I'm a passionate traveler from Italy, specializing in Long-term and Slow Travel.
Hey there, I'm Chiara!
Welcome to my channel! I cater to adventurous humans like me, who are eager to explore the world in a meaningful and sustainable way.
✈️ Why Travel Fast When You Can Travel Slow? ✈️
Here, we dive deep into the art of long-term travel through experiences like volunteering, au pairing, and cultural exchanges. My favorite continent? Asia! ✨
♻️ Travel Sustainably, Live Fully ♻️
Sustainability isn't just a buzzword; it's a lifestyle. On my channel, you'll find tips, advice, and travel gems to help you explore the world positively. From eco-friendly hacks to budget itineraries, I’ve got you covered.
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Great video. Will be traveling to China early next year. I have quite a lot Yuan in paper form leftover from my last visit from 10 years ago. Since all transactions are now done using phone apps like AliPay, what can I do with them? Or where can I go to exchange my paper Yuan?
@andyk5286 you can still use it, no worries! Is just that the most used payment method in China is now scanning QR codes, but cash is still accepted in most places 😉
@@Chiara.Keller Good to know, thanks. I have about 20k yuan notes, by the time I end my travel, I'm sure they'll still be some paper notes left. Since I no longer wants to keep them anymore, do you know if I can exchange them in any bank to USD when I am there?
Hi, I am currently thinking about volunteering long term in Japan via Worldpackers, so I really enjoyed your video!! I don’t know if I just didn’t hear it or if you really didn’t mention it, but could you tell me how much you actually paid for those 2 months traveling? (Just a rough number) That would be great 🥰
@akaku_2166 Hey! It's great to hear you're thinking about embarking on this great adventure! I didn't mention it for a reason: I've spent 1 month in Yamanashi as a volunteer with worldpackers.com and the other one as a traveller around Japan. That means that after that month, I was moving with trains and buses constantly, hotels and B&B were my accommodation, eating in restaurants every day and I did a lot more "tourist" activities (climbing Mount Fuji, visit cities and so on) that would obviously increase my budget. As per Yamanashi, if you don't take into consideration the flight tickets (that vary on country and period), travel insurance (super important), I'd say I had only spent on that one month around 150/200 €/$ . That includes train tickets to arrive there from Tokyo, extras (snack, souvenirs, activities), and more transportation to travel around the area. Hope that cleared it for you 😊 Don't forget to use my code in the description box if you decide to volunteer with Worldpackers.com to save 10$ on your annual membership 😉 Happy travels!
Gotta say this video gets everyone covered when it comes to travelling or living in China. Very interesting and complete content, kept short, direct and full of useful info! Thank u Chiara and Ari. I don't know if you've ever been there (and so can dedicate a proper video on the topic) but I'd definitely love a video-guide about Central Asia countries, such as Turkmenistan, Kazakistan, Uzbekistan, Kirghizistan and Tajikistan! Planning to visit them asap but I always find various and conflicting opinions on that countries and whether or not to visit them. Would you suggest packing and leaving? :D Thanks
Hi! Thanks for the support and the suggestion 😊 For Central Asia, I say don't give up! I haven't been there (yet), and I think it would be a great travel destination! It's not an overdone destination, so you can travel with ease, and it's such an interesting area, with so much cultural variety! I say pack and GO! Surely not pack and leave it 😁
@EnglishwithSam685 China has changed a lot in some sense, and it has remained the same in others. When it comes to practical things, everything is done technologically: think apps, pay methods, and purchase goods. Culturally wise, they have remained the same. It's still a pretty closed country that is not very used to having contact with the rest of the world. And speaking of that, my next RU-vid video is going to be about this topic: practical apps and tips and cultural differences when living in China. So stay tuned 😉
