Andersens host twelfth foreign exchange student | Lifestyle

AUDUBON — Omar Sallak is an AFS foreign exchange student who arrived on Aug. 18 and will be attending Audubon High School during the 2023-2024 school year. He is from the city of Hebron located in the West Bank, Palestine. Hebron is the third largest city in Palestine with a population of over 215,000 residents. Omar was born in Bethlehem and is 16-years-old. His father Mohammed is a college professor of orthopedic prosthetics and also has his own clinic. His mother Hanan is a high school principal. Omar has an older sister Suzana who recently graduated from college with a degree in dietetics and nutrition and was recently engaged to be married. He has a 13-year-old brother named Adb Al Hameed whose nickname is Boody.

Omar has joined the Audubon Wheeler football team and plans to participate in wrestling and track. Omar is excited to meet all of the students at Audubon High School and encourages them to stop and talk to him. He wants to share information about his country and culture and is happy to answer questions.

In Palestine there are no school sports programs. The students are divided into classrooms of approximately 35 students. The students remain in the same classroom all day and the teachers move from classroom to classroom. The only sports competitions are between the classrooms.

Omar is being hosted by Tim and Jan Andersen of Audubon, and is the 12th student they have hosted.