Relatively affordable domestic help is one of the luxuries of expat life in China. Not only do ayis (as nannies and cleaners are known in Beijing) provide invaluable support for any family, their services can be downright liberating for new parents and those with limited mobility. Many families develop a bond with their ayi beyond that of employer and employee; time and time again, long-term expats have told us that the hardest part of leaving Beijing was separating from their ayi.

In general, June and December are the best times to look for domestic help because many employment contracts are up around then. The best way to start your search is through word-of-mouth. Finding an ayi with the kinds of qualifications needed to serve an expat family – the ability to work full-time, cook, clean, take care of children and pets, and perhaps speak basic English – can be difficult, so getting in touch with other parents can save considerable time.

Once you have a list of applicants, start by checking their references. Do not hesitate to contact previous employers and ask as many questions as necessary; the ayi will have a significant place in your family’s life, so find out exactly what you want to know. Determine the qualifications that are most important to you and ask about the ayi’s experience and performance in these areas. If you need help with childcare, a history of looking after expat kids is a must. If you need someone to do the groceries and cook, a repertoire that goes beyond simple Chinese dishes might also be beneficial.

Here’s a checklist of questions to consider when you need to hire an ayi:

– Does she speak English? If so, how well?
– Do you want her to speak English with your children or help them improve their Mandarin?
– Has she worked for expat families before? If so, were their customs and background similar to yours?
– Has she undergone a recent health check? If not, you may want to insist she does so, although you would have to cover the cost.
– Is she certified in CPR and first aid?
– How old were the children she has cared for in the past?
– Does she have any experience caring for babies?
– Is she available for babysitting and/or on weekends?
– Does she have any experience looking after pets? Does she have any allergies?
– Do you need her to cook? Do you want her to cook western food?
– Do you want a live-in ayi? If so, what are her needs and can you accommodate them?
– Does she live close by? This can affect her availability, should you need her for emergencies or occasional babysitting duties.
– Do you want a trial period? This can range from three weeks and upwards of three months.
– Is she trustworthy? Was she referred to you by a friend?
– If the ayi is to have keys to your house, is she willing to give you a photocopy of her Chinese ID card?
– What do you want your ayi to do? Be specific about her daily tasks, as well as a list of additional tasks such as looking after the children at birthday parties.
– Discuss all aspects of money and leave, including pay, overtime, raises, bonuses, holiday leave, and sick leave.
– How much time will the ayi have off for Spring Festival and other national holidays?
– Will they receive a guaranteed bonus (often referred to as a “13th-month bonus”)? Many ayis will expect this.
– Will the ayi receive full salary while you are away on vacation?
– Will you need the ayi to travel with you, including out of the country?

Photo:
This article appeared on p42-43 of the beijingkids July 2018 Home & Relocation Guide issue.

Relatively affordable domestic help is one of the luxuries of expat life in China. Not only do ayis (as nannies and cleaners are known in Beijing) provide invaluable support for any family, their services can be downright liberating for new parents and those with limited mobility. Many families develop a bond with their ayi beyond that of employer and employee; time and time again, long-term expats have told us that the hardest part of leaving Beijing was separating from their ayi.

Beyond domestic chores, ayis can also soften the effects of culture shock by helping families navigate some of the more challenging aspects of living in Beijing: dealing with repairmen, tracking down missing parcels, sourcing hard-to-find ingredients, etc.

While personal drivers are often assigned to executives by their company, ayis will almost always be hired by the family, either directly or through an agency. The interview is a crucial part of the process, so it is a good idea to ask someone to act as a translator so that both you and the prospective ayi are clear about expectations and benefits.

In general, June and December are the best times to look for domestic help because many employment contracts are up around then. The best way to start your search is through word-of-mouth. Finding an ayi with the kinds of qualifications needed to serve an expat family – the ability to work full-time, cook, clean, take care of children and pets, and perhaps speak basic English – can be difficult, so getting in touch with other parents can save considerable time.

Start by asking around school or parenting-focused WeChat groups and other expat forums (e.g. the Beijinger, beijingkids, Beijing Mamas, Beijing Exchange). Families leaving Beijing often post advertisements vouching for their ayi while others post on behalf of ayis looking for additional work. These forums are also a valuable source of information on the benchmark for typical working hours, average pay, overtime rates (if any), and the range of duties ayis can be expected to perform.

Online classifieds are also a research avenue, but ads are often posted by ayi recruitment agencies and will require more sifting through. The building and compound management office can sometimes provide leads or recommendations for ayis that residents have employed in the past. Also, ayis themselves often leave advertisements on billboards at businesses often frequented by expats, such as April Gourmet or Jenny Lou’s.

Once you have a list of applicants, start by checking their references. Do not hesitate to contact previous employers and ask as many questions as necessary; the ayi will have a significant place in your family’s life, so find out exactly what you want to know. Determine the qualifications that are most important to you and ask about the ayi’s experience and performance in these areas. If you need help with childcare, a history of looking after expat kids is a must. If you need someone to do the groceries and cook, a repertoire that goes beyond simple Chinese dishes might also be beneficial.

Once it is time to interview prospective ayis, be candid, clear, and thorough (see below for questions to ask). The interview also provides a good opportunity to see how much English the applicant speaks, if any. It is perfectly reasonable to ask the prospective ayi to go through a trial, such as preparing a meal or cleaning. It is customary to pay the applicant a day rate for any trial; determine the amount with them ahead of time.

What About Ayi Agencies?

If you are short on time, an ayi agency can significantly simplify the process of finding domestic help, but this requires a careful evaluation of the agency first. Your company may be able to recommend a vetted agency. However, keep in mind that using an agency will likely be more expensive and possibly carry higher ayi wages, though it is much simpler to change ayis if you are not satisfied with the first one. Agencies usually require a membership or management fee, but the monthly wage should go directly to the ayi. Make sure to clarify how the fees are split between the agency and the ayi. Agency websites are a great resource for pay ranges, which are clearly outlined according to qualifications, language ability, hours and other criteria.

Going through an agency can take some of the guesswork out of the process, with background checks, health checks, and training sometimes included. During the interview stage, use your own translator rather than one provided by the agency. Monthly wages for a full-time, English-speaking ayi range from RMB 5,000-8,000.

Establishing Expectations
Besides setting expectations for everyday tasks, it is crucial to discuss holiday policies during the interview stage. If you go through an agency, it is possible they have their own policies concerning holiday leave and pay.

Ayi Training
Invest in your ayi. Our ayi had previous employers that paid for her English classes, and now she reaps the benefits and can charge more an hour for her services. We decided to teach her western cooking so she can take this with her to the next employer when we leave. This will allow her to continuously upgrade her CV as she works for us.

Different ayis have different strengths and experiences. Expect to spend some time showing them what “clean” means to you. At the beginning, demonstrate down to the cleaning product how you would like cleaning tasks to be done, including laundry, ironing, and tidying. If you are interested in a particular posting or referral, