The typical Chinese au pair will be eager to learn about the American way of life and our Western culture. Being very respectful of her host parents, she might seem shy at first, but will warm up to her new family after a few weeks of adjustment. Many Chinese au pairs love to cook and will be happy to share the traditional Chinese cuisine with you and your children. In China, punctuality is considered a virtue - your Chinese au pair might even come a bit earlier to a scheduled appointment to show her sincerity.

In general, the modern Chinese family consists of the parents and 1 or 2 children. Family members like to live in an independent way, but enjoy spending time together, sharing thoughts or visit with other relatives of the family. Chinese people like to eat, so gatherings with friends and family are usually combined with preparing and sharing big meals.

In China, primary and secondary education takes 12 years to complete, divided into primary, junior secondary and senior secondary stages. Most of our Chinese au pairs have earned a university degree, often in teaching positions or foreign languages. Even though they might still live at home while attending university, they are used to helping in the household and preparing meals for the whole family.

Chinese au pairs often look after their neighbor’s or friend’s children as well as after their cousins or nieces and nephews. The majority is infant care qualified and can take care of children under the age of two. Education is very important, so your au pair from China is used to teaching children even at a very young age how to count, read and speak a different language.

In order to get the driver’s license in China, one needs to pass a written and a driving test after having taken driving lessons. While your Chinese au pair will have a driver’s license upon her arrival to the United States, she might not be a very experienced driver. Usually living in big cities, most young people in China do not own a car and are using public transportation to get around. It is always recommended that you discuss your driving needs with au pairs during the interview process.

Chinese people are enthusiastic about studying foreign languages and English is the top foreign language learned in the country. Students in China start learning English as a compulsory subject in the third grade of elementary school. Your Chinese au pair might also know how to speak Japanese and/or Korean.