Au Pair Spotlight: 5 questions with Acha

Why did you choose to come to China?

Coming to China has always been my dream since I was young. I've always been attracted to the culture, and particularly the long history. I was planning to come here on Erasmus, but unfortunately the big C happened and the whole world was quarantined. But I knew the next time I'd have the opportunity, I would come straight to China.And I did! :)

What has been your highlight so far?

It's hard to choose a singular highlight, so many new discoveries since coming here, but when I visited the Xitang Ancient Town in Jiashan, I was there at night and sat down on the riverside, looking at the beautiful scenery. I could hear a live singer from a bar nearby, and I never felt more at peace. This is a core memory now.

What’s been your biggest challenge living in China?

Making Chinese friends is definitely a bit of a challenge. I came here thinking it would be easy, but truthfully, unless you already have a good level of speaking, it's very hard. I have lots of WeChats but not many real connections.

What has surprised you about China?

The convenience of things! I already knew about it, but actually coming here, I have abandoned my wallet since every thing is done with the phone, including ordering food at restaurants and taking the subway. If I'm missing some thing urgent, I can get it delivered in 20 minutes. If you're sick, you can go to the hospital and get checked by a doctor in10 minutes. And so much more! I'm dreading going back to my country with out all these...

What is something you’ve learned from being an au pair?

That communication is so important, not only between you and the children you take care of, but also with the host family, the staff, and people in general. Some things I thought were big issues actually turned out to be misunderstandings. The moment I asked questions and shared my feelings, nothing was a problem anymore and we even got closer! Communication and empathy are absolutely the key to a good relationship with your host family and kids. :)