To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Laura Stahl, and I am the Special Services Director for OCEAN (Organization for Cultural Exchange Among Nations), which is a non-profit organization that sponsors foreign exchange students, ages 14-18, and places them in volunteer host families and high schools throughout the U.S. for a semester or academic year. We are currently seeking volunteer host families for two girls, one from Ecuador and one from France who are vegetarians. Might you know of any families in your community that would be interested in welcoming one of these students into their home for the 2018/2019 school year? Below is additional information:

Student’s Name: RAFAELA
Age: 17
Home Country: ECUADOR
Grade of Enrollment: 11th
Interests: Air dance, writing poems & essays, reading, cooking vegetarian meals, hiking.
Excerpt from the student’s letter: “I am a very positive person, who always sees the bright side of circumstances. Since I was little I have loved sports and nature. I have been in three summer camps and I used to ride horses. Nature, creativity, sports and lovely people are really present in my life. I am vegetarian because I feel a deep love for animals and nature. I think it has a magnificent power that can be perceived in beautiful landscapes. I live surrounded by nature and this causes me a peaceful sensation. Everyone has a hobby, mine is air dance. I discovered this activity six months ago and it was a bless to me, it makes me really happy, it is my passion too. I practice this kind of dance three times a week in the afternoon. I try to keep myself busy because I think this teaches me to organize my time effectively. I like to have a good lifestyle, I don’t like to eat bad or not doing sport. Exercise has helped me a lot grow. I am an energetic person who is always doing productive activities. Creativity is a part of me. I like to write poems and essays both are pretty different, still writing is such a beautiful way to express.”

Student’s Name: CLARA
Age: 17
Home Country: FRANCE
Grade of Enrollment: 12th
Interests: Fitness, drawing, painting, playing the guitar.
Excerpt from the student’s letter: “I have a lot of hobbies actually, like doing sports in my fitness club. I go there as much as possible because I’m very dynamic and I want to enjoy life. I also like being with my pets, they comfort me a lot. I love animals so much that I became a vegetarian 2 years ago, and I’m very proud of that. I particularly love dogs and cats. The beach and the sea are for me the most beautiful things that exist on earth. Overall, I like nature, sun, flower and so many more things. My favorite season is definitely summer! I love hot weather. I like to be in the beach with my friends, who are very amazing, and playing the little of what I know in guitar. My second favorite place is forest, I feel safe there. I am very attached to people, for me, meet new people is very interesting and I hope this trip will open me to new horizon. I believe that this trip will give me another perspective of life and give me even more maturity and independence. I would like to share you my culture and make you discover the most amazing things in France as you will make me discover America.”’

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to e-mail me at [email protected] or call me at 1-888-996-2326, Ext. 5. You may also wish to visit our website at: www.ocean-intl.org.

Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Laura Stahl
Special Services Director
OCEAN
2101 E. Broadway Road, Suite 6
Tempe, AZ 85282-1735
Phone: (480) 907-7285 Fax: (480) 907-7526
Toll-Free: 1-888-996-2326
Website: www.ocean-intl.org
E-mail: [email protected]