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Featured Country - China

Quick Facts

Location: Asia
Population (July 2011 est.): 1,336,718,015
Language: Official--Mandarin (Putonghua); there also are many local dialects.
Religions (2002 est.): Officially atheist; Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Christian, Muslim.

General Attitudes

China is the most populous nation and the fourth largest country on earth. There are cultural and linguistic variations in different regions, but for such a large country the culture is relatively uniform. Mandarin Chinese is the official language. The Chinese writing system has not changed for thousands of years and is the same for all the dialects.

Diet

Rice is the dietary staple in most of the country. The evening meal is the day's largest. Every meal includes soup, which is served as the last course. Tea is the most common beverage. The Chinese are fond of sugary soft drinks, both American brands and locally produced ones.

Family Life

It is common for several generations to live together under one roof. Extended family is extremely important. Family members, even distant relations, are valued above outsiders.
From a very young age, children are assigned responsibilities in both the family and the community. In the countryside, this means farm chores; in the city, it consists of housework or even sweeping the street. Schoolchildren are responsible for keeping the classroom clean and orderly.

“As more small families live in the same neighborhood/district, the kids may grow up together in [their] grandparents’ house where the [older] ones get their exciting childcare experience since they always enjoy being an ‘adult" - Stephanie Liu, Go Au Pair’s International Representative in China

Etiquette

Deference and obedience to elders is considered extremely important. There is a hierarchy that places older people above younger and men above women; this is reflected in social interaction. Chinese people are nonconfrontational. Individuality is often subsumed in the group identity.
Visiting is an important part of social life. Guests often drop in unannounced and are invited to join the family for a meal. It is customary to bring a small gift when visiting.

"Most of our Au Pairs love [children] and have a long-term plan to become an English teacher in a kindergarten/school, so they treat it as a job, and will definitely become independent and familiar with how to deal with the Western people after that” - Stephanie Liu, Go Au Pair’s International Representative in China

In honor of our featured country, families who match with an Au Pair from China in October, will receive $100 off the program fees

Learn about other countries Au Pairs come from.

Source

Countries and their cultures

Countries Profile - U.S. Department of State

CIA - The World Fact Book