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Wanderlust Exchange

4.73 Rating
122 reviews
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Why choose Wanderlust Exchange?

Wanderlust Exchange combines travel with educational exchange opportunities through several programs where participants have the opportunity to learn Mandarin, teach English as an au pair, volunteer with children, act as a cultural ambassador, or even coach tennis. Each of our programs encourages cultural immersion and exchange by giving participants the chance to experience China firsthand.

Wanderlust Exchange provide students with quality, authentic cultural experiences with an aim to bridge cultural divides. Our programs encourage participants to develop the self-awareness and cross-cultural competencies necessary to be active global citizens.

Wanderlust Exchange is a member of International Au Pair Association (IAPA), a global not-for-profit organization, and a member of WYSE Travel Confederation, the only global not-for-profit membership organization representing the entire youth, student and educational travel industry.

Website
www.wanderlustorg.com
Founded
2014
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Community Photos

my little friend
QingLong Temple in Xi’An
Hong Kong
Hainan
Even been part of volunteering team😍
Bird café with my host sister
Scenic Site
This is west lake!
Me (green shirt), my au pair friends, and our coordinator!
Cicadas for dinner!
Visiting Haihe River
Horseback riding with the host family!
My home stay dog
Hunan night
Spring holidays in the south
Skiing in Chongli

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Community Awards

  • Go Overseas Award
  • Go Overseas Award
  • Go Overseas Award

Scholarships

Wanderlust Summer Scholarship Cultural Ambassador Program

The Cultural Ambassador Summer Program 2025 is your gateway to an immersive cultural adventure in China. Designed exclusively for students from English-speaking countries studying at QS top 500 universities, this program offers a unique two to three-month experience in some of China’s most dynamic cities: Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Shenzhen. As a cultural ambassador, you’ll not only teach English and become a big sibling to your host family’s children but also share your own culture, creating a deep and meaningful exchange.

Participants in this program receive an array of benefits. From fully covered return flights to free Mandarin classes and engaging cultural activities, every aspect is designed to ensure a rewarding experience. Additionally, you’ll receive a stipend to cover personal expenses, making it easier to immerse yourself in the vibrant life of your host city.

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Impact 🌎

Participants in this program receive an array of benefits to enhance their journey. From fully covered return flights to free Mandarin classes and engaging cultural activities, every aspect is designed to ensure a rewarding experience. Additionally, you’ll receive a stipend to cover personal expenses, making it easier to immerse yourself in the vibrant life of your host city.

This program goes beyond just a summer abroad; it’s an opportunity to grow personally and professionally. By living with a Chinese family, you’ll gain insights into the daily life and traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations, all while contributing to a global exchange of ideas and perspectives. This journey will equip you with the skills and understanding needed to thrive in an increasingly connected world.
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Reviews

Default avatar
Meline
23
Female
Armenia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Wanderlust Cultural Homestay Tutoring (Au Pair in China) Program

Life as an au pair

Apr 24, 2025

Being an au pair in China is a really good way to experience life there. You get to live with a Chinese family, which means you're surrounded by the culture every day. I got to travel, try a lot of new food, and learn about their customs up close. Living with a Chinese family helped me understand their lifestyle better and made the whole experience more meaningful. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that you might feel a bit alone at first—you have to figure things out on your own, like exploring your neighborhood and getting used to everything but finding other au pairs nearby makes a big difference and can turn the experience into something really fun and memorable.

What would you improve about this program?
One thing I would suggest to improve the program is to help new au pairs connect with previous ones. That way, the former au pair could share their experience and tips, which would make things easier for both the newcomer and the host family
my little friend
Default avatar
Erin
30
Female
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Wanderlust Cultural Homestay Tutoring (Au Pair in China) Program

Best Choice I Ever Made

Apr 14, 2025

Choosing this agency to help me get a fresh start on life was the best choice I ever made. Not only did they stay with me every step of the way while I was preparing to leave, they also helped me set up a Chinese bank account and get a Chinese phone number within a few days or arriving.

