Program Reviews

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.

Au Pairing has helped me grow as a person. I believe it is very important to learn about other cultures that are different from your own and that's exactly what this program allows you to do. Staying with and being so close with a Chinese family has really opened my eyes in a very positive way. I felt very comfortable around my family and the bond you create with your family is very genuine. I also thought it was very rewarding to see my younger Chinese brother progress in English. I could see that he was understanding what I was teaching him each day. China is a terrific place and I cannot wait to come back soon.

10 days from now I will be sitting on a plane. Again. I have been to China for almost 9 months now. Looking back, it doesn’t feel that long. Back then, when I made the decision to go to a completely different part of the world and challenge myself with one of the most difficult languages on earth. Well, it was both different and challenging for sure.
First of all the biggest issue is the language; if you are unable to use language to communicate it’s obviously tricky. Well, everyone who has been to a foreign country knows the struggle, you eventually get used to it. Learning Chinese is a bit more of a struggle than Spanish though. I have spent 9 months here while continously attending Chinese classes and I am OK with my Chinese. I am able to talk pretty fluenty, although not on every topic. I get what people are talking about, even though I am far from understanding every word. Reading and writing are the parts I struggle with most. I find the Chinese language quite interesting and it often makes use of logical concepts but their characters require lots and lots of practice and I have been a little lazy for that. But I am quite satisfied with my improvement over 9 months.
Apart from the language, then there are still the cultural differences. And China certainly has many aspects that Americans and Europeans are not used to and that extend beyond social etiquette differences. You might be too hungry to notice during your first week, because you havent figured out how to hold the two big toothpicks next to your plate in order to put food in your mouth. If the hunger is not keeping you up you all night you might want to take a nap on the floor, it’s about as comfortable as the bed. Because their mattresses feel like they are stuffed with wood pellets anyway, the only comfort you’d miss on the floor is the sandsack of a pillow you get to sleep on. I am not sure if it’s actually sand but that’s what it sounds and feels like. As one would say, it’s not an easy start, but pull yourself together, lift your sore back, ignore your growling stomach and get set to start your Chinese classes, things are going to get better!
I am staying in Baotou, a city in the north of China. The winters are cold and dry here, the summers are very hot. Baotou is a rather ordinary Chinese city, sometimes a little boring, however, not as crowded as the big cities though. People love taking pictures of foreigners here, which I could sort of understand because there are hardly any non-Chinese people here. It wasn’t until I had gone to Beijing that I realized it’s not a small city thing, they like to do that everywhere. So if you come to China, prepare to feel famous!
I have a great host family here in Baotou. They have been very welcoming and helpful all the time. But family here works different than I was used to. I grew up with 4 siblings and my parents took care of us. Here, me included, we are 5 adults taking care of 2 children and that’s not including the grandparents who are often strongly involved in childcare in China. Due to this constellation, children are often very overprotected and not independent. As soon as children start school, their whole focus is on academic education, which often causes a lack of simple behavioral means and personal interests. I don’t want to make this about the Chinese school system, I just want to point out that the educational system here works significantly different and it’s something to be aware of. Growing up I always believed that Chinese children are super disciplined, robot-like. Well, was I wrong! They are as crazy as we were as kids.
Now, I know better. I have seen the 3 main cities of China. I’ve lived in Baotou for nine months. Throughout my stay I have learned many things, as has my host family. I showed them Christmas and Easter for the first time in their life, I cooked them food they had never eaten before, I told them things about my country and what it’s like. And as I taught them, they taught me. They showed me holidays I had never heard of, they gave me food I had never tried or even seen before, they taught me what China is like. Of course, we also taught our languages to each other. My little Chinese friend (4 years) is making especially great progress, but it’s even better to see how his mother is filled with joy every time he says something new in English.
I want to be honest here, China is not my favorite country, there are certain things that I don’t like here. But there is a beauty in this country that is well worth experiencing. I certainly do not regret coming here. I want to point out for future visitors though that it is not an easy place to adapt to, especially in the long term. The one thing I do want to recommend, is to keep a really open mind here, you need it to properly get along with this country and to leave space to fall in love with it.

PS: For people who plan on staying in Beijing or Shanghai, some of my experiences might not apply, since these cities are far more international than the city I stayed in.

My experience was unique in a way that it helped me grow a lot on finding more of who I am, what I like/dislike, who I want to be, to have a clear vision of what I want my future to look like, it has taught a lot about educating children, and understanding why they act like they do, also it has taught me about Chinese culture and cultural differences, etc.

One of the greatest memories that I have: one day I was teaching my host kid to draw a heart. At the beginning it was really complicate it for him and got really frustrated, but with cheers and effort he ended up drawing beautiful hearts. This little thing made me think a lot! That kid was always going to remember how to draw a heart. And I'm thankful to say that, in part, it was because of me. As adults, we have no idea how much we really affect and impact kids’ life. And how a little thing can end up being so big for his/her life. From that day on he kept drawing me hearts with my name inside. So cute!

I want to warn you that the cultural shock is not easy (at least it wasn’t for me), It may last a day, maybe a week or longer. I would encourage you to keep positive and to try to see things from another perspective.

