SOPHIA, 21 YEARS

Dear Future Host Family, It's thrilling to have the opportunity to write to you and provide a greater sense of who I am and what I'm like. I am Sophia, 21 years old, and I was born in Batangas on March 21, 2003. I was raised in Rizal and now have a life in Laguna, where I study economics at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. I love to play badminton; I used to practice playing the piano; I enjoy singing, and I love listening to music as it keeps me cheerful. I'm also fond of the arts, particularly painting and other similar activities. I love to bake and cook as well. I relish experiencing different kinds of things and am passionate about enjoying all of them! I come from a family of four: my mother, my younger brother, my baby sister, and me as the eldest child. As a firstborn, I was raised to be independent and responsible regarding household chores and, especially, in taking care of my siblings, even at a young age. Ever since I was able, I have lent a hand to my nieces and nephews whenever they visited. Recently, I was able to share these experiences when I became an au pair for a wonderful family in the Netherlands whom I adore and cherish. I consider spending time with children one of the greatest joys in life. Watching and being with them offers a perspective on an innocent view of life. It is pure, magical, and extraordinary. As a kid, I enjoyed watching TV shows and movies. It wasn't until I was around 10 years old that I discovered the beauty of Iceland when I watched "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." From that moment on, I remained intrigued by the beauty of Europe and yearned to visit one day. The possibility of experiencing its culture while creating bonds with family and friends will be an amazing, life-changing journey that I hope to be part of one day. Au pairing is a significant step to take, but I believe it isn't always about traveling abroad. I would love to be one because, for me, it's about having an amazing life experience while establishing warm and strong relationships with families by working with children, having a hand in their upbringing, and watching them grow, which is a very rewarding process. In the future, I believe that you, my possibly future host family, and especially my host kids, will come to hold a special place in my heart as I become a part of your beautiful family. Being one with the shared moments that I will never forget will be one of the greatest significances of my journey as an au pair. Furthermore, I am ready to continue this quest and try all kinds of things for the very first time. I want to learn to cope with new responsibilities in an all-new environment to become stronger, more disciplined, and more independent in life. I aim to conquer experiences that will help me grow and learn a lot about myself. All these new adventures will allow me to have a home away from home as I start another journey into a different culture while sharing what my culture has to offer and creating wonderful memories with you as my future host family. Here I am, looking forward to the greatest adventure that lies ahead of me and anticipating all the new experiences that I will face. I can't wait to immerse myself in the fascinating and rich culture that your country has to offer. Thank you so much for considering me as your host daughter. I look forward to the opportunity to get to know you soon! I hope you have a great day!