I actually started learning Mandarin a year and a half ago on Duolingo App. I'm not gonna lie, I didn't put much faith in it, but I put some effort anyway. One of the best parts about coming with an agency is that they often offer mandarin classes. I took 40 hours, and after the first class, the teacher said I was an HSK 3 student. That's not bad for a beginner! Until the classes kept going, I felt like I was really improving, but once the 40 hours finished, I guess I didn't put in so much effort into practising 😅 That's on me. But one can truly improve if they put the effort to try to speak, even when you're not feeling confident about your language level. Keep your ears open at all times and truly try to separate even a word or two in conversations. I find that truly helps a lot in memorising vocabulary and understanding more. I think, like with every language, learning Mandarin doesn't come easy at first, but it gets easier the more you hear it and practice it, and that your worst enemy is being too shy to try to speak. Try! At worst, they won't understand, and you can use a translation app. But no one is going to laugh at you if you get it wrong, I promise 😉
ho appen visto che sei italiana solo dopo aver visto tutti i consigli che hai dato.Penso che grazie ai tuoi consigli ho capito che questa potrebbe veramente essere la mia esperienza ideale.Conosci qualche agenzia affidabile?Oppure direttamente quella a cui ti sei affidata tu,se vuoi dirla
@Sylphyuno ciao! Sono contenta di sentire che ho catturato l'interesse di qualcuno 😁 La Cina è un paese straordinario, che richiede un po' di pazienza ma che può offrire tantissimo. Puoi trovare l'agenzia con cui sono venuta nella descrizione sotto il video, comunque è www.lopair.com/ Tieni sempre presente che l'agenzia ti aiuterà durante tutto il processo di arrivare (Visto, documenti, trovare la famiglia, etc.), processo non semplice, perciò tieni duro! Se scegli di venire, fagli sapere che li hai trovati tramite il mio canale, così si prenderanno extra cura di te 😁 Spero che sceglierai di imbarcarti in questa starordinaria avventura! Ti assicuro che non te ne pentirai! Buon viaggio!
@@Chiara.Keller grazieee,per ora non sono tanto sicuro a causa università,perchè non so se prendermi o meno l’anno sabbatico.Però penso proprio che con l’indecisione della facoltà che mi ritrovo faccio l’au pair mentre prendo una decisione e via.Grazie ancora.
@@Chiara.Kellerciao sono sempre io,mi stavo informando meglio sull’au pair.Posso contattarti in privato per alcune informazioni?Perchè non sono sicuro su alcune
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Yes, unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation around China. The fact that the country keeps all doors closed and doesn't let anything out definitely doesn't help. There's so much to discover on this side of the Great Wall!
I'm doing Au pairing in China as well. Had a horrible experience with my first family, wanted to change and the agency said because there's no family , they r having a hard time to find another family so I should go back to my country. They said their families wanted a female Au pair. I left the family, stayed alone for a couple of days, had a lot of interviews from different agencies, then I got the match and just yesterday I came to my new family in another city. Now everything is great 😁 I had a strong reason to change the family, family hid that the kid has mental illnesses and was getting medication. But still I didn't get the support from them, and I handled the situation alone. In most cases they only care about host families.
@EnglishwithSam685 Hey! I'm so sorry you had such a bad first experience. Believe it or not, the exact same situation happened to me the first time I came as an Aupair in China 8 years ago. Thankfully, the agency I came with at that time was able to find me another family, so as for you, things got better 😊 But as you said, I know what you mean when you say you had to handle everything on your own. Unfortunately, some agencies do appear to care more about the host family than the Aupair. You did great at not giving up, though! All the best for your new adventure! I hope it goes so well that it will make you forget the first 🙈
@lwg7575 hey! That depends a lot on the Agency's policy, if you go with one, and the family. I get 2000 RMB per month, which is roughly 250 €/$. That's around the standard, but it can vary from 1500 to 2500 RMB. If you go directly to the family, without an Agency, that can be very different, depending on your working hours and family disposition.
Thank you Chiara.. am struggling to pack winter summer .last time had to just buy and leave winter. items.. would hsve meds too for longterm . I tried many mosquito sprays gels zero worked sny ideas please?
