By Anna Guido
Enquirer contributor

MARIEMONT - The SARS outbreak in China last year put the brakes on a student trip to Liuzhou in the province of Guangxi.

But Saturday, students in the "Sister School" exchange program at Mariemont High will try again to reach their Asian destination.

"I wasn't nervous at all last year when SARS came about, and this year I'm basically overtaken with excitement," said Holly Julnes-Dehner, 17, of Terrace Park.

Holly and her twin sister, Sari Dehner, are among the juniors traveling to China for two weeks with teacher Mark Nadobny. It is the first school-sponsored trip to Asia but not the first time the students or Nadobny have been overseas.

Nadobny, 35, coordinator of the Sister School exchange program, has chaperoned other trips to Germany, France and the Ukraine.

"Something I want the kids to get out of this trip - something that I think is important - is that they learn about America from a different perspective," Nadobny said. "What do the Chinese people think of us? It's an important lesson to learn."

Students are paying their own airfare, but host families will cover other expenses.

"By staying with a host family, by sitting at the kitchen table and having breakfast with them, they'll get a real unique taste for the culture," Nadobny said.

Other students going are Grant Byers, 17, Mariemont; Dayna Wood, 16, Terrace Park; Christina Conrad, 16, Mariemont; and Sarah Ogier-Bloomer, 17, Mariemont.

While in Liuzhou, students will spend time at their sister school - Liuzhou No. 40 High School - where they will make presentations on American culture, the English language, American teenagers and other topics. They'll also see sights, including a Buddhist temple.

When they return to Mariemont High, they'll make presentations to their classmates.

Nadobny teaches world history, sociology and geography. He's been at Mariemont seven years.

E-mail annag376@aol.com