LoPair EduCare: Fully Funded Cultural Homestay in China

I really enjoyed my time in Hangzhou with LoPair. I definitely felt I was part of a big lopair family, and was welcomed into my host family. LoPair offer two mandarin classes a week, which is a great time to catch up and learn with the other aupairs. The company also offers great advice on places to go in the city, and my local coordinator was very helpful! I had an issue with my first host-family, however this was resolved and I was well supported throughout the programme. I would recommend to anyone looking at families with this company to be fussy and ask lots of questions! Be happy before you fly off! Overall, a great company. There is the option to experience the home city and the culture through a monthly culture class. I loved living with a Chinese family, as it was a unique insight into Chinese food and their ethos. Highly recommended.

I would say that my personal experience with this program in China was mainly just okay. Living with one host family for 6 weeks can get a little difficult sometimes. My host family had two daughters and the youngest daughter was definitely not easy to live with due to her behavior a lot of the times, which made it hard for me to enjoy being an au pair for the family. Additionally, due to how much time you are required to spend in the home and tutor English (and sometimes for children that are more on the defiant side), it can affect your enthusiasm and how much effort you put into tutoring really quickly. At least that was the case for me. Although, my host parents were very easy going and did not put too much pressure on me to rapidly improve their children's English which made my time in their home a little more bearable. They also covered all of my meals, room and board, etc. whenever I was with them (including when they took me along on their family trips) so I am really appreciative of that. I wasn't able to explore China as much as I had hoped but I'm still thankful for all that I did get to see and do. During my 6 weeks in China, Lopair only offered one cultural activity class which I wasn't able to attend so I hope that they provide more in the future for incoming aupairs. Overall, my experience with this program was okay although I wouldn't do it again. However, anyone interested in going to China can definitely give this program a try because everyone's experience is different. Note: the LoPair staff are extremely responsive and great at assisting you if you have any questions or concerns. Kerry is really helpful with giving you advice on English tutoring and our group's local coordinator Yvonne always tried her best to help you if you encountered any struggles with the family or anything.

I have just finished the 6 week Lopair Summer Educare programme in Shanghai. My host family was amazing, making me feel welcome at all times and allowing me to experience Chinese culture first hand. I was able to try an enormous variety of delicious Chinese cuisine both at home and outside. I enjoyed helping my host kid improve her English which I feel was an experience that was beneficial to us both. On top of this, the included Mandarin lessons made the programme even more valuable as I was able to improve my Chinese and meet new people. There is plenty of opportunity to make friends, whether it be within your lessons or the various culture classes and Lopair also helps to bring different au pairs together. In fact, the whole Lopair team was great, especially my local coordinator, Yvonne, who was so friendly and always there to provide support. Kerry was also very helpful, providing me with useful English teaching tips! The people you meet and the memories you make will ensure your au pairing experience in China is one you will never forget and Lopair will guide you all the way!

Hi, I’m doing the six week au pair program with LoPair and I’m based in Shanghai. I have been an au pair several times previously within Europe and this experience has been very different but amazing due to my wonderful host family and friends I met both with LoPair and various agencies through out my stay. I found LoPair very approachable and responsive to messages (especially Becky, Ursula and Joey although I’ve never met either or them

I wasn't sure what exactly to expect when coming on this program, but it was nothing like I thought it would be. In some ways, it was kind of disappointing, but in many other ways it exceeded my expectations. I learned many many things about the culture, the language, and more about myself. I had a lot of time to reflect on the way I want to live my life with my future family. I was also able to create a great relationship with my host family. However, I did find the program to become a bit exhausting after a while, because time spent with the kid could sometimes feel more forced instead of natural. There were a lot of expectations and I felt a lot of pressure to say and do certain things while playing and teaching the kid. Needless to say, the kid ended up feeling like my little brother. It was fun to spend time with him and the family, we got along really well. I think this is because I have already traveled before, so there was little culture shock for me, and the family has also had experience traveling and having other au pairs, so they also did not have a lot of culture shock. For families who don't know much about other cultures, and for au pairs who don't know how to adapt to a new culture, I think many problems could arise. The city I went it was absolutely beautiful; I will miss it! I did feel a little lonely at times though because there weren't many opportunities to make and spend time with friends or other people, and I couldn't change my schedule at all.

This programme was a fantastic opportunity to visit China and learn so much about the language and culture. I was an au pair in Beijing with a lovely family who were very welcoming. I was also able to travel on holiday with them around China. Living in China comes with challenges but is an amazing experience, and from what I've heard from au pairs from other agencies Lopair is the best company to be an au pair with.