@lbunnygordon1133 hey! I know packing is a struggle, but it gets easier over time. Don't worry 😁 For the mosquito repellent, I found that the Autan brand works for me, but I'd advise to pick one that covers also against tropical and tiger mosquitoes. All the best for your future travelling adventures!
Hallo everyone welcome to China! If you want to experience China, please talk to me because we are looking for Aupair to teach my kids English in Shenzhen!
It sounds like you enjoyed some beautiful footage of Yamanashi! This region in Japan is known for its stunning natural landscapes, including views of Mount Fuji, lush forests, and serene lakes. If you're interested in more, you might enjoy videos like the 8K footage of Oshinohakkai or the 12K footage of the Akeno Sunflower fields. Both showcase the breathtaking beauty of Yamanashi.
Thank you! I'll definitely have a look. I miss Yamanashi province and its beautiful landscape! Japan is just gorgeous, and I'd love to go there on a long-term travel adventure once again in the future!
Grande Chiara! Very interesting introduction. Son nuovo sul canale: potresti dedicare un successivo video ai posti meno "battuti" dove hai viaggiato e che, secondo la tua personale esperienza, varrebbe la pena visitare almeno una volta nella vita? Mi piacerebbe anche sapere le "regole d'oro" per un viaggio backpacking (che sto progettando per il futuro). Grazie mille, e complimenti ancora, good luck! :D
Hello! I applied with a aupair agency, which is the easiest and safest way to find a family and be au aupair in China. You can find a few aupair agencies online, just type it in your browser research bar. Hope it helps! All the best with your aupair exchange!
If you are alone with the kid, anything from drawing together, playing simple card ges like uno or memory, if they have children blocks (like Lego) you can use that too. If there are more kids and you are outside you can play hide and seek, Marco Polo, red light green light. You can go play at the park or read some picture books, play board games. There's a lot and it all really depends on the kid's personality and age and of course what you like too. Think about what you liked to do when you were a kid and have a go at that😉
hey! i want to become an au pair in china like you, how difficult is to enroll to the program? is it even difficult? and, which are the starting dates? i mean, can you go to china like the day you want? is it every summer/winter?
Hi! Lovely to hear you want to be an AuPair in China! To do that there are a few things you want to do: First of all, your best option is to find an AuPair Agency, that will speed up the process and make it so much easier as they will lead your way through it. To find one you can have a look at the www.iapa.org where you can find all of those that are approved by the internationa Aupair Association. They will help you through all the steps and guide you through. There is no set or specific time nor lenght to be an aupair in China, it will depend on your availiability and the agency request for an aupair from your country and with your lenguage background. I hope this helps, have a great adventure in China! Pan
After so many years and 5 months spent in China, I think that is mostly a cultural barrier. It is not just the language, it's the cultural approch that is quite different from what I'm used to at least. 😊 I had similar, yet very different responses in other Asian countries I visited, Japan, South Korea, Thailand.
What :D Fruit is not expensive in CHINA :D I am an au pair now myself, vlogging and struggling with getting the things I want to eat. Also, I am refusing to eat bones and other weird things. Just will not do that :D
Ahah! I KNOW the feeling! Duck brain was my turning point. I had it and it was ok, but I can understand some things are not easy to try, especially in the beginning. No need to push oneself excessively. Trying new things it's good, but it shouldn't be a chore
Btw, what age have your kids? I'm having problem about the 2 years old guy because the mother wants that I read books to him but he don't stop quiet... :/
I had a 5 years old with special needs and there the real problem was the mom. Then I had a 9 years old, very spoiled, so different kinds of problems. I think every aupair experience with the kids will come with some kind of difficulties, that's part of the deal and an important one as well. Both parties will learn from each other. As for your case, it might be helpful trying to understand why the toodler won't be able to listen at some point. Did he just watch TV or recently had some food or snack? That could keep his energy levels high and make it hard for him to relax as he's got sugars in his body and TV stimulates your brain to be active. You could try to pick a time to read further from this times, or avoid having the kid eat sugary snacks right before. If it's just a matter of the kid's usual behavior, you'll have to work with that step by step, channeling his energy in more active activities at other times of the day. That could help making him more calm in other moments and read to him at that time. I'm really no expert, so I'm simply sharing my own experience through dealing with similar issues, but I still hope it helps😉
May I ask you which agency you went to China with? I also had the problem that the agency didn't really care about my problems in the host family and I've heard a lot like that from chinese agencys.
