I wish to participate in the Italian exchange program for many reasons.  Ever since I was a child I had always went outside and explored the woods around my house and I’ve always enjoyed seeing new places and going on adventures.  This is an opportunity for me to go further than I’ve ever been and get to experience something not everyone has.   Then when I’m a grandfather and my grandchildren ask me where I have been I can say to them that I’ve traveled to Europe and hopefully that might spark some interest in them and encourage them to travel the world and learn of different cultures.

I believe this exchange program will benefit me as a student by enhancing my knowledge of foreign history and it will help motivate me to achieve more.  As an individual I think the trip will earn me some new friends, both Italian and other people from my high school that I have not yet had the opportunity to know.  The trip could also help me as an individual by boosting my confidence and self esteem by knowing that I am brave enough to get on a plane and fly to another country without my parents and the trip will make me more independent.  The Italian exchange will also benefit me as a global citizen because I will actually get to experience another country’s way of life and I will hopefully be able to understand their governments and their economy and by doing so I may be more understanding toward other country’s point of view in politics.

My home life is very relaxing and I have great parents.  We are very open minded to each other and we enjoy going on small trips together, such as going to the beach or going fishing for the weekend.   We usually eat home cooked food and very rarely eat fast food or take out.  There aren’t many chores at my house other than feed the cats, keeping the rooms clean, and sometimes I have to mow the grass and clean up the yard.

I enjoy many activities and have many interests in my life.  I love to be on my computer and surfing the internet and playing games.  I have even bought my own parts and put together my own computer which I am very proud of.  I also like to play sports, and I play high school baseball and football.  I love to watch hockey especially the Colorado Avalanche!  I also enjoy working out and lifting weights and I love to show off my speed and other abilities in my personal fitness class!  Fishing, hunting, and hiking are other hobbies of mine that I have done since I could walk.  Fishing is a mix of relaxation, adventure, anticipation, excitement and disappointment that challenges the virtue of patience.  I love to hunt because I can get out and explore and I have to test wits with some very clever creatures and you usually see something you’ve never seen before or even experienced every time you go into the woods.

There is really nothing I do not like.  I try not to judge other people but I try to understand who they are and their point of view.  I believe there are pro’s and con’s to everything in life and you must analyze those factors and determine which one is the most beneficial to you and to other people. 

I have been on many trips within the United States, such as to Arizona and I’ve got to see to Grand Canyon, I’ve been to the large city of Dallas, Texas,  I’ve been awed by the endless plains of Oklahoma, and swam in the waters of  the Atlantic Ocean.  I do not believe any of those will compare to the experience of exploring Italy.