Jobs & Work Abroad Programs

Although I haven’t worked or studied abroad, I’ve had the opportunity to travel internationally, which challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and grow in meaningful ways. Navigating unfamiliar environments, interacting with people from different cultures, and adapting to new customs helped me develop greater independence, resilience, and cultural sensitivity, These experiences have made me more open-minded, adaptable, and confident qualities I bring to both personal and professional settings

My name is Rachele and I’m a 19 years old girl from northern-east Italy. After graduating from highschool I still wasn’t sure what to study in university, and since I had studied Chinese for five years, I decided that nothing would be better than going to China for some time. I thought that by being an Au Pair I would have gotten a much better chance to experience China as a local, and see its culture “from within”, and let me tell you, I was not disappointed! Thanks to my italian agency I had the chance to meet the LoPair staff, which helped me throughout my six-months stay in Hangzhou. From the matching process, to helping me solve everyday issues like registering for Alipay and other apps, they were always ready to help me out. And how can I forget the monthly cultural activities they organized for us: lots of local food, tea and arts and crafts! Being in a country so different and far away from my home can sometimes be a challenge, but I can say that China is a very welcoming place, where its beauty and history can be felt every day, no matter which city or which time of the year. The six months I spent in Hangzhou helped me grow up and learn more about myself and the world around me, and I was able to create ever-lasting memories with all the beautiful people I met there, my host family, my friends, the Lopair staff and my Chinese teacher. Even though I will soon start studying design in Venice, I don’t want to leave China behind and I look forward to go back and meet up with everyone once more! Thank you LoPair for this amazing experience! <3