BUCKFIELD — Chin-Ting Chen has watched many American films and believes his host high school and town are just like “High School Musical.”

“It’s fun here. It’s a quiet town and I like it,” said the 16-year-old from Taiwan.

Chen, who goes by the English name of William, is one of three foreign exchange students at Buckfield High School living with local host families.

Chen, Altan-Ochir, 18, of Mongolia and Patrick Schaller, 16, of Germany were all world travelers before they decided to come to the United States as exchange students.

Chen has studied in England and traveled to China, France, Germany, Austria and Japan. Ochir, who likes to be called Aagii, has also been to many countries, including Russia, Thailand, South Korea and Hong Kong. Schaller has traveled all over Europe, and visited the United States a few years ago with his family at Disney World in Florida.

 
The three boys were looking for new experiences, to improve their English and to make new friends, something that seems easy in Western Maine.

“They’ve been a great addition. Everyone wants to talk with them,” said Principal George Reuter.

“It’s small here and easy to meet new friends and to know everyone easily,” Chen said.

He’s about to get involved in the school musical, “Noises Off,” and plans to play baseball in the spring. Schaller is into the arts. When he isn’t playing tennis, he likes to paint. He says he’s shy, so he doesn’t take part in school plays.

For Aagii, it’s sports.

In his home country, he has played basketball in international competition.

School here is different than in Europe or Asia. Students in those regions don’t receive free transportation to school, don’t have lockers or extra-curricular activities. School is generally devoted to academics, while sports and other activities take place on weekends.

“I like the American lifestyle and culture,” Aagii said.

The three keep in touch with their families and friends through Skype or a similar communication device that sends voice and images over the Internet. Once they return home, they will be expected to talk about their experiences in their classes.

For each boy, one big difference is the food. Schaller loves tacos and Aagii likes eating pizza and fries. Chen said he gets a lot more meat, butter and milk here than in Taiwan where the emphasis is on vegetables.

For the Buckfield students, they are getting a chance to glimpse other cultures, Reuter said.

He hopes to bring together all 14 foreign-exchange students in Western Foothills Regional School Unit 10’s three high schools — Buckfield, Rumford and Dixfield — sometime during the next few months.

[email protected]

Altan-Ochir of Mongolia and Patrick Schaller of Germany flank Chin-Ting Chen of Taiwan at Buckfield High School. Chen is holding a book bag he brought from his home country. The three boys are spending the 2009-10 school year with host families as part of the student foreign-exchange program.