Unending torrential rains have left China devastated by severe flooding. Estimates show that more than 700 people have lost their lives and more than 300 are still missing.

Reports are showing that about ninety percent of the casualties were caused by mountain floods, mudslides and landslides triggered by heavy downpours. Around 645,500 houses have also collapsed.

There is also worry about the number of rivers running dangerously high. More than 230 rivers are above warning levels and 25 of them are at record highs. This is contributing to flooding in over 100 cities. Chinese government officials have also said that over 117 million people have been affected by the intense flooding. Estimated damage costs are reaching close to $21 billion dollars and the floodwaters are not close to stopping.

When a natural disaster like this occurs, it is much more impactful when you know someone who has been directly affected. Many of our Host Families have Au Pairs from China. As of right now, all our Chinese Au Pairs’ families and friends are safe in China. However, some Chinese Au Pairs said the affects have been far reaching.

“Just recently my friend who [studies] in Xi`an said that the railway in Xi`an was affected, some of the railway lines are destroyed so some students can not go home by train,” said Lily an Au Pair from China.

The flooding is also affecting our Chinese Au Pairs who are trying to get their embassy appointments. Meghan Ramirez, goAUPAIR’s International Representative Coordinator advised that the flooding “may be contributing to long embassy waiting times.”

We send our deepest condolences to the people in the flooding areas. We will keep you updated with any news we receive regarding embassy wait times and our Chinese Au Pairs.

On February 28, one of the biggest earthquakes recorded in history hit central Chile. The 8.8 quake caused massive damage leaving many areas without electricity, water and phone lines.  As of today, the death toll recorded is over 700 lives.

Gloria G. Grabois, our Local Area Representative in Central New Jersey, is from Chile and has relatives and close friends in the country. She was kind enough to share her feelings about how this tragedy has affected her and her family and friends.

“My attention has been diverted this week due to the earthquake in Chile, where I am from, as only now, almost a week later I know that my family and friends are well although there are a handful of close friends that we are not able to contact, which I hope is due to technological issues only.  Although any loss of life is too much, the numbers are not what one would expect after such a catastrophic event.

My family suffered only the irrelevant material losses that can be easily replaced but, I think only in the last few days, the reality of this earthquake has really set in and they now realize the monumental rebuilding task that is ahead of them. From so far away, the feeling of impotence is paralyzing as for many days we had no way of communicating with our loved ones. But this is the age of communications and I am not a ‘technologically savvy person’ but I am now grateful for having Blackberries, Facebook and Skype, which were the only way to get some news.

Now, the task ahead is also the responsibility of us, the ones living abroad, to help our country in any way possible, especially the children who have experienced the magnitude of the unimaginable-- "the big one"-- and still, even now they live they young lives with tremors and aftershocks that almost reach earthquake levels.

I am deeply thankful for everyone who has expressed their concerns.  Chilean people are strong and it is their faith, grace and love for one another that will make them rebuild again."

Our condolences go out to all the Chilean people. We hope the rebuilding process goes smooth and those who still have not been able to contact their family members are able to do so.

In December, an Au Pair from goAUPAIR was part of a front page photograph in the USA Today. The photo shows Au Pair Bessy Pocasangre and one of the children she cares for sledding down a hill in front of the nation's Capitol building. The photo was part of a story about the major snow storm that hit the East Coast and dropped more than 20 inches of snow.

Despite delays in flights, many people enjoyed the large amount snow. Many of our Au Pairs located around the East Coast enjoyed the fresh snow with sledding, snow angels and more.