Foreign au pairs part of the family

With no knowledge of the Chinese language and no second thoughts, Javier Cantu boarded a flight to Beijing carrying only his luggage and an eagerness to learn.

The 22-year-old University of Texas senior said he always spends his summers traveling around the world; China is the 32nd country he can add to his list. But this trip is no ordinary vacation. He moved in with a family from Beijing, which he thinks is the most valuable way to learn about Chinese culture.

"If I can stay with a family long enough, I am going to learn the language, because I'd be completely submerged in it," he said. "That was my motive."

The Li family was specifically looking for a native English speaker to come help their kids begin learning. Rather than a formal setting with specific class times, Javi treats them to ice cream, but only after they properly ask for it in English.

"The children may grow up and say, 'my family had a big brother before who came from another country, and I want to go to another country,'" Li Lin said. "I have two children, and I hope when they grow up, they can be free."

Some say China's growing global appeal is a result of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and this year's World Expo in Shanghai. Others say China's emergence onto the political and economic world stage is responsible for drawing people from overseas.

Michael Xie said he thinks it's a combination of all of that. Xie is the manager of the International Department of the Beijing-based HHS Center, a group dedicated to matching foreigners with Chinese families looking for au pairs and language teachers to live with them. Since opening in 2007, the program has seen a consistent increase in applicants, bringing 6 au pairs to China in the second half of their first year, 28 au pairs in 2008 and 53 in 2009.

Video: Chris Clark

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