The buzz around hosting visitors for the Games

In interviews, some local families also reported unease in hosting foreign visitors due to cultural differences.

"I won't feel comfortable in my own home when living with foreigners," said a Mr. Pang. A woman said her husband refused to host a foreigner, for he would feel nervous while he is not at home.

Han also expressed her concern about the incoming guests, even though she was one of the first to apply. "I think there will be a health checkup for the foreigners," she added.

But on the other side of the coin, the host family program is an excellent opportunity for foreigners to get to know the Chinese better.

Rob Hill, an Australian who works in Beijing, said foreigners can have a sense of what Chinese people are really like when they stay in Chinese homes. "Oh yes, and they will probably like some good Chinese home-made cooking!” he exclaimed.

Francis Plourde from Vancouver, Canada agrees, "Basically, it will be a great experience, I think you'll get a better idea of what it is like to live in China through this type of accommodation."

But, Dino Anders, a 24-year German student in Beijing said he would not like to live with the families, for he wanted to have his own space.

"I don't see why people would not want to," said Stephen Mcdonell, an Australian who also works in Beijing. “The only thing is that some people when they travel, they would like to have their own plans. They want to control their own schedules. This wouldn't suit them then."

The host family program kicked off last April in the neighboring communities near the Bird's Nest or the National Stadium. The Beijing Tourism Administration said there will be up to 1,000 Chinese families hosting foreign visitors in Beijing this summer.

Cai Lin, service center director of the Asian Games village community of Beijing, said the center had already received applications from more than 100 families. "Most of the applicants are professionals," said Cai.

Those visitors interested in the homestay program can also look into travel packages. However, Zhao Xin, director of the China International Travel Service Head Office, one of the travel agencies undertaken to organize homestay accommodation guests, said those packages have not been sold to the foreigners yet.

"We are still in the phrase of coordination," said Zhao.