SACO — When Thornton Academy Sophmore Qing “Sunny” Jin got dressed up for the homecoming dance, her homestay sister, sophmore Courtney O’Brien, was getting ready with her.

O’Brien and Jin, along with O’Brien’s sister, Sarah, a Thornton Academy Middle School student, share clothes and go shopping together.

Jin, a 15-year-old sophmore attending Thornton Academy from China, is living with the O’Brien family in Saco through the homestay program, a housing option for boarding students that started this year in which students live with local families.

The school has 13 students and 10 local families participating in the homestay program. All the students in the program are from China.

The homestay program was developed largely because there are parents who prefer their students to stay in homes rather than dormitories, said Homestay Program Coordinator Jade Elliott.

Some students prefer the quieter setting of a home, while others, like Yichen “Bill” Wang, who lives with Eliott and her husband, Alden Hudson, decided to live in the homestay program to improve his English, after living in the dormitory last year. He said that he’s only lived with Elliott and Hudson for three months, but people have already told him his English has improved.

Homestay student Ziwei Wang agreed that living in a home improves English speaking skills. In the dormitory, there are many Chinese students.

“If you live in a homestay, you need to speak English,” he said.

Like other students, Ziwei Wang said he wanted to master the English language because he wants to attend a good American college after graduating from high school.

Ziwei Wang described activities that he’s done with his homestay family that sound like activities in any other family: Hiking, shopping, going to the beach. Students like Ziwei Wang refer to their homestay parents as Mom and Dad.

Bob O’Brien said that Jin has become another member of the family.

“We all consider them our sons and daughters,” said Elliott.

Chris and Bob O’Brien said that they thought it would be a good experience for their daughters to have someone from a different culture. They talked it over with their daughters, who Chris O’Brien said were “on board” with the idea.

Sarah O’Brien said it’s been interesting to learn the similarities and differences between Jin’s life in China and their life here.

The O’Brien family has learned much about the differences between the two cultures, from what they eat for breakfast to the way they celebrate birthdays and what a typical school day is like.

Jin has tried many new foods, and has grown fond of hamburgers, chocolate and ketchup.

“I love to cook something new and watch her face,” said Chris O’Brien.

Chris OBrien said she loves Jin’s willingness to try new things. Jin played miniature golf with the family and although it was her first time, beat everybody.

“She was like a pro,” said Sarah.

Jin has had other new experiences, such as carving pumpkins and seeing red leaves for the first time. After she learned that most families don’t bake in China, Chris O’Brien organized a cupcake decorating activity.

Seeing Jin’s enthusiasm for new experiences has made the family appreciate everyday life, said Chris O’Brien.

“We’ve all gotten a chance to see things through Sunny’s eyes, which has been nice for all of us,” said Chris O’Brien.

Common new experiences among homestay students from China include learning to live with pets and seeing stars for the first time. Students from Beijing said that the city is so polluted that they cannot see stars there.

Jin, who lived on the 22nd floor of a high rise in Bejing, said she thought Saco was beautiful.

“The first time I came here, I was so surprised. It’s just like living in a forest,” she said.

Qui “Tammy” Xin, also from Beijing, expressed similar sentiments.

“I love this very peaceful place,” said Xin. In Bejing, it is very crowded, and there are lots of people and traffic jams, she said.

Xin, a sophmore, is staying in the same household as Yunrui “Rie” Li, a junior. Xin and Li said they like being able to ask their homestay mom for advice and about American customs.

Xin said she and Li have spent time with their host mother’s relatives and they feel like they are part of the family. In the meantime, the two have become good friends and help each other out.

“She helps me in math,” said Xin.

“She’s my translator,” said Li.

Ziwei Wang said that he and his host parents read together, which helps him with his reading skills, and Chris O’Brien said that she and Jin e-mail every day, which helps Jin with her writing skills.

Chris O’Brien said she’s impressed with Jin’s academic drive. Jin said in China, she went to school from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Here, she has time to pursue activities like art.

“Life is so easy (here),” she said.

Elliot said that Bill Wang has been a wonderful addition to her home.

“It’s been so incredibly rewarding,” said Elliott.

Elliott said that homestay students can still participate in the number of social activities at the dormitory. Students stay in touch with their families in China by e-mailing, Skype and Chinese social networking sites.

“I take lots of pictures,” said Jin.

Elliott said that before developing the program, school officials visited homestay programs at other boarding schools.

Homestay parents go through an application and interview process and are carefully screened, said Elliott. They all must go through a criminal background check and are fingerprinted.

Homestay parents receive a stipend and attend monthly meetings with other homestay parents.

Some students may stay with their homestay families during vacations through the school year, but go home during the summer.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.