Meet Hamilton’s New Foreign Exchange Students

Photo by Marina Leonova from Pexels.

Nevaeh Hughes

This year, Hamilton has had the honor to host two foreign exchange students: Hala, from Jordan, and Chiara, from France. Continue reading to learn more from these two! 

Hala Al-Riyalat

Hala Al-Riyalat is a 16-year-old from Amman, Jordan. Back home, she’s involved in horseback riding (show jumping), singing, and joining school plays. She also previously played basketball and participated in kickboxing. 

Here at Hamilton, Hala stays very active within a multitude of different clubs such as Leo Club, Key Club, French Club, HOSA, and Cultural Exchange Club. Earlier in the year, she was a part of tennis and rugby and has hopes of joining either softball or track & field in the spring. In 2013, her brother was an exchange student in Seattle, Washington, which made her decide to apply for the same program. She received a full scholarship and ended up studying here for a full year. 

FAST FACTS

What languages can you speak?

English and Arabic.

What classes are you currently taking? 

Ceramics, Sociology, Individual & Dual Sports, and Advanced Algebra.

What are your favorite things about living here?

Football games, new holidays, sports teams, CHEESE CURDS, and Auntie Anne’s.

If you had unlimited money and didn’t have to go to school, what would you do for a day in the United States?

I would go to California, Florida, NYC, and Disney World or go skydiving.

Chiara Castellotti

Chiara Castellotti is also a 16-year-old, but she’s from the south of Paris, France. Unfortunately, there are no school teams in France, but they do have clubs. Outside of school, she participates in rhythmic gymnastics, judo, and boxing back home. At Hamilton, she’s actively involved in Key Club, French Club, the Ski & Board team, and the Cultural Exchange Club. She absolutely loves football games here in the States, but she can’t help but miss the food and her cats. 

FAST FACTS

What languages can you speak?

English, French, Italian.

What classes are you currently taking? 

Ceramics, US History, Lifetime Fitness, and Advanced Algebra.

What are your favorite things about living here?

Football games.

If you had unlimited money and didn’t have to go to school, what would you do for a day in the United States?

TRAVEL!

Mall of America, Madison, New York, Six Flags (she’s already experienced these things).