What inspired you to work for your organization?
I wanted to work abroad and experience a completely different environment, and when I saw that there was an open position here, it felt like a really good opportunity for me.
I’ve always been interested in different cultures, meeting people from different backgrounds, and learning more about how people live in other countries. What I especially liked about this organization is that the work is connected to cultural exchange. I think it’s really meaningful to help young people get the chance to live abroad, experience a new culture, meet new people, and grow through the experience.
At the same time, I also get to learn something new every day, which makes the job really interesting for me :)
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
I would tell my pre-travel self to just go for it and not overthink everything too much. Before coming to China, I was definitely worried about the language barrier and whether I would be able to find my way around, especially because the cities here are so huge and the culture is very different. In the end, getting used to daily life was much easier than I expected.
Living here has taught me to rely more on myself, become more confident, and stay open to completely different ways of living. It’s not my first time living abroad, but China has definitely given me a completely new perspective on many things. It also showed me that you often adapt much faster than you expect when you stay open.
Describe a typical day at work.
A typical day at work is usually a mix of communication, recruiting, and supporting our au pairs. I start by checking and answering emails, then I look for new candidates and contact people who could be a good fit for our program. I also conduct interviews with potential participants and stay in touch with the au pairs who are already in Chengdu to see how they are doing.
Some days we visit host families, and other days we spend time together as a team and with the au pairs, for example, going out for food, playing games, or simply talking and exchanging experiences. Every day is a little different, which is something I really enjoy about the job. It makes every day fun and social.
Why do you do what you do?
Besides the obvious answer that we all need to earn money, I like that my work actually connects people from different cultures. I get to meet people from all over the world, hear their stories, and help them experience something completely new. That makes the job feel a lot more meaningful and interesting to me.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is being able to live and work in a completely different culture. It constantly pushes me out of my comfort zone, challenges me to adapt, and teaches me new ways of thinking. I feel like I’m not only growing professionally, but also a lot as a person, which makes the experience really valuable to me.
Sightseeing in Chengdu
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
I think my international background helps me the most because I know what it’s like to move somewhere new and suddenly have to figure everything out by yourself. I can relate to a lot of the things our au pairs are going through, especially when it comes to culture shock, language barriers, or just getting used to a different way of life. My education also helps with things like communication, organization, and dealing with different kinds of people, but I’d say real-life experience abroad is probably what helps me most in this job.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges for me is definitely the language barrier, but I’m working on that by learning Chinese and trying to use it more in everyday life. Another challenge is sometimes misunderstanding people because communication styles and body language can be really different here. I tend to overthink things when I’m not sure how someone meant something, so I’ve learned that it’s usually better to just ask, communicate openly, and not make too many assumptions.
What are some current projects you are working on?
Right now, one of my biggest personal projects is improving my Chinese and becoming more confident using it in everyday life. I also want to keep learning more about the culture by trying new things, meeting different people, and experiencing more of daily life here. At the same time, I’m just trying to build a nice and comfortable life for myself in China and make it feel more and more like home.
Why should someone choose your organization over competitors?
I think what makes our organization different is how personal the whole experience is. We carefully choose our host families and stay in close contact with every au pair throughout their time in China, so they always have someone to talk to if they need support. We also have an international team, which makes communication easier and brings different perspectives together. Another big advantage is that all of our au pairs are placed in the same city. That means it is much easier to make friends, meet regularly, explore the city together, join activities, and build a real community outside of work instead of feeling alone in a completely new country. That community aspect is really important.
Visiting the aquarium with some au pairs
What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Our mission is to give young people the chance to come to China, experience a new culture, and have a meaningful and memorable time here. At the same time, we want Chinese host families to learn about other cultures through the au pairs they welcome into their homes.
For us, the program is really about cultural exchange in both directions. We work toward this by carefully matching au pairs and families, staying in close contact with everyone, organizing activities, and creating a strong community where people can meet, share experiences, learn from each other, and feel supported throughout their time in China. We want both sides to leave the experience with new perspectives and good memories.
What makes your organization special?
I think what makes our organization special is that everything feels very personal. We operate only in Chengdu, so we are close to both the au pairs and the host families and can actually stay involved throughout the whole experience. We know the people we work with, keep in regular contact, and are easy to reach if someone needs help. Because all of our au pairs live in the same city, they can also meet each other, make friends, join activities, and build a real community. It feels less like just placing someone with a family and more like creating a whole experience around their time in China.
What hopes do you have for the future for your organization?
For the future, I hope we can continue growing and reach even more people. It would be great to work with more host families and welcome more au pairs from different countries and cultural backgrounds. I think having an even more international community would make the experience more interesting for everyone involved. At the same time, I hope we can keep the personal atmosphere we have now and continue focusing on good matches, close support, and creating a positive experience for both au pairs and host families.
