well-being of others; and is highly adaptable in new contexts.

Eliana's native language is German, and her second language is Hebrew. She has been studying English for 10 years and Spanish for 4 years. Her favorite school subjects are English and biology. She would like to pursue a career as a medical doctor in the future.

Eliana lives with her mother, father, and older sister. Her father is a chemist, and her mother is a photographer. Eliana has a no pets, can live in a home with pets, and has no allergies to pets. She has dietary restrictions as she does not eat pork or shellfish/seafood.

Emily describes herself as being independent, extroverted, open-minded, and adventurous. Her teachers and friends describe her as being a very inquisitive, self-reflected, well-organized, and communicative student.

Emily's native language is German. She has been studying English for 5 years and French for 5 years. Her favorite school subjects are math, English, art, physics, and PE. She would like to pursue a career in 3D-animation, video and digital game production, or architecture in the future.

Emily lives with her mother and younger sister. Her mother is a business administrator, and her father is an engineer. Emily has pet mice, can live in a home with pets, and has no allergies to pets. She has no dietary restrictions.

Recently, Hikari participated in an English skit contest in her province in Japan with one of her classmates. She practiced diligently for her role and did a wonderful job keeping the audience engaged throughout the performance. Hikari enjoys celebrating holidays (especially Christmas) and loves watching movies or painting with her mother and sister. Throughout middle school, Hikari also practiced judo.

Hikari’s native language is Japanese, and she has been studying English for three years. Her favorite school subjects include English, P.E., and music.

Hikari lives in Japan with her mother and younger sister, and they share a close-knit bond. Her mother works as a sales representative. Hikari is happy to live in a home with pets and has no allergies or dietary restrictions.

Jonas describes himself as being extroverted, humorous, adaptable, and curious. His teachers and friends describe him as being a thoughtful, well-balanced, motivated, and independent student.

Jonas's native languages are French and German. He has been studying English for 5 years and Latin for 3 years. His favorite school subjects are science, history, and technology. He would like to pursue a career in a medical laboratory or as an instructor.

Jonas lives with his mother and father. He has a younger and an older brother. His father is a finance manager in aeronautics, and his mother is a university teacher for history. Jonas has a fish and bees, can live in a home with pets, and has no allergies to pets. He has no dietary restrictions.

In addition to dancing, Kazuki enjoys staying active through volleyball and swimming. She also has a strong musical background and has been playing the piano for the past 10 years. She often serves as the accompanist for her school’s chorus competitions and is described by those around her as responsible and deeply trusted. Outside of her activities, Kazuki loves collecting anything related to Doraemon, the beloved Japanese manga character.

Kazuki is excited to become an involved member of her host family, especially looking forward to spending time together, sharing meals, and participating in simple activities like going for walks. She hopes to continue dancing during her exchange and would love the opportunity to join a volleyball team.

Japanese is Kazuki’s native language, and she has been studying English for six years as well as Korean for one year. Her favorite school subjects are English, Physical Education, and Music, and she hopes to pursue a future career in tourism.

Kazuki comes from a family of five, including her parents, both of whom are teachers, and her brother and sister. She is comfortable living with pets and has no dietary restrictions.

At school, Laura is an enthusiastic member of both the school volleyball team and a club team, where she thrives in teamwork and competition. During her exchange in the United States, she hopes to explore more opportunities to play volleyball, as well as to try both water and snow skiing. She is also excited about the chance to travel and experience new places.

Laura describes herself as friendly, extroverted, humorous, adventurous, flexible, and funny—traits that help her adapt easily to new environments and connect with others.

Her native language is Portuguese, and she has been studying English for six years. Her favorite school subject is Physical Education, and she dreams of attending medical school in the future.

At home, Laura lives with her mother and father. She has two older sisters, ages 23 and 21. Her father is in the military, and her mother serves as a military dentist. Laura has no allergies or dietary restrictions and is comfortable living in a home with pets.

Nene grew up skiing with her parents and loves making her grandmother and cousins laugh with jokes and funny stories. In her free time, she enjoys playing piano, badminton, and volleyball, as well as relaxing with her favorite Studio Ghibli, Disney, and anime films and shows. While on exchange in the U.S., she would love to join a music or art club, or possibly join the school volleyball team.

Her native language is Japanese, and she has studied English for 11 years, achieving a high level of proficiency. Her favorite school subjects include English, Art, and Music.

In Japan, Nene lives with her mother and father. Her father works as a police officer, and her mother is an elementary school teacher. She has mild allergies to both dogs and cats, which she manages with medication, so a home without pets is recommended. She has no dietary restrictions.

Ya Hsuan’s favorite activity is dancing. When she is home in Taiwan, she takes dance classes with her friends and especially enjoys jazz and hip-hop styles. She also loves dancing to K-pop music for fun. Ya Hsuan describes herself as energetic, open-minded, and independent. Since third grade, she has dreamed of visiting the United States and is excited to step outside her comfort zone by joining a dance club, participating in school performances, possibly joining the volleyball team, and experiencing everyday life (especially shared meals) with her host family.

Ya Hsuan’s native language is Chinese. She has been studying English for 12 years and Japanese for just over a year. Her favorite school subjects are English and mathematics, and she hopes to pursue a career as a fashion designer in the future.

Ya Hsuan lives with her mother and father and has two siblings: a 14-year-old brother and a 20-year-old sister. Her father works in the retail industry, and her mother is a designer. Ya Hsuan has one dog at home. She is comfortable living with pets and does not have any dietary restrictions.