The wonderful pleasures of the Aunties

2018-07-13

The idea of having a maid was always foreign to me. Having someone do my work for me, or helping me cook seemed like a luxury that I couldn’t or shouldn’t afford. But upon moving to shanghai, I realized that I might need some help. I had heard from friends, employers and coworkers about the wonders of getting a maid, or an Ayi as they are called. Ayi literally meaning auntie, gave me a weird sense of comfort. I eventually caved and asked a friend to recommend me one.

The average price of the Aunties of China is what truly surprised me. Averaging anywhere between 15-30 rmb an hour, or approximately 2-6 dollars an hour, I realized how affordable and accessible the help would be. Having an extra pair of hands help in a country where I knew nothing about would prove to be crucial in my transition to China. The first and most useful thing they could help out with was cooking! As much as I love cooking, having a knowledgeable hand be able to help cook with all the new ingredients available to me was a great relief. That and the fact that with my new work Schedule, I was getting home later every night, Having Ms Wang around to help everyone come home to warm and delicious Chinese food was amazing. Her help around the house was invaluable and she also helped everyone’s Chinese improve tremendously. The best thing she did was also teach us the ins and outs of shopping for food and vegetables in china and adapting her cooking to our preferences. Knowing what we know now thanks to her, I would say we’ve actually saved a decent amount of money on shopping.

How to find an Auntie?

Finding an Auntie is actually not that complex of an experience. The first and simplest thing we recommend, and this is particularly the case if you don’t want to hire someone full time, is to ask your JRE agent to for recommendations. Auntie’s are more likely to accept a job if transportation is very convenient. There are many platforms available online to find aunties but in all honest, that will more than likely hike up the price unnecessarily. Unless you are in need of a very specialized auntie who is qualified in handling children with special needs, or western trained cooks, an online resource is more unnecessary than anything.

Tips From a Mom about the Aunties:

Aunties are usually awarded two days a week off, and they have holidays. When you are out of town, you can also ask them to come home, dust and clean, and check the mail. It is also customary to give them a little bonus during the New Year as it helps foster good relations and is the polite thing to do.

Ultimately I highly recommend you at least try out an Ayi. Eventually she will become an extension of your family and you will experience China in a completely different way.

再见！：）

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