Are there any developments with your organization that you would like to share with us?
We are currently continuing to grow our au pair community in Chengdu and connect with more host families and candidates from different countries. We are also always looking for ways to improve the experience for our au pairs, whether through better support, more activities, or creating more opportunities for everyone to connect with each other. Our goal is to keep growing while still maintaining the personal, close-knit atmosphere that makes our organization special.
What makes your organization easy to market to potential participants?
I think our organization is easy to market because the experience itself is very appealing. Participants get the chance to live in China, experience a completely different culture, meet people from around the world, learn Chinese, and become part of a local host family. We also have a strong community in Chengdu, so au pairs can make friends and enjoy life outside of the program as well. Social media also helps a lot because we can show real experiences, activities, friendships, and everyday life in China instead of only explaining the program.
Panda
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I hope participants leave the program with good memories, new friendships, and a real understanding of Chinese culture and life. I want them to enjoy their time here, but also learn something about themselves along the way. Living abroad can make you more independent, confident, open-minded, and adaptable, and I hope they grow through both the fun moments and the challenges.
I also hope they build real connections with their host families, meet people from different backgrounds, discover new perspectives, and create experiences they will remember long after they leave China. Ideally, I hope they return home feeling proud of themselves, grateful for the experience, and curious about the world.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
I think traveling abroad and experiencing new cultures is important because it gives you a completely different perspective on life. You realize that the way you grew up doing things is not the only way, and that can make you more open-minded and understanding. It also pushes you out of your comfort zone and teaches you how to adapt, communicate, and deal with unfamiliar situations. You meet people you might never have met otherwise, learn from different ways of living, and often discover a lot about yourself at the same time. I think these experiences help you grow, become more confident, question your own habits, and see the world with much more curiosity. It can make home feel meaningful.
How do you help support participants?
We support participants by making sure they always have someone they can reach when they need help. We offer 24-hour support, so they can call or message us anytime if something comes up. We also see each au pair at least twice a week, which makes it easier to stay in touch and notice early if someone is struggling. We communicate regularly through WeChat, organize events where everyone can meet and relax, and visit host families to check how things are going. For us, the most important part is simply talking to people, asking how they are doing, listening when there is a problem, and making sure nobody feels like they have to deal with everything alone while living in China.
If you could participate in one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
Since our programs are all based in Chengdu, I would choose Chengdu as well. I would want to experience the city from the participant's side: live with a host family, improve my Chinese, explore more of the local culture, and join activities with the other au pairs. I think it would be interesting to experience the program not as a staff member, but as someone actually taking part in it.
What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?
Participants often ask about cultural differences, social norms, or how certain things work in China. The answer really depends on the situation, so we usually explain the context and help them understand what to expect.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
I think learning a new language is important because it helps you understand a culture on a much deeper level. It also makes everyday life easier, helps you connect with people, and gives you more confidence when living or traveling abroad.
Au Pair event at the Panda Base
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means more to me than just visiting a new place. It’s about actually experiencing the culture, meeting local people, learning how they live, and being open to things that are different from what you are used to.
I think the best kind of travel is when you come back with new perspectives, memories, and a better understanding of both the world and yourself. For me, it also means stepping outside my comfort zone, trying things I would not normally do, and allowing a place to actually change the way I think.
It is not just about seeing something new, but about connecting with people, learning from them, and taking those experiences with you long after the trip is over too!!!
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
I would say just go for it. You will never feel completely prepared, and there will always be things you cannot plan for in advance. Stay open-minded, be curious, talk to people, and don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Living abroad can be challenging at times, but that is also what makes the experience so valuable.
What issues do you see in the world of international education that don't line up with your values and expectations for mutually beneficial & educational relationships between providers/programs and the communities in which they are located within?
I think one issue is when international programs become too focused on numbers or business and lose the personal side of cultural exchange. For me, both participants and local communities should benefit from the experience. There should be respect, clear expectations, honest communication, and real support on both sides. International education should not feel one-sided, but rather like an exchange where everyone has the chance to learn from each other.
What does ethical global engagement mean to you?
To me, ethical global engagement means approaching other cultures with respect, curiosity, and an open mind. It is about listening, avoiding assumptions, communicating honestly, and making sure that the experience is beneficial for everyone involved, not just one side.
What hopes do you have for the future of international education?
I hope international education becomes even more accessible and gives more young people the chance to experience life in another country. I also hope programs keep focusing on real cultural exchange, personal growth, and creating meaningful connections between people from different backgrounds.
What qualities in program & host community relations are important to you? (And your organization?)
For me, the most important qualities are trust, respect, open communication, and clear expectations on both sides. I think participants should feel welcomed and supported, while host families and the local community should also feel respected and heard. For our organization, it is important to stay closely involved, communicate regularly, and make sure both sides feel comfortable throughout the experience.