There were a few times when I found myself in a tricky situation, and WE was always there for me to help me fix it. Thanks to this agency, I was able to see once in a lifetime views, merry some incredible people, and learn more about a people and a culture that I’ve loved since I was a child. Thank you, Wanderlust Exchange!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Something called “Birds Nest”. It’s basically made from bird spit, which I didn’t know birds could do, and a lot of Chinese people eat it for health benefits. I didn’t enjoy it, but a lot of people here eat it.
Pros
  • 24 hour communication
  • Health Insurance
  • Once in a lifetime cultural experiences
Cons
  • The agency messes up sometimes, but every agency does
  • You have to be very careful when selecting a host family
  • You can get lonely
Hong Kong
QingLong Temple in Xi’An
Default avatar
Nana
22
Female
Georgia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Wanderlust Cultural Homestay Tutoring (Au Pair in China) Program

Au Pair in Beijing

Feb 17, 2025

Finished 3 months program in Beijing. It was the first time I've participated in the program and the overall experience was very positive! It gave me a lot of opportunities to explore the city, understand the local ways of life and experience it firsthand, try new cuisine, broaden my ESL teaching experience and most importantly learn the chinese language. Living expenses are covered, which allows us to have a comfortable time while staying in a foreign environment. Both the local families and WE are ready to support us through daily life and other difficulties. I'm continuing my program in Harbin now, absolutely recommend coming here and experiencing this on your own!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Squeezing in the overcrowded metro of Beijing was a tough challenge at first, but overtime I learned to use other methods of convenient transportation such as public shared bikes, buses, Didi, etc.
Pros
  • Exploring new cities/country
  • Opportunity to learn a new language
  • Connect with the locals
Cons
  • Can be difficult to adjust at first
  • Making friends in smaller cities could be a challenge
Hainan
Default avatar
Aadi
Female
South Africa
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Wanderlust Cultural Homestay Tutoring (Au Pair in China) Program

Wanderlust Exchange Review

Feb 6, 2025

I started this program in October of 2024. My arrival was very smooth as I received lots of help my co-ordinator was there to collect me from the airport and everyone ensured I had what I needed. The families and the agency were all very nice and a massive help with the transition to life in China. Despite small challenges they were easy to overcome with the help of the agency. This was a truly unforgettable experience. I recommend taking the big jump and trying this experience even if afraid xx

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice for future travellers would be to prepare yourself for the different cuisine in China by doing research as you might not fully enjoy all Chinese dishes
Pros
  • Teaching Experience
  • Cultural exchange
  • New friends/family
Cons
  • Different Cuisine
  • Cultural shock
Default avatar
Deniza
23
Female
Armenia
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Wanderlust Cultural Homestay Tutoring (Au Pair in China) Program

DenizaG

Jan 4, 2025

Living and working in China as part of a cultural exchange program can be an incredibly enriching and transformative experience. If you love children, this program could be perfect for you. It offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in a foreign culture while also making a meaningful impact on the lives of young people. The experience is fun, rewarding, and will stay with you long after you return home.

One of the most exciting aspects of living in China is the chance to explore the country's beauty. China is a vast and diverse country, with something for everyone—breathtaking landscapes, vibrant cities, historical landmarks, and a rich cultural heritage. Whether you’re strolling through the bustling streets of Beijing, hiking the ancient Great Wall, or exploring tranquil tea fields in the countryside, there’s always something new to discover. The country is steeped in history and tradition, and living there gives immense opportunities

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Programs

Displaying 1 - 6 of 6

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Soraya Shirin Stuehmer

Program
Wanderlust Cultural Homestay Tutoring (Au Pair in China) Program

Why did you choose this program?

I chose this program because I already knew that I want to travel around after finishing school and learn more about different countries. I also love to work with children and teach them. China has always been a country that I am really interested in. So becoming an Au Pair in China was the best option for me. I can work with children and experience the Chinese life.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The Agency really helped me with everything. Before I came here I applied for the visa and filled out a lot of forms but I could always text the company and they always helped me. So even when I needed to organize something on my own they helped me a lot. If I had questions I could always text them and they would answer me very fast. So the Agency helped me with everything and because of that I didn’t have any problems in China.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

You need to be very open minded. China is a different country with a different culture. If you come here and start to live with a Chinese family it’s very different from what you are used to. So try to be open minded for everything. Don’t be afraid to try new things. If you do that you will adapt very fast to the Chinese life.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

It depends on your host family. But normally you will have 1 1/2 days off in the week and work for 7 hours a day. If the children go to school you will have more freetime. The families want you to teach the children English. So you will read a Lot of English books with them and talk a lot of English with them. In the freetime you can go out with friends. On the weekends the families go out very often and you can see a lot of things of the city.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was that I don’t like it and that I can’t adapt to the Chinese life. I was afraid that I don’t get along with my hostfamily. In the end everything was just a fear. My family is super nice and could adapt very fast to the Chinese life. I really love it in China and I learned a lot of new things through this experience. This experience really helped me to grow. You can overcome your fears if you just try out everything and don’t be afraid of something new.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Lilian Liu

Program
Wanderlust Cultural Homestay Tutoring (Au Pair in China) Program
Job Title
Project Coordinator
Lilian was born and raised in Shanghai, then studied in the UK and Australia. She moved to Sydney for work and decided to come back to Shanghai in 2018.

She started a small art classroom in Shanghai in August 2018, and because of her passion for international cultural exchange, she joined Wanderlust Exchange as a part-time project coordinator and starting to help running the company's Au Pair program in China.
Lilian Liu

What is your favorite travel memory?

My best travel memory would be to the small town in Germany named Regensburg. When we got there, it was their festival season; every shop is closed, and we saw people in traditional costumes celebrating on the streets.

We sat in front of the local church just to see how the sun moved on the church and cast beautiful shadows on the street. We felt so peaceful and joyous.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

This job really gives me a chance to get to know people from every corner of the world. I met people from Northern European countries as well as South America. Not only I get to share with them my cultures and heritages, but I also get to know their distinctive cultures and lifestyles when communicating with them. I made friends with some of our au pairs and volunteers, which I think it will be a life long friendship.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

Yes, we actually have many positive feedbacks from our au pairs and volunteers. One of the best stories I've heard is between our au pair in Ningbo and her host family.

They had such a great bonding that the kids really saw her as a close big sister and they wanted to be with her all the time, even wanted to sleep together with her. By the time she had to leave, both the au pair and the family were very emotional, but they still keep in touch with each other from time to time. This could be something that lasts for a lifetime for both the au pair and the family. Not to mention that the au pair's Chinese language skills also improved quite a lot during the program.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

I would definitely choose to be an au pair. Because this will give you the most authentic experience of what it's like living in China. For those who are interested in learning the Chinese language as well as the cultures, it will offer you a lot more than you can imagine. You get to see and experience so many things that you will not experience if you just come here as a student and live on campus.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

Our company is unique because of the fact that we put great effort in enhancing the experience of both our au pair program candidates and family candidates. We will provide service throughout the entire process and until the au pair leaves the family. We try to make each and every candidate feel they are taken care of and their needs will be attended to.

I was especially proud of seeing the growth of our team. We are a small but close-knit team. We share the same values and goals, and we also share a lot of common interests, which makes the work much more enjoyable. We have sharing sessions each week to share and discuss different interesting topics. We truly care for each other and aim to bring out the best outcome in our work.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I think passion is really important so that the team can really have the motivation to keep improving and keep growing. Also, sharing the same values and goals is equally important so that you can truly work as a team and try to think about what will be the best for the team and the company. Wanderlust Exchange has both qualities, so I believe we are on our way to be successful.

Professional Associations

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