ZELIENOPLE — After spending a year living and learning in Germany, Kathleen Yellin has returned to Butler County with tales of adventure.

Yellin, 16, the daughter of Jennifer and Michael Yellin of Zelienople, left for Germany late last summer through the Zelienople Rotary Exchange Student program and returned in August. The Seneca Valley High School student presented her stories at a recent Rotary meeting.

“It was terrifying and amazing,” she said. “I had absolutely no German before I left.”

She stayed near the city of Potsdam with host families in the outlying villages and attended schools with German students as her German improved and she acclimated to the culture and learned the customs.

“You know Harmony has the Christmas Market, the WeihnachtsMarkt?” she said, “That's a real thing, in Germany, those are on every street corner. And they're huge.”

Yellin was one of nearly 50 Rotary exchange students in the Berlin region.

In addition to time spent in Berlin, Yellin and her newfound friends and host family traveled to numerous countries throughout the year.

“Went skiing in Italy,” she said, “I thought I knew how to ski because, yeah, I've been to Seven Springs, I've skied that,” she said. I didn't know how to ski. That's one thing I learned as I tumbled at least 700 feet downhill.”

The misadventure didn't injure Yellin, however, and even got her some extra lessons.

“It scared her host family,” said Jennifer Yellin, her mother, “and they enrolled her in ski school.”

The pinnacle of every German exchange student's year is the Europe tour, Yellin said.

“It's what everyone looks forward to,” she said. “When you're having a bad day: 'I gotta get through this so I can go on the Europe tour.'”

The tour takes the students throughout continental Europe, visiting many of the major cities and sites to give the students a glimpse of what the continent has to offer.

“All of the classic touristy things you have to do,” she said.

On the way she saw things most American students only see in textbooks, such as the Pope in Vatican City or the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which, according to Yellin, doesn't really lean that much.

The trip began approaching its conclusion at the end of the summer as Yellin's other exchange friends began heading home.

Yellin's parents visited her in Europe in August and noted at the Rotary meeting how much she had benefited from the trip.

“She's so independent,” said Michael Yellin. “It's like she came back after freshman year (in college).”

Kathleen Yellin said the trip made her much more comfortable adapting to situations and gave her a greater sense of perspective. She encourages any eligible student to apply to the program.

“Do it, just do it. It's one of the best things you can do,” she said. “This gives you a whole new perspective of the world. It's not just Evans City; it's not just Zelienople.”

“There's a whole world out there, and you need to go out there and get it,” she said. “It's there for you to take. And a lot of people don't realize this. “

She's been back only three months and is already looking for ways to again go abroad.

“Already I'm plotting 'How can I go back?'” she said. “I'm plotting; that's the correct word for it.”

From internships and school trips to gap years and other programs, Yellin said opportunities abound for students — and really anyone — who wants to broaden their horizons and visit a new country.

The local Rotary Club in the Seneca Valley School District is now accepting student applications for its 2017-18 school year Rotary Youth Exchange Program.

Students must be 15 1/2 to 18 1/2 at the time of departure to be eligible.

The trip costs $450 plus airfare, insurance and other travel costs and lasts for one year.

The Rotary Club provides housing with host families, food, schooling and a monthly allowance.

For more information, visit exchangestudent.org or contact Jeff Simmons at 724-875-1136 or jssim89167@yahoo.com.