Umberto in Shanghai: from Con fusion to Connection

Umberto arrived in Shanghai from Italy in April 2025 for 3 months as part of his cultural exchange journey with Bella Vista Au Pair. Although this wasn’t his first time in China, the transition was more challenging than expected. From setting up basic necessities like a SIM card and bank account to understanding the daily rhythm of his host family, the first few weeks were filled with quiet confusion.

At times, he wasn’t sure if he was doing too much or too little. The family wasn’t unkind — just unspoken in many of the ways he had not been used to. There were moments of silence at the dinner table, ambiguous expectations around routines, and subtle cultural codes that didn’t come with explanations.

As part of his stay, Umberto also join 1-on-2 Mandarin classes arranged by the agency. With just one other au pair in the class, the instruction was focused and highly responsive to individual pace. “It wasn’t about memorizing dialogues,” he reflected, “but about learning how to speak in real-life situations — with kids, grandparents, even when giving polite suggestions.”

Looking back on the first month, Umberto noted that cultural exchange is rarely what brochures make it out to be. It doesn’t always look like smiling selfies or weekend adventures. Often, it appears in quiet tension, small misunderstandings, and the effort to adapt without losing oneself. “People always say ‘cultural exchange’ like it’s something abstract. But in reality, it’s personal. It’s not always smooth — but it’s definitely real.”

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