I am writing this in my final week as an Au Pair in Shanghai, China. I have spent 3 months here, with Wanderlust Au Pair Agency China (WAC).
My decision to come to China was based on my desire to learn Mandarin Chinese and experience Chinese culture, before going to university. This I have certainly achieved!
As an au pair, you are immersed, often overwhelmingly, in culture. Living with a host family provides a unique insight into life in China, an experience that you just cannot get any other way!
Of course there are difficulties, and points where culture shock really hits hard. The important part is to view it all as a learning experience, and come through stronger. One example of this was that in my host family/household, I had to sleep in the kid's room (the kid slept with the mother). This presented certain issues, but in the end it was fine and it brought me closer to the family. One thing also to note is that in China Au Pairs are not viewed traditionally, and rather more as just English Teachers. You are likely to be expected to teach up to 6 hours of proper lessons each working day. However, if you are lucky (as I was), these days will be flexible and you will be able to negotiate breaks. My host family took me with them on trips to see the countryside and other outings.
In regards to language learning, this was the highlight of my trip. As part of the programme, you get 2 lessons of Mandarin Chinese (1.5hr each) a week. Albeit the school was very far away (took almost 2 hours to get there every time- this is just part of living in Shanghai) but it was worth it.
The school and teachers are great, and we learnt very fast.
Socially, I was lucky to share my Chinese lessons with another au pair on the WAC programme, which was great. You also get to have monthly socials with all the au pairs, including taiji and trips to cultural towns. Shanghai also has a large expat community so there are lots of other opportunities to make friends who are in the same boat.
The WAC team was extremely helpful during my entire experience. Hazel, the leader, in particular is very kind, she was happy to help and liaise in any issue, and provide any advice I needed. The visa process was tricky but Hazel managed to sort it out with no problem. It was very comforting to know I had the WAC team for help and backup during this experience, I cannot imagine doing it without them.
I recommend this programme to anyone who has a thirst to experience something completely new and different, to learn Chinese, or who loves kids and providing childcare.

I found WAC through a website called apupair.com. I had not decided on the country I wanted to au pair in, nor had I planned to go through an agency. But after chatting with the WAC team I decided to give it a try. I skyped with two families before I found my match. I was so nervous and clueless about what to expect from the culture, the family and as an au pair. What I read online was mostly people with bad experiences from au pairing in China. But when I arrived I was pleasantly surprised. My host family and I got along very well and I was included in most family activities. It took a while for the kids to warm up to me, but we had a blast once they did.

Looking back I am so happy I chose to go through an agency. I have heard of people who opt not to, but it was very nice having someone to help with the visa application, the language barrier, and so may other things. I'm also happy I chose WAC, simply due to the support I got from Hazel as well as the personal feel to it all. Shanghai is a great city and although it is not like the rest of china, it is a great place to start. It was nice having such a large expat community in the city, especially when you get a little homesick or miss western food :)

I would highly recommend anyone considering au pairing in China to do so. It didn't always run smoothly or as planed, but it was an amazing experience. The culture shock is real, so be prepared for some weird, annoying and funny moments. Also, one thing that I was not prepared for was the fact that you are more of an English teacher than a traditional au pair. In no way was this a bad thing, it was just not entirely what I expected.

I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and travel to China during the summer before my last year at university. Instead of pursuing a typical summer internship in my hometown, I wanted to try something completely new and immerse myself in a culture much different from my own. I was very nervous at first and not sure what exactly to expect, but I am so glad I took this leap of faith and lived with a host family in Shanghai, teaching a little 4 year old boy English.
While it is not always easy being so far away from home in a completely new environment, I feel that Wanderlust did everything possible to make me feel comfortable and confident during my stay. I felt a personal investment from the WAC team, and that they really got to know me and my situation while I was in China, instead of treating me like a "client". The WAC program provides many helpful things that not all other organizations of this kind do--they organize cultural activities with fellow au pairs which are both fun and educational, they enroll you in a Mandarin class to enhance language skills, and provide a helpful orientation when you first arrive.
You cannot come into this experience expecting everything to go smoothly and things to be perfect. There were definitely unexpected challenges and hard days, but thanks to the 24/7 support I received I was able to resolve any problems. It is important to keep an open-mind when doing something like this, and also to remain patient and understanding. No matter how much you prepare, culture shock is a real thing! Thankfully, WAC will be there whenever you need any help or just someone to listen to you.

After working in a different industry in Australia and Hong Kong for three years, I was planning to move to Shanghai in late 2016 to commence studying Chinese language in university. In early 2016 I decided that I wanted to move to China earlier to accelerate my Chinese learning by immersing myself in the local culture. I considered a few options such as English teaching or staying in my previous industry but I decided to apply to be an Au Pair because I thought living with a family would be an excellent way to improve my Chinese language and cultural understanding while doing something I really enjoy - teaching and looking after children.

I'm currently in the middle of my program and I am really happy. Being an Au Pair has indeed been challenging at times, but also very rewarding. You may be helping a family with children and parents that speak limited English. This can be hard at first but with the support of Hazel (Wanderlust Program Director) and building the relationship with the host family I am now confident that any challenge can be overcome. I have seen improvement with the language learning of the host family's child that I have been looking after which is very rewarding to me.

I chose Wanderlust over other Au Pair organisations as I was very impressed with the application experience, communication with Hazel was very direct, clear and timely. This good support continued once I arrived, she helped me with my visa, communication with my host family and orientation to Shanghai (bank account setup, SIM card etc.) and induction to how to be an effective teacher / Au Pair with children who are learning English as Foreign Language.

What I really love about being an Au Pair is that every day is very different. I may be doing some English teaching, helping with mathematics homework, completing puzzles or building Lego, playing sports or going outside on various activities. Along with the day to day activities with the host family, Wanderlust also organises monthly cultural activities which are fun - we recently visited Wuzhen on a day trip with my fellow Au Pairs.

I've been really impressed with the program so far as I see it as a win-win for the host families and the Au Pairs. The children will get support for their English learning, will get a new big brother or sister and the family gets an experience interacting with a foreigner every day - helping to bridge the cultural divide. For me, I get a lot of satisfaction of seeing my host child improve his language ability, I get to have a lot of fun and get to live in a new city (Shanghai is amazing by the way!) without many of the challenges I would normally have as the host family and Wanderlust helped me get setup in Shanghai.