I went with ASC Aupair study in China. I understand what you mean, it depends a lot on a cultural difference and the way Chinese consider aupairing, sometimes more like a job then an exchange program. Don't feel down, some agencies are now more used to the worldwide concept of aupairing and consider more the aupair problems. The one I went with is probably going in this direction, although keep in mind that there will always be a difference dependent on cultural differences. Hope it helps and enjoy China!
Hey! I'm loving your videos, I'll be an au pair in China, I just started de process anyway, I have a big question in my mind, somewhere I heard that to access to internet in China even on your phone is quite difficult, is that true? I also heard is limited or something, can you help me...or if someone else watching the video has the answer I really appreciate. Thank you!
Juan Sebastian Quintero Niño it's not internet in general, it's specific websites. Especially social media like Facebook and yes RU-vid as well. But for every problem there's a solution, which in this case is called VPN. They are apps that allow you to use internet in China as if you were connecting from another country, like Australia for example. It's like being Batman on internet, you know who you are but nobody else does. There are free VPNs and those you pay for. I honestly used a free one and it was just fine. Internet is going to be a bit slower obviously, but you'll live. I can't remember the one I used but if you just Google free VPN app you'll find reviews on the best ones and such. Hope it was helpful and all the best with your aupair experience!
Hello. I am Taiwanese, I lived in Tainan Yongkang, hoping to find a native speaker of English Au Pair in Taiwan It can accept two months or six months or a year If you have wanted to learn Chinese, came to Taiwan to play, enjoy Taiwanese cuisine foreigners, are welcome Hen I have a six year old girl, from a half-year-old began to read the paper. Classical antiquity .. does not currently recognize the whole word will be read Analects University / moderation Currently reading English classics election ... ARISTOTLE WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE GEORGE HERBERT ... Hope to have a native speaker of English or young single mothers (with children can come to learn Chinese, we exchanged child language) Au Pair work as long as the language exchange, without any family or work to help We will arrange holiday travel ... Taiwan famous attraction if you like, we can be a good friend into a good family tel :886-0920258689 line : mamibabygo skype : fish6237
Hello. I am Taiwanese, I lived in Tainan Yongkang, hoping to find a native speaker of English Au Pair in Taiwan It can accept two months or six months or a year If you have wanted to learn Chinese, came to Taiwan to play, enjoy Taiwanese cuisine foreigners, are welcome Hen I have a six year old girl, from a half-year-old began to read the paper. Classical antiquity .. does not currently recognize the whole word will be read Analects University / moderation Currently reading English classics election ... ARISTOTLE WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE GEORGE HERBERT ... Hope to have a native speaker of English or young single mothers (with children can come to learn Chinese, we exchanged child language) Au Pair work as long as the language exchange, without any family or work to help We will arrange holiday travel ... Taiwan famous attraction if you like, we can be a good friend into a good family tel :886-0920258689 line : mamibabygo skype : fish6237 你好我是台灣人,住在台南永康,希望找一位母語是英文的Au Pair 來台灣 可以接受二個月或半年或一年 如果有想學中文,來台灣玩,享受台灣美食的外國人,都佷歡迎 我有一位6歲小女孩,從二歲半開始讀論文.古代經典..目前不認識字會會念整本論語.大學/中庸 目前正在讀英文名著選...ARISTOTLE WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE GEORGE HERBERT ... 希望有母語是英文的年輕人或單親媽媽(可帶小孩過來學中文,我們可以交換小孩的語言) Au Pair 工作 只要語言交換,不用任何家事或工作的幫忙 假日我們都會安排台灣知名景點旅行...如果你願意,我們可以是很好的朋友變成很好的家人 電話0920258689 line : mamibabygo skype : fish6237
