Originally from Leer, a town in Germany with a population of 35,000, Jelte wanted to experience life outside of Germany.
"So I wanted to go somewhere where I can still do my rowing and UK was a bit too close to Germany," he said.
Australia and Canada came up as choices but his brother had already gone to Canada and Jelte hated spiders and snakes which ruled out Australia.
After contacting an exchange agency and saying he wanted to do rowing in New Zealand, the agency provided Jelte with options for high schools with good rowing programmes where he could do an exchange.
"They text me or they showed me schools with good rowing where I can go and then I looked at all of them and decided Dunstan."
Jelte arrived in Central Otago in time to start at Dunstan High School in term three last year; that first day of term he said he felt out of his depth.
Fortunately for Jelte, his host family already had a German exchange student who showed him around and made starting at Dunstan High easier, he said.
Hosted by Barry and Tracey Driehuis, Jelte said he enjoyed experiencing normal Kiwi family life and taking part in rowing and outdoor education.
Jelte said his year in New Zealand was the best year of his life, and encouraged anyone looking to do a school exchange to just do it.
Mrs Driehuis began hosting students more than 10 years ago, wanting to learn about other cultures and to give students a taste of life in New Zealand.
She said it was great hosting Jelte for the year.
"It was good to have him come over and we could allow him to come here and do what he wanted to do and experience New Zealand."
Dunstan High School international director Rosemary Flanagan encouraged those with a spare bedroom to look into hosting an exchange student.
"Hosting international students can enrich your family’s life, broaden horizons and create lasting friendships. It is a chance to experience other cultures and make a positive impact on a young person’s life," she said.
