Life in China: My Au Pair Experience

Hi my name is Amy, I am 23 and I am from Wexford, Ireland. I like music, drawing and travelling. I will be working as an Au Pair in Beijing for 12 months. I have never blogged before but I really want to share my experience with anyone who is considering taking part in this programme. I hope I can give you a taste of what an Au Pairs life in China is like….

Arriving in Beijing!

I arrived in Beijing Airport on the 26th of February to the very welcoming face of Kevin, the Dad of my host family, who took me back to the family home. This was where I met Jenny, my host Mum and their four-year-old son Beirdou. I had been travelling for almost 26 hours and was extremely tired but I instantly felt happy and safe. Beirdou was full of questions and Jenny and Kevin could not have done more to make me feel welcome and at home. We sat down to a delicious lunch that Jenny had prepared and spent the day talking and I knew that thanks to Smaller Earth’s help, I had found an amazing family to share this amazing experience with.

The first few days were spent getting to know the family and their routine. This involves bringing Beirdou to and from kindergarten, having a family dinner and enjoying playtime in the evening (thanks to Beirdou I am now an Angry Birds expert!) The family brought me to meet their Grandparents, who are highly respected and play a very prominent role in the typical Chinese family. Chinese people see themselves as one VERY big family and will refer to each other as relatives (children in the play park call me “jiejie” which means older sister). Jenny also introduced me to the often crazy Beijing Metro, which once you get the hang of it, will become part of your daily life here!

Culture shock!

In those first few days I saw lots of things that were VERY different from home. Everyone knows that Beijing is a huge city with a massive population but it’s only when you get here that you realise just how many people there are! The streets and roads are always busy and at the beginning a little bit scary. There are cars, buses, bikes and scooters coming from all directions so you definitely need to be paying attention when crossing the roads which can be a little difficult when you see FOUR people on ONE scooter!! One of the hardest things for me to get used to was the use (or lack of) “please and thank you”. Like in most Western homes if I don’t say please and thanks I don’t get the thing I’m asking for! In Chinese culture, families believe that if you are close to people then you do not need to thank them, as it is their pleasure to help you. Saying please and thank you can even be seen as a way of wanting to keep the person at a distance! However, once I explained that such manners are part of my everyday life at home, the family understood and were shocked to learn how different the meanings are for the two cultures.

Something else I have learned during my time here is that Chinese people have a great curiosity with Western people. I have been stopped many times to be asked if someone can have his or her picture taken with me. At first, it is a little strange but everyone is very positive and welcoming and are happy to see you.

Although life in China is undeniably different from that of the Western life, I don’t think I experienced culture shock to the extent that I thought I would. The differences are interesting and exciting and before you know it they are part of your life and you begin to notice them a little less. And if I ever feel a little overwhelmed by it all I’m never too far away from a McDonalds, which is a sure fire way to remind you of home. I also found that the family took a little while to get used to having a Western person in their life. They found some of my habits a little strange like having a drink with a meal, having fruit for breakfast and most bizarre for them asking if I could have a fork! (I am now a fully fledged chopstick user I would just like to add). On a daily basis I learn something new from my family and I like to think they are having the same experience.

REAL Chinese food!

Another big difference from Western life is the importance of food in Chinese life. We all know Chinese food is delicious but the Western version of Chinese food doesn’t even come close to the real thing. Before I came here, everyone at home was worried that I would not like the food and would be looking like rice after two weeks! But there is so much more to Chinese food than the stereotype. There is literally food everywhere you go! There are at least ten restaurants on every street as well as street food carts on every corner, which can sell anything from fresh fruit and vegetables to freshly popped popcorn and roasted sweet potatoes.

My host family told me I should at least try everything once, which is advice I follow and I have tried foods that I would never have imagined myself eating. Some of the best things I’ve tasted are Beijing roast duck (I could eat it every day!), toffee coated fruit, tofu with garlic, vinegar and soy sauce, home-cooked spare ribs and baozi, which is the Chinese word for steamed bun (think bread with a filling in the centre which can be anything from meat and vegetable to sweet red bean). My favourite Chinese food is hot-pot, it’s my food revelation and something I’ll definitely be introducing to everyone at home. It’s a traditional Chinese meal that consists of meat, vegetables and noodles being boiled in flavoured soups. Although the food itself is simple, it’s the experience that makes it so enjoyable. The soup is served in a large dish placed on a hot plate in the middle of the table and then everyone cooks their own food. The Chinese eating experience is more communal than a Western dinner, which is something I feel greatly improves meal times. However, I can’t say that I’ve liked everything that I’ve tried here! Two things that I will never quite get rid of the taste of are “smelly tofu” (it is exactly that!!) and scorpion (I was feeling extra adventurous that day!).

Sight seeing!

Beijing is an amazing city with lots of things to do and see. There are the well-known tourist spots such as The Forbidden City, Summer Palace and Olympic Stadiums (all of which are fantastic and should definitely be on the to-do list) but there so many hidden treasures to be explored. One of my favourite places to visit are the Hutongs. These are the traditional Chinese streets with old, small, beautiful buildings that are steeped in Chinese history and culture. There are some modern Hutongs, which are great fun and often have amazing shops and restaurants. These are also great places to meet other tourists and share your experiences. Not only is Beijing city a wonderful place the surrounding areas are breathtaking. I have visited many parks, mountains and Buddhist Temples with my host family and they never cease to amaze me. These places are not too far from the city but when there, you feel like you are a million miles from the busy Beijing streets and Metro. I always look forward to our weekend trips to these kinds of places. The family have taken me to some amazing places and I have had lots of fun with Beirdou doing everything from playing games in the parks to watching 3D Chinese films.

Making friends

Before I left for Beijing, I was a little nervous about making friends and feeling lonely. However, neither thing has proved to be a problem. There are so many other Au Pairs in Beijing, everyone is so happy to be sharing the same experience, and before you know it you’re all sharing and comparing stories about your lives in both China and at home. Spending time with the other Au Pairs has greatly improved my Chinese experience and we’ve shared some amazing times. Even though I’ve only known them for a short time I know I have definitely made some friends for life.

My time here so far has been amazing and I each day I look forward to seeing what tomorrow has to offer!