Most au pair stories you read online sound perfect from the very first day. Mine doesn't, and that is exactly why I wanted to share it.
I'm Michele, I'm 24 and I come from Italy. Before this experience, I had never been away from my country for such a long time. Then one day I decided to take the step and become an au pair, and I chose Masons Au Pair to come to China for a whole year.
To be honest, the beginning wasn't easy. The language barrier, a different culture and a completely new kind of job all arrived at the same time. But I believed in it every day and tried to give my best, and in the end I made it.
A Host Family That Looked Perfect on Paper
My story starts with a host family that, on paper, seemed perfect for what I was looking for. Unfortunately, reality was different. From the very beginning, I noticed that things weren't clicking with the child, and there were several misunderstandings with the parents about what my role as an au pair really was.
After about a month and a half, the family and I made a joint decision: it no longer made sense to continue. There was no drama and no blame, just an honest recognition that the match wasn't working for either side.
When the Match Doesn't Work
This is one of the moments au pairs fear most before leaving: what happens if you don't get along with your host family, thousands of kilometres from home?
For me, the answer was the agency. Once again, Masons Au Pair stepped in to help me, and in just three days I had already found a new family. No flight home, no weeks of uncertainty, no starting everything again from scratch.
3 days — that's how long it took Masons Au Pair to find me a new host family. No flight home, no weeks of uncertainty.
A Second Family on the Other Side of the World
With my second host family, I spent the rest of my time in China, and it became the experience I had hoped for from the start. Thanks to them, I lived amazing moments that I will never forget, and I built a bond that will be very hard to break.
The best proof is that our relationship didn't end when my year did: even today we are still in touch and keep each other updated all the time.
Not just a job abroad, but a second family on the other side of the world.
That is what an au pair year can become when the match is right.
What I'd Tell Every Future Au Pair
My story also shows a few things every future au pair should know.
The start can be hard
And that's completely normal.
A bad match isn't a failed year
Sometimes ending it early and honestly is the best choice for everyone.
Support matters most when things go wrong
You don't have to solve problems alone.
The right match changes everything
It can turn a year abroad into a second family.
My Final Message
Looking back on my year, I have one last message: a huge thank you to the team at the agency for everything they did for me, and for the wonderful year we spent together.
And my story isn't over yet. To be continued…
Ready to write your own story?
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