Program Reviews

The decision to up and go to China for these past months was as difficult as it was easy. I can honestly say that I do not regret it, and would recommend others to take the leap into a different culture.I had some initial anxieties about trusting a program I had found online, but the WAC team turned out not only to be legitimate, but very friendly and helpful. I had a great experience, complete with ups and downs, and a lot of learning!

I have been lucky enough to get exactly what I wanted from my Au Pair experience. For me this was a family living centrally in a large, vibrant city that I could explore, and living with a welcoming, friendly Chinese host family. I had hoped to find in Shanghai a city brimming with Chinese culture that also managed to be ‘tourist-friendly’ – I haven’t been disappointed. I’m lucky enough to live 3 metro stations from the city center, so it’s incredibly easy to explore whenever I have a free moment. I’ve also managed to have a lot of fun with the children I look after, whilst still (I hope) improving their spoken English. The host family I was matched with have been wonderfully kind and hospitable. Whilst I can’t guarantee every family would show every Au Pair the same warmth, if you take the necessary time to find one suited to you, you should get along just fine.

Of course, there were some rough patches as I adjusted to a new lifestyle and culture. When I arrived I had never been to Asia at all, and found some of the cultural norms very strange – for example the constant spitting in the streets. It also took time for me to adjust to spoken Chinese, which can come across as aggressive or impolite when you’re not used to its sound. I recognized the familiar symptoms of culture shock in my first few weeks. At first I was delighted with everything new, and was in a constant state of excitement and adrenaline. When this wore off after a few weeks I felt homesick and craved something from familiar; I bought anything I recognized in the supermarkets (which was very little) and called my family as much as I could. However, this melancholy stage passed as I grew accustomed to the culture and my host family and routine.

The Wanderlust Exchange agency have been a great source of support, simply knowing there is someone in your corner in case things go wrong is very comforting. It was brilliant to have a personal tour guide when I arrived, and the company representative took me sight-seeing. This also meant I had at least one friend when I got here. Additionally, for many Au Pairs who have issues they feel they can’t raise directly with their host parents, the agency acts as a go between and helps to smooth things over.

In terms of my personal experience with a Chinese family, I’ve been welcomed into a bustling and affectionate household where I do really feel a part of things. The family’s domestic lives have given me a glimpse of Chinese values, and the importance that’s placed on relationships and looking out for each other here. Living with a Chinese family shows you so much more than you would learn simply as a voyeur, viewing the sights. Additionally, it feels more worthwhile to be part of a cultural exchange; by teaching the children English and sharing a different culture with them you give something back, rather than simply harvesting what cultural knowledge you can from the country.

I have accompanied the family on many day trips and activities and have been taken to countless exciting restaurants where my host parent taught me about local cuisine. Perhaps my favorite part of this experience has been experiencing the multitude of new foods this country has to offer. I eat delicious, homemade meals that are different every day. Even the act of eating dinner with a Chinese family has taught me about the culture here; the communal, sharing dishes emphasize the importance of collectivity. This differs significantly to the Western tradition of having your own plate.

As for Shanghai itself, the city is a brilliant patchwork of the extremely modern and the traditional. It contains enough quintessentially ‘Chinese’ architecture to satisfy the romantic tourist, whilst remaining a fast-paced and convenient city. It has a thrilling and infectious energy. I think Shanghai was a perfect starting point for me, and I feel brave enough to now explore an older and more traditional part of China.

I would whole heartedly recommend the Shanghai Au pairing experience, for me it has given me an environment where I can be both comfortable, safe and well looked after, whilst simultaneously being immersed in a new and vastly different culture to my own. I don’t deny that I have been lucky with my family. I’d urge future au pairs to take their time and search for a family that you will get along with and that will help you have your desired experience. As long as you choose a match carefully you’ll have an incredible time.

REVIEW FOR WANDERLUST
I chose to au pair with Wanderlust because of the great reviews it has, and the company did not disappoint me. Wanderlust deserves a 10/10 for its great support. It is intimidating and a little frightening to fly to a country all alone, but Hazel greeted me at the airport and made sure all of my needs were met. She always replied to messages on Wechat and truly wanted to help me have the best experience possible. If you are unsure if you can put your faith in Wanderlust, I will tell you that you wholeheartedly can. Some things Hazel did to help me feel comfortable during my stay:
- answered logistical questions about living in China (using the subway, visa questions, etc.)
- checked in on how I was personally feeling
- was always responsive and timely
- acted as a translator between me and my host family to clarify some initial concerns
- gave me the contacts of other au pairs with whom I could talk

