6 months abroad!

I came to Beijing as a post-grad from university, and it has been a great experience to live abroad with the safety network of the program and your Chinese family! I've had a great time playing with and teaching the kids, the ayis at home make amazing food, and going out to explore the city with the friends I've made from the mandarin school.

Every au pair experience will be very different, so here are some things to consider before you come to ask your family and the agency (things that I wish I had asked before): will you live on your own or with the family, where is your home located and how long is your commute to school, what a typical weekly schedule looks like for the family, and any travel plans that the family has during your stay (and if your vacation days will be used while they are traveling). The cultural difference between western and Chinese norms aren't always the same, so it's best to ask any little thing you're not sure of, just to make sure there's no confusion.

This experience can be amazing and can not be amazing, but it's really what you make of it! Take advantage of the free time you have and explore your city, try to make friends with the people in the Chinese school, and make an effort to make your own routine in China! The initial learning curve of getting used to everything here can be hard but if you put in the work, it'll be so worth it in the end!