Tymur Haryha 15, male from Chernihiv

My name is Timur, I am 15 years old, and I live in Ukraine, in the Chernihiv region, in the village of Voznesenske. I have an older brother and a younger sister. I enjoy being outdoors, exploring new things, hanging out with friends, and listening to music. Friends think I’m funny. It’s easy for me to make new friends. My hobbies are playing football, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, and a little video editing. I like to eat a lot, although I don’t like fish, I do eat sushi.

My mother is a wonderful person; she is kind, funny, and understanding. She works as a seamstress, loves her job, and is also an excellent cook. My brother and I help her with everything. My older brother’s name is Rostik; he works as a freelancer and is 19 years old. He and I often play football in the yard. I have a younger sister, Amina, who is 2 years old. She already speaks well, and it’s never boring with her. She loves animals and often walks with her parrot.

I don’t have a dad; he died a year ago. He was a good person and worked hard. He died due to heart problems. When we were under occupation, we lived in a basement for a year. During that year, my dad built a house from the cold and damp basement in which we lived. We had no problems with food, since we had a garden. I didn’t go anywhere, so I was very worried about my friends. We had no connection and couldn’t contact anyone. When the Russian military left the village where I live, I saw my friends for the first time in a year. I was very happy when I found out that they were okay.

I have many friends, but my best friend is only one. He is involved in sports dancing. We study at the same school; he is one year younger than me. Every weekend, we walk around the city. We often meet friends there and have a good time.

What can I expect from the trip? I really want to improve my level of English, and this is a great opportunity. I also want to meet new people and learn what it’s like to live in America. I like to discover new things, and there I can learn something new every day. If possible, I would really like to go to Los Angeles, visit Disneyland and, if I’m lucky, take a photo with some celebrity. In addition to studying and general development, I just want to walk the streets of California.