Program Reviews

I’ve spent just a few months in Shanghai as an au pair. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions with some of the most exciting and fun new experiences whilst simultaneously being one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. If you’re looking for an easy holiday, this programme probably isn’t for you (30 hours isn’t all that far off a full time job and you will likely be asked to be flexible sometimes - but if you make this work for you, you can compensate working extra by having more time off to travel!) But if you come with a positive mindset and good communication skills to navigate life working with a host family, it can be the experience of a lifetime. Aside from Shanghai, I’ve been lucky enough to travel to Beijing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and even to Huangshan. Also, I think Lopair has an edge over other similar opportunities/programmes in the sense that you can be in frequent contact with helpful programme coordinators if need be, have clear expectations of the working hours from the outset, plus Chinese classes are included (make sure you check with Lopair exactly how many a week you have if this is important to you as this can vary). Finally I would recommend a short ish programme length since you can always extend it, but leaving early is more complicated. Overall I am so so happy that I chose this programme and and recommend to anyone looking for an adventure/learning experience! Thank you Lopair 💖

There aren’t enough words to describe what an incredible experience I lived in my stay in China. The six months I spent in Shanghai passed by in a blink of an eye, my days where filled with so many new things to do, to learn that I couldn’t feel the time quickly flowing. Being an Au pair in china hasn’t been just a life experience, but a whole mesmerising, thrilling adventure. Thanks to my host family I had the chance to travel a lot all around the country, and during these travels I found myself more and more in awe of this enthralling land that is China with its traditions, customs and language. I’ve dive into Chinese tea culture in Shanghai, lost myself in Guilin peaceful landscapes, ate insects in one of Dali’s ancient markets, jumped back in time to the Tang dynasty in Xian, transformed into a beautiful ancient China princess in Hangzhou ( I completely fell in love with the Hanfu 😁), I tried Chinese traditional hotpot, barbecue sticks and walk my feet off in the thriving Chinese capital. Not only did I have the chance to discover and bath in Chinese culture but also to make a lot of friends from all over the world that added to my experience the possibility to exchange opinions and learn from each other. All of this of course wouldn’t have been possible if not for the Lopair program that organised my six months here in China and helped me throughout the whole journey, being always ready to solve problems and set up awesome activities that became awesome memories.
I thank everyone that supported me and helped me during this journey and all the awesome people I've met, and for all the newcomers I strongly recommend you to jump right into this new adventure 😉💕

I stayed for six months in Shanghai with a lovely host family who were super kindhearted and always willing to teach me more about Chinese culture and way of life. My host family had one 12-year-old boy whom I helped with English homework and sometimes played badminton and golf with. I attended Mandarin Chinese classes every week, which helped me to improve my language skills greatly. I also had the opportunity to experience traditional holidays such as the Chinese New Year, as well as travel around China a little bit.

Lopair agency was very helpful and friendly with me. I really enjoyed the cultural activities they organized, such as a Chinese traditional tea ceremony and museum visits. I was lucky enough not to encounter many problems during my stay, but for the difficulties I did have, Lopair did their best to solve them quickly.

Overall, I had a really positive experience with the program and China, and I am already planning to return soon. I would recommend the program to anyone who wishes to gain a closer look at Chinese culture and everyday life. Living with a local family is an excellent opportunity to get to know the country. I am very grateful for the great experience. A big thank you to Lopair for a well-organized and memorable program!

It might sound cliche but it really was the best ever experience of my life. I can't wait to come back to China again soon.

Thank you to Lopair I had the opportunity to live the experience that I was not able to have in University due to the pandemic situation. All the staff was extremely helpful through the process and helped me in times of difficulty.

I highly recommend this experience to someone who wants to have a powerful insight into Chinese culture and the daily lives of Chinese people. Depending on the city and the family the experience can vary a lot from person to person so it's important to ask the right questions at the beginning to the staff who is always very kind and ready to answer your concerns.

I am so grateful to the agency for making this experience possible!

During the summer of the year 2023 I took part of this program and spent 3 months in Beijing China with an amazing family who took me in their house and treated as their own. I really enjoyed my time there and had great adventures and experiences. I had to take care of the younger brother who was 11 years old, and luckily we clicked with each other. I recommend this experience to everyone who wants to do an aupair and to whom wants to discover Chinese traditions and culture. Only suggestion I can give is to study before Chinese because starting from scratch would be very difficult, for me it still was even though I studied Chinese at university for 3 years. Overall a very good experience!

I was an au pair in the USA for 2 years and I loved the experience so I decided to try it again in a different country, China was one of my options since I had always been interested in its culture and language so when I found Lopair I knew China was the right choice.
I arrived to Hangzhou and met my host family for the first time (without taking into account the online interviews ,ofc.), they picked me up at the airport and took me to my new home.
Lopair found a great family for me, they are funny and caring and made me feel part of their family as soon as I arrived, throughout my time with them I have met 奶奶， 外婆 and the rest of the family, having dinner with their relatives and friends is great because I can practice Chinese (my host family can speak English so we use English everyday) .
They have become part of my family now and I am so happy to have them!
My host kid is so smart, he challenges himself everyday so his English has improved a lot, I always ask him things about China and what Chinese kids do for fun, etc. He is always willing to help me clear my doubts.
Lopair has been with me since day one and I am thankful for that.

