I’ve never been to Asia before, and this experience was the best option for it! It’s an easy way to get a long visa, aside from it being cheap. The cultural exchange enriches you deeply, and living with a family gives you firsthand knowledge on Chinese traditions and language. I found this program on social networks, and it was truly a great find. I’d definitely recommend it!
Alumni Spotlight: Valentina Masini
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Valentina is a 28-year old lady from Italy. She has been traveling abroad since four years ago. Right now, she is in Beijing, China.
Why did you choose this program?
What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
The staff of Lopair have been really helpful with anything that I needed and at any time I needed help. They literally pick up the phone anytime you give them a call.
Of course, as an adult, I always try to figure things on my own before asking for help. However, when I find myself having some doubts about stuff (thank God I had no big problems), they always offered the best solution for me!
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
My advice is for people to be open-minded and be ready for a bit of a culture shock. It’s a totally different way of living compared to what you may be used to at home. However, after the first 2 to 3 weeks of immersing in the culture, I promise, China will give you a lot back! Your patience will pay off, and it will be totally worth it!
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
Week days are pretty easy. Host kids are in school on Mondays to Fridays until 4 to 5 PM. They often have classes and have a very busy schedule. You will be busy with Chinese class twice per week. On weekends, Aupairs are usually working because it’s basically the only time you have with your host kids.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
I’m 28 years old, and my biggest fear was thinking I may be too old for the experience. I thought that I should probably just start thinking about settling – finding a job, building a family, buying a house. However, I realized that experiences such as this one are also a way of working on my future. They make my CV fuller, and they also give me confidence and strength. My view now is more positive, and I feel like there is no rush in life.
Tell us more about yourself.
I have a lot of free time. I made a lot of new friends, and together, we spend our time off hanging out and traveling. I love to look for cool spots or brunch places or restaurants, and I also love exploring. If you want to follow me on IG @valentincy, you will find all the cool spots in Beijing area and all travel ideas around China!