Wanderlust Cultural Homestay Tutoring (Au Pair in China) Program

Being an au pair in China is a really good way to experience life there. You get to live with a Chinese family, which means you're surrounded by the culture every day. I got to travel, try a lot of new food, and learn about their customs up close. Living with a Chinese family helped me understand their lifestyle better and made the whole experience more meaningful. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that you might feel a bit alone at first—you have to figure things out on your own, like exploring your neighborhood and getting used to everything but finding other au pairs nearby makes a big difference and can turn the experience into something really fun and memorable.

Choosing this agency to help me get a fresh start on life was the best choice I ever made. Not only did they stay with me every step of the way while I was preparing to leave, they also helped me set up a Chinese bank account and get a Chinese phone number within a few days or arriving.

There were a few times when I found myself in a tricky situation, and WE was always there for me to help me fix it. Thanks to this agency, I was able to see once in a lifetime views, merry some incredible people, and learn more about a people and a culture that I’ve loved since I was a child. Thank you, Wanderlust Exchange!

Finished 3 months program in Beijing. It was the first time I've participated in the program and the overall experience was very positive! It gave me a lot of opportunities to explore the city, understand the local ways of life and experience it firsthand, try new cuisine, broaden my ESL teaching experience and most importantly learn the chinese language. Living expenses are covered, which allows us to have a comfortable time while staying in a foreign environment. Both the local families and WE are ready to support us through daily life and other difficulties. I'm continuing my program in Harbin now, absolutely recommend coming here and experiencing this on your own!

I started this program in October of 2024. My arrival was very smooth as I received lots of help my co-ordinator was there to collect me from the airport and everyone ensured I had what I needed. The families and the agency were all very nice and a massive help with the transition to life in China. Despite small challenges they were easy to overcome with the help of the agency. This was a truly unforgettable experience. I recommend taking the big jump and trying this experience even if afraid xx

Living and working in China as part of a cultural exchange program can be an incredibly enriching and transformative experience. If you love children, this program could be perfect for you. It offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in a foreign culture while also making a meaningful impact on the lives of young people. The experience is fun, rewarding, and will stay with you long after you return home.

One of the most exciting aspects of living in China is the chance to explore the country's beauty. China is a vast and diverse country, with something for everyone—breathtaking landscapes, vibrant cities, historical landmarks, and a rich cultural heritage. Whether you’re strolling through the bustling streets of Beijing, hiking the ancient Great Wall, or exploring tranquil tea fields in the countryside, there’s always something new to discover. The country is steeped in history and tradition, and living there gives immense opportunities

Good opportunity to discover China and Chinese cilture. I had 6 wonderful months, gained new experiences, and had fun with my cool host family.I have learned Mandarin and for sure it will be useful in my life. I would like to mention that being China is really different feeling and doesn't match our thoughts before coming. Everyone should visit China even for one time and AuPair program giving us that opportunity. China is so safe and has kind people which we need to wnjoy our life. I like China and Chinese people, hope to be back again🫶🏻❤️❤️

The overall experience was a mixed bag, but mostly enjoyable. I would think this is related to needing a long time to get used to my host family's lifestyle which was worlds different from my own, both due to cultural differences and their social status. "It is important to know beforehand what your role in the household will be exactly so that you can mentally prepare accordingly!" is what I would say to myself if I were to go back in time before my trip! I think that would have made my stay much more pleasant.

Besides that fact, my family was very sweet and respectful towards me and tagged me along for almost anything, which let me see a lot about the city of Beijing! It is a most beautiful place, that one, it never lacks for anything to do or have fun with.

The food was also a plus! The family's Ayi had her ways with a wok and whipped up some of the most flavorful cuisine I have ever had, even if the spice destroyed my stomach on occasion. The house was always clean and tidy and the commune we were in was very pretty and had great views. I didn't go out on my own often due to a lack of free time ( which was very taxing ) but even if I stayed out late, it always felt safe to be out on the streets, even as a solo female traveler, though I wouldn't recommend straying from popular streets at night, just in case.

When it comes to my experience with the kids, I was in a family of five, with three kids under the age of 10. Here is where the subversion of expectations comes into play, for it was quite a twist to come across such young children who were so intelligent and academically smart and at the same time rude and wild. It was tricky to figure out how to approach them and guard them with their capricious nature and constant tantrums (which often involved me getting slapped, kicked, and bitten), and even at the end of my stay I still didn't fully understand how to manage with them, although they had been quite pacified by then. But when they were calm and in a happy mood they were, although very ecitable, regular children and we played and learned just fine (as stated, they were beyond their years when it came to schoolwork).

In summary, it was quite an experience. Time off was scarce but very welcome as I enjoyed being a tourist quite a lot. My experience as an Au Pair was rather harsh with the kids and that is why I wish I had known what kind of household I was going to, but that is very complicated to know with precision before you get there - It's quite the gamble.

But then again, it was not the end-all-be-all of my stay for me. I would recommend daring and curious people to check it out and become an au pair. This experience taught me about myself, about what it's like to be far from home, about my boundaries and my needs. The only thing I would see as a definitive requisite for anyone willing to try this out is patience!

I spent many months in China as an Au Pair under Wanderlust Exchange in a few cities.
I got contacted by them and signed up because I was interested in coming to China without having to study at a uni. And they were a lot more efficient and fast than the other agency I was planning to go with so I chose them. Personally, the recruitment, family matching and visa process was really smooth for me due to them laying out specific instructions. Though for the family interviews I wish I had had my current experience and knowledge, the choice of the hostfamily is really crucial for your experience.
So after two months I arrived in China and my coordinator/recruiter picked me up and brought me to the train station, managed the settling in into the family and reached out from time to time to ask about how things were going, plus relaying the feedback from my hostmum. I went on a two-day city tour and got my Chinese bank card.
The visa extension process in HongKong was also super smooth, I prepared all the paperwork with WE, got instructions etc. Due to flight delays I arrived at my hotel very late, I remember that one of my visa-coordinators stayed till 1am up to make sure I arrived and checked in safely in the hotel. The rest of the trip went smoothly, but make sure to have lots of savings for your time there.
I think sometimes some things can be inconsistent. Like Au Pairs in Shanghai benefit from in-person classes and also the extra group speaking sessions that SN school provides, I believe. But some of their culture activities are online. I've only ever had online classes but all my culture activities were in person and some of them were solo-classes too. I feel very grateful to have had a Hanfu-event, that was the coolest. Not all aupairs did that. I also did pottery, Chinese art activities, archery etc. Not all recruiters, coordinators act the same, are as dedicated etc, it depends on luck who you get, just like with the hostfamilies.
Also, for the first few months I didn't have culture activities, but when I and a few others in my city reminded them they arranged for us to catch up to all the activities, which we did.
Still, I wouldn't change anything about this year here, I've grown a lot and learned a lot. China has given me the opportunity to meet many great friends here, both Chinese and foreigners. The social circle of the Au Pairs is really supportive and it's easy to find friends that way. My stay with my hostfamilies was full of ups and downs, but overall I will look back gladly on both the nice parts and "bad" parts, both taught me a lot about myself and life. I'm so grateful for having met all my hostsiblings, for the time I spent with them, for the love they gave me :)) My 中国弟弟&妹妹 <3
I'm glad I signed up, though I'm also glad to start something else now. Au Pairing has its' highs and lows and it's difficult sometimes so you have to be prepared to face the challenges. Be sure to have lots of savings though in case some unexpected events or emergencies happen, be very careful regarding the hostfamily-matching, don't be scared to ask for a rematch if you feel it's not right or safe and build a supporting social circle.