Hello! I’m Filippo, a 26-year-old from Bologna, Italy, where I studied Chinese and English. Eager to hone my Chinese skills and dive deep into genuine Chinese culture, I chose to become an Au Pair in Chengdu, China.

My days in Chengdu were a blend of teaching, learning, and exploring. Each day, as I taught English to an energetic 7-year-old, I improved my Mandarin through daily conversations with my host family and the new friends I made. This experience also allowed me to travel extensively across China, visiting remarkable places like Xinjiang, Hainan, and Yunnan, and even joining my host family on a vacation to Los Angeles. These travels weren’t merely sightseeing; they were immersive experiences that deepened my appreciation for this ancient culture.

Of course the journey was filled with challenges, from adapting to a new culture to overcoming homesickness, but together with the host family I managed to turn this challenges into invaluable learning experiences. They helped make Chengdu feel like a second home and eased my integration into the local culture.

This incredible year was not only about improving my language skills but also about personal and professional growth. It transformed my understanding of the world and inspired me to continue exploring cultural exchanges from a new perspective. Motivated by the big impact my experience had on me, I decided to embark on this journey from the other point of view by working for an Au Pair agency. Now, I aim to facilitate similar transformative experiences for others, helping them discover the richness of cultural exchange and global learning just as I did.