REVIEW OF AND TIPS FOR AU PAIRING
I could write a ten-page essay about au pairing. Instead, I will tell you some questions it is important to ask your host family before committing to them, so you can get a sense of what au pairing is like.
- what time does your kid go to bed?
Kids who do not sleep enough are cranky, and a late bedtime, especially for a young kid, could be an indication that your host family likes to overwork their child. (hint: this means you will be overworked too if you au pair for them)
- how much TV does your kid watch?
A lot of TV can be a bad sign, although some families are just very relaxed and let their kids watch TV when they want. Use your intuition.
- how do you discipline your kid?
Every kid misbehaves. Every single kid. Therefore, every parent must discipline.
- what activities is your kid involved in?
- what time does your kid wake up?
- what do you do on a normal weekend?
- who is currently living at the house with you?
Some au pairs arrive in China to find a completely different family dynamic and living situation than what was represented.
- is your kid a BOY or a GIRL?
No, don't actually ask this question to the family. This is a question for you. I will not get into a nature vs. nurture argument about differences between the sexes. What matters is that boys and girls act differently, especially in China with stricter gender roles than in the west. Boys tend to be more out of control and held less accountable for their actions. This is not a hard and fast rule, but please be aware of it!
There are a lot more questions to ask, but this is just a start! Good luck with your au pairing experience!

I decided to become an au pair in China because I wanted to experience Chinese culture in the most authentic way I knew. The program most definitely did not disappoint and I’m glad I took it on. Living with a host family was a fantastic way of gaining in-depth insight into Chinese traditions and the society as a whole.

I received great hospitality from the host family. They were incredibly generous, making sure I was fed properly and gave me whatever I needed. The host family made sure I felt at home and comfortable at all times. I felt like I was a part of their family as they included me in their weekend excursions and holidays.
One highlight was Chinese New Year where we flew to their hometown. From the food, fireworks and extended family gatherings… it was just amazing!

No one day was the same, it definitely was no easy sailing. There will be highs and lows with your host child which I believe is totally normal as it is in a child’s nature to act in such way.
Attempting to discipline host child was one of the most difficult tasks I had to face, so do prepare yourself for behavioural challenges. Despite the challenges, the good most definitely out-weighed the bad. Spending time with my host child was fun and heart-warming at most times.

As time went by, transitioning into Shanghai life got easier. It is a very Western city where most amenities are accessible and many things made convenient. Not long since arriving, I had a familiarized daily routine and settled in well.

The language barrier was the toughest challenge of all. Although, the language classes eased off those worries and I was lucky enough to store in the basics. Chinese is not an easy language to learn. But it is incredibly rewarding knowing the basics.
Another point I want to make, as difficult as language class was, I still enjoyed attending them. I made wonderful friends with the other students as well as the teacher. They made the class so much more vibrant and animated!

I want to mention my full appreciation to the Wanderlust team for their extremely helpful service and support. All queries and requests were met in the appropriate manner. I would also like to mention how I thoroughly enjoyed the cultural activities organized by Wanderlust for the au pairs to engage in.

To wrap up, au pairing is more than just a job, it takes a lot of emotional strength as it requires the au pair to truly care for the child. Au pairing is rewarding because you learn from the host child as much as they learn from you. Au pairing is a life-changing experience not only for the au pair but also for the host child – you will have a massive impact on their life, they will remember you not as someone who taught or played with them in English, you will be remembered as their friend. Au pairing will leave you with many memories and moments. Most importantly, the experience will gain you a life-long friend.

I still remember the day, when I arrived in Shanghai, tired and nervous about meeting my new host family. But even before I entered their flat, I heard a young girl jumping around inside, saying that she ‚likes teacher‘, this was the beginning of a wonderful experience in Shanghai.
During my time with them, I made more memories like these, memories, that make me smile, whenever I think of them.
My host family was truly welcoming, they showed me around and included me in family activities. I really enjoyed my time with them and it was great to see my host kid’s English improving every day.

Sure, being an au pair is not always easy, even with a great family there are ups and downs. My host child and I regularly got in small quarrels with each other, but that’s normal, isn’t it? Even with your own family, you’ll get in quarrels from time to time and you still like each other.

In my opinion Wanderlust is a reliable agency, that will support you during your time as an au pair.
When you arrive in China, you’ll have orientation days, which helps a lot as you’ll learn about the host family’s expectations, cultural differences and you’ll go Sightseeing.

I’m truly thankful, that I had the chance to come to Shanghai and to live with a wonderful host family.

