Petra from Finland with her host family.

Aspect Foundation’s inbox is flooded with notes from students expressing their gratitude for the experience they have had on student exchange. On Thursdays, we post one of these notes, sharing the “warm fuzzies” with all of you!

Today’s Thank You Thursday features Petra from Finland, who expresses her thanks for her year abroad in Utah.

Thank You to my incredible host family,

Never did I ever think that when I would come to the US, I would find a family that feels just like my own. Never did I ever think that when I would come here, I would be so welcomed and that you would be so interested in me. I’m so glad I got this family as my host family, because they mean so much to me. They’ve made me laugh, they’ve helped me with my struggles, they’ve made my year so great and they’ve been taking great care of me. I’m so grateful for them. I couldn’t have wished for better. You truly are my family. I love you guys so very much. Thank you for everything that you have done for me. It means the world to me.

Thank You to my High School,

For having a spot for me. For having amazing teachers who treated me so well and always made sure that I understood what was going on in class. Thank you for having amazing students who I now call my best friends. Thank you for having the coolest mascot, seriously, it’s awesome. And I want to thank Mrs. Peeler for being one of the greatest persons I’ve ever met. She made all of my school days so fun and amazing and she has the biggest heart, I will miss her French lessons so very much.

This is such a great school. It was everything I ever wanted, thank you for providing me this experience.

-Petra from Finland, in Utah

Interested in sharing YOUR corner of the world with an international exchange student? Learn more about becoming a host family at: http://aspectfoundation.org/host-families.

A few of Petra’s favorite photos from her year in Utah.