Hyper-fixation to reality in less than 3 months. I found out about au pair opportunities in China last summer while doomscrolling on TikTok at 5AM; in a moment of intense confusion all I wanted was to quit my job and leave Rome after years of not loving it anymore. Infatuation got real, and I started getting in touch with various agencies around China. Most of them were average at best in terms of communication and social media presence, but then there was Masons Au Pair... Their website and Instagram account were far more intuitive, transparent (!!!) and aesthetically pleasing than any of their competitors', a massive green flag from the get-go. I then contacted them and they got back to me in no time, promptly scheduling an interview that also included a personality test. Their recruitment process is rather thorough and they really want to make sure they create the best possible match for both their au pairs and their partner host families. Rematches are very much possible and happening, so worry not! I was lucky enough to find a host family relatively quickly and we agreed to collaborate shortly after. The agency then took care of my flights, booking them upfront (another positive aspect that sets them apart from other providers) and helped me out with all the documentation needed for the X2 Visa. Less than three months later, I was landing in Chengdu, ready to meet Jason and Nadya and start my two-day orientation and training period. Hotel accommodation, local meals and experiences were also provided and very much appreciated. The first impression was honestly impeccable and I felt like I was in good hands. On day three I was introduced to my host family and instantly adored my two little host brothers. I spent 7 eventful months with them (a 6-month contract, and a 1-month extension) and they really made sure I had everything throughout my program. I was fortunate enough to travel around China quite a bit, having visited major cities like Chongqing, Xi'an, Wuhan, Changsha, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Sanya. I spent two beautiful weeks on the coast of Hainan with my host family, celebrating Christmas and New Years under the coconut trees for the first time in my life. During my time spent with the host family I jumped head-first into Chinese culture, cuisine, and mannerisms. I always tell people that this experience has been one of the greatest "social experiments" of my life, having witnessed all sorts of family dynamics over those 7 months. This being said, it hasn't always been fun 'n games, so I'd definitely encourage future au pairs to expect miscommunication at times, cultural differences on a daily basis and very long, demanding hours on the weekends and whenever the kids don't attend school. Thankfully, I have made lifelong friends that quickly became my support network when in need. Masons Au Pair exclusively operates in Chengdu, which guarantees connection with everyone in the same boat with you (the other au pairs) and proximity to the agency if any issues arise. Big shoutout and thank you to Jason and Nadya for everything they've done for me throughout my stay. Thanks for bearing with me and listening to my rants every now and then. Forever going to remember and cherish this side quest.
P.S. Do not despair if you're a guy in your late 20s!!! It is entirely possible for you to become an au pair. A lot of families would rather work with someone that has already had some life experience and bro pairs (male au pairs) are totally a thing, contrary to popular belief.
