General Feel

Being an Au Pair in Beijing is a empowering and awakening experience for me. Being independent in such a large city and having full reign of my life is a new but necessary experience for all young adults. It takes you out of your co;fort zones, throws challenges at you that you have to take up on you own. All around the agency is very helpfull and will try their hardest to assist you with any problem, from minor food poisoning to finding a bed to sleep in for the night. Even though you are gaining independence, you are always offered assistance. It is a great feeling.

I am an Au Pair/Intern here in Beijing. My typical week is the ideal kind. On days were I have class, I am free the whole day to indulge in social mingling and to explore the city etc... On the other days, I have a 9am to 5pm job with a my host parent's law firm as an assistant translator. The additional pay helps a lot (in addition to monthly pocket money) because Beijing is an expensive city in the end if you are exploring it the way you should.

Highlights would be the multiple weekly excursions with my family, food, sight seeing, museums, learning about the culture that you are immersed in. Also the Beijing nightlife is a blast if you know where to party! Dissapointments would include the lack of free time for me in the evening and the traveling hours. Beijing being a large an populated city, getting around is hard and long. I have an hour and a half of subway to get to the center of city for my classes and else. It is an inconvenience. If you have the money to spend on cabs, than good, if not, well you better practice being patient.

An all around enlightening experience!