I had a great time as an au pair in Shanghai! This program is a great opportunity to see and experience Chinese culture. I stayed for 6 months in Shanghai with 2 different host families. Both families were very kind and welcoming, and understanding to are cultural differences and helped with the ease into life in China. The majority of my work with the family revolved around playing with the kids and speaking to them in English, mainly focusing on immersing the kids into an english environment while occasionally giving structured english lessons. All families are different though and may hold different expectations of the au pair. Hazel is a great friendly person, always ready to help if it's needed. Throughout my experience I felt very supported by wanderlust and new I could message Hazel at any moment if anything was to go wrong. Overall, being an au pair in China is definitely a challenging situation with a big shock in culture and sometimes having tricky kids but the experience is definitely worth it!

Are you adventurous, brave and looking for something completely different to everything you’ve ever experienced before?
Then China is the place to go!
Here are some notes I want to share about my Au Pair stay in China:

First of all I want to mention again what incredible place this country is. I am staying in Shanghai and fell in love with the city as there is always something to explore and you never get bored here. With a working time of only 6 hours per day I have lots of time to visit the various spots of the city and meet many new friends from all over the world.

Another thing that makes being an Au Pair so special is that you are living with a hostfamily. This is gives you the opportunity to learn about the Chinese way of living, culture and food. However, most importantly for me is that I made new friends who welcomed to their home so warmly, took me to beautiful places and made me feel like a member of their family.
Even though I really enjoy living with host families you have to consider this not always as very easy: As you’re home is at the same time your working place it might lead to working some overtime and you have to adapt to your families way of living which could for example include not staying out in the evening or washing you’re clothes by hand.

Also wanderlust is a good Au Pair agency I can recommand because they always give their best to support me and stay in touch with the Au Pairs during their whole stay.

All in all can I would recommand this Programm for so many reasons: experiencing an interesting culture, learning a new language, making many new friends, get teaching and childcare experience, having fun an so much more...

I remember sitting on the plane to China thinking, "In 14 hours, you are going to be in a new country. Halfway across the world, and living with a family you barely know, and you don't speak the language. Everything will be fine". I was trying not to freak out. And here I am 6 months later wanting to stay in China.

During my time, I have had the pleasure of serving two very different families in Shanghai. While this cultural experience has been amazing, it is important to remember that it is also a job. A job that is 100% about supporting your host families child(ern) in improving their English. And with any job, you will have highs and lows. Luckily, Wanderlust has been very supportive and helps you get through any issues that you may find yourself in. But seriously, if you don't like kids, you may want to rethink this program.

Besides that, China is an amazing place to explore. Shanghai is an amazing city to explore. It is almost like a playground. There are many things to do, but once you find what you like to do, you can stick to that! The best part about doing a cultural experience like this, is that after awhile, you stop feeling like a tourist and get to know the China at a very personal level. For me, I had my favorite lunch spots, drink shops, best metro stations, etc. Everything becomes familiar, and yet if you are looking to explore something new, just hop on the nearest metro station and you can find yourself in a new part of the city.

Overall, this experience has truly been eyeopening. I'm grateful of Wanderlust, the families that opened their homes for me, and the people that I have met during my time here.

When I decided to leave my country for a cultural adventure; never had I imagined that I would have such a great time at such little expense. The team at Wanderlust Au Pair was extremely supportive and overall great in every way! My host family had such a benevolent spirit, they were truly God-sent. They were extremely kind, honest and good-willed people. They took me many placed, ensure that I had a good time and was always well taken cared of and well fed. They helped me physically and emotionally through difficult times and helped me to adapt to the change in environment. I got a lot of teaching practice with their son while also broadening my horizon by learning Chinese! They treated me like family and I will never forget my experience with them and this program!

Moving to China and working as an au pair is not something to be taken lightly. You are moving to a new part of the world, immersing yourself in a foreign culture, and adopting a second family. If you can't speak Mandarin, there will likely be some problem with the language barrier, but the program's staff is very helpful and will aid in any conflicts between you and your host family. If you don't like rice or are vegan, you might be in the wrong country, but there are ways to work around this issue (mainly by cooking for yourself). One thing that you might be concerned about that was not an issue in China was the concern for personal safety. At most, you should be protective of your belongings against pickpockets, but this was never an issue for me, and I never felt in danger in China.
By leaving your comfort zone, you are able to immerse yourself and better understand a different part of the world. Things in China are very different from the west, but that is a good thing. The constant feeling of discomfort and slight anxiety can also help you grow as a person. My experience in the Wanderlust program was a fun one. Our cultural events included a calligraphy class and a martial arts lesson, both of which were very enjoyable. And if you think you might feel a little homesick of western society and interaction, I met a lot of westerners in my Chinese language classes, and we would always get lunch together after every class. I recommend the au pair program to anyone interested in it.