I enjoyed my time in China very much. Through the program, I was able to experience Chinese culture and experience modern China. I was able to have a well balanced life style with the welcoming host family. Also, during this program my english improved as well through the Chinese classes.

I loved my time here. The staff are super friendly and accommodating, as soon as I arrived I was greeted with warmth by local coordinators. Communication was easy, I never felt I was burdening someone. There are many people you can reach out to all the time. The family that I matched with were also very welcoming, and I was able to speak with them easily (I have a low level of Chinese, but we also used translate apps to speak to each other, which wasn't a problem). I was accepted into the family, and if I had any problems they were discussed and dealt with. Workload didn't always seem so because it was so fun. I taught a 10 year old and a 2 year old, which meant two different levels of English. Yet, we always made it fun. I had a great experience and would totally do again! Things they don't tell you though, although it is a free programme, you have to pay for the visa, and all travel expenses to/fro school when you get there. A staff member recommended I bring £100 which was insufficient. Bring more! Especially in the city of Beijing, where I was. Overall, great experience.

I had a great time in China, it was an awesome opportunity to live locally and connect with a family. Lopair were very helpful when I needed them and provided me with lots of social opportunities. I would recommend!

I've been so happy with my experience as a Lopair Summer Educare Participant. My host family have taught me so much about China and their way of life, which mixes modern living with tradition. Lopair's mandarin lessons have been really interesting and a great way to meet other Au pairs.

I had an amazing experience, I think the preparation and training in Hangzhou could be improved as I think it scared a lot of us more than anything ! Mandy the local co ordinated was amazing and extremely helpful.

It's an amazing, unforgettable experience. Over six weeks I've experienced what some chinese nationals have never had the chance to do in their lifetime. I got very lucky with my family too, but as far as I've heard all the aupairs had a great family! My family really did their best to give me the best possible cultural experience possible in the short time available. A rare chance to visit China at no cost, in great company, and to experience it from the very heart.

Great way to experience teaching English and living in a foreign country at the same time. Chinese and cultural classes were really interesting and living with a family means you get to see a different side to the culture you wouldn't see otherwise.

Had an absolutely amazing summer with my host family, we did loads of interesting activities , cloth dying, pottery making , water rafting and loads more.We even went on holiday to Sichuan for a week where we challenged ourselves in mountain climbing.

Excellent! A very fun and inclusive way to really experience a different culture. Hangzhou is a beautiful city and lots of interesting touristy things to do on days off. West lake at sunset is a must! The food is great and my family have been good at introducing me to a wide range of cuisine.

I very much enjoyed the programme. My host family was very welcoming and went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and show me the Chinese culture. It was also very nice to gain more childcare and teaching experience. The employees at LoPair were also very friendly and supportive, and Shanghai was a lively city to be placed in.

Overall I am highly satisfied with my experience as an au pair with Lopair in China. My host family was great, their demands were reasonable and flexible. The Mandarin and cultural classes organized by Lopair were good and the agency was fast at responding to any queries I might have had.

You can quote me The EduCare programme was an incredible opportunity to experience China through the perspective of a local family, rather than as a tourist. The length of the programme was perfect to try aupairing for the first time and now I look forward to coming back for a longer period of time.

Overall, I have enjoyed my educare experience. My host family has been very welcoming, the Chinese classes have been well taught and I have enjoyed getting to know the other au pairs. My one complaint is that my coordinator arranged for my off days to be the days I have Chinese classes. It takes 4hrs total to commute, and the classes are 2.5hrs long, so my half day ends up being a couple of hours, and my full day feels like a half day. I would have liked more time to spend with the other au pairs and to explore Shanghai. Looking after a (sometimes quite naughty) child means that time to recharge is really important , so I think it would be better if Lopair could ensure that off days were not the same as Chinese class days. But aside from this, I have really enjoyed the program and would recommend it to my friends!

A very good experience although challenging. The children appear to be less disciplined then I am used to and this can cause problems especially when creating boundaries for when you need time off. However although this was difficult at the beginning, I was able to create a working schedule with my family that worked well and allowed me to form a better relationship with my host child. My host family were very kind and considerate. They also took me to do some very interesting things which helped me to have a really good experience in China. I hope to keep in touch with them and the host child. Also having my own time allowed me to make friends and see Shenzhen for my self. Overall it was a good experience.