Hope this was helpful and that everyone interested in China just come because they won't regret it!

Thanks Lopair!

Honestly, I didn't expect much before I actually arrive in China. I do intersted in Chinese culture and I plan to join because I really want to experience the difference. However, I met a wonderful family, and Lopair really good at helping and supporting me during the time when COVID-19 breakout in China.

I was very worried and even panic when it started, the situation was pretty overwhelming. My host Mom was really nice to me and I also think of leaving the program earlier. When I asking questions and options how to leave, Lopair shows their great support and I also understand it's hard to get the flight during the time, I received a very clear explanation on the available options. But leaving my wonderful host family, I will feel so aweful and regreted. I got a lot helps and support from my host family and lopair, I don't feel good by leaving them at this hard time. So, I decided to stay after all.

And I'm glad that I stayed, becuase once the pandemic situation was under controled, my host family is able to take me out and we have short-trip to visit their hometown in Huzhou, a really wonderful place to visit, we climbed up the top of the mountain, visited some historical sites, learning history and ancient stories……

I thought my trip to China will be end up really bad when the COVID19 started, but it's not~ Totally out of my expectation~ I appreciate a lot and it's soooo nice to met my host family. I do suggest people who would like to join this progarm will need to prepared for being a teacher since Chinese family wants you to teach the kids to learn English.

The teaching sometime may needs you to generate some creative ideas to teach. You may also be prepared that you will need to learn Mandarin in China, Lopair offers Mandarin class and I'm able to catch up my poor Chinese, which now become one of the biggest gain during the program.

Luckily I had the support of my agency at home who also rebooked my flight so I could get home earlier when the virus in Beijing spread and contacted me and other german aupairs very quickly.

Others didn't get any help from Lopair, and tried to charge big amounts of money which no aupair can afford!

I won't explain in detail what problems other aupairs had.Another comment explains it well enough. Things went pretty bad for many of us, especially when the virus broke out.We were basicially left with no support.

Communication problems also occured on many occasions. Just be aware they will usually side with the host family and care for their problems first.After all they pay a lot of money.

China is a nice place to visit.I enjoyed being there and made some great memories.Try another company or program. You might be left with no proper care and have to pay too much money when things get bad since Lopair is only interested in making as much money as possible and not taking care.Have a nice day.

I embarked on this six-month placement in China with the aim of having a relatively 'productive' gap year, improving my Chinese language skills and forging connections which might prove useful in the future.

With regard to these aims, the experience was very valuable. My Chinese came on in leaps and bounds thanks to a mostly Chinese-speaking home environment and the best Chinese teaching I've ever received. I also had a really good relationship with my host family (with one caveat that will be outlined below), and will be sure to stay in contact with them for a long time to come. Despite the bulk of my placement overlapping with restrictions due to the pandemic, I was able to see lots of China, taste lots of its food and overall have many unique experiences. Highlights include cupping therapy (definitely an acquired taste!), tongue-numbing Sichuan hotpot and the spectacular scenery of Guilin.

If not for the virus situation, that would definitely be my last word on the programme. However, the fact that our host children weren't attending school meant that myself and most other au pairs were working double the hours stated in our contracts, and I felt that the agency could have stressed more to the families that this was unfair. However, I'm sure that Lopair would have happily facilitated a change of family had I requested one, and the fact that I didn't reflects just how well I got on with my family in all other respects.The fact that I stayed in China, far from family in the middle of a pandemic and working longer hours than anticipated also attests to how great the programme was for my Chinese. I was willing to make some sacrifices in order to reap the benefits of a truly amazing environment for language-learning.

Another nice bonus was making some life-long friendships while out there. I would definitely recommend the programme, though obviously it depends what your goals are at the outset.

When I arrived in China I was really happy but worried. How will the first days going?

But actually it was good. More than good. The other Aupairs (the german ones mostly) are my friends until now. Everyone was so nice and we had the greatest days at the orientation at Lopair.

The people from Lopair are so great. I love them all. Maybe someday I want to work for this kind of company. It seems great to me.
After we all went to our Host families I finally realize I was the only Aupair in Hangzhou. It was hard to know the other Aupairs who already where in Hangzhou for months because they’re already built groups and it’s difficult to fit in and get into it.

So my first weeks I’ve stayed with my family. Aiden and Alayne are my siblings. We’re not siblings by blood but I feel the connection between us. I love them. Really. My host parents are the most lovable parents that you can get. I‘m really lucky that I found a place that I can call home. I can’t never thank them enough to be such a kind and loving family.
I never had problems with my family, I heard from some of the other Aupairs that they changed families but I‘m really thankful that I‘ve been here.

The most I‘m thankful for is Yvonne and Jane. This two girls made me feel happy and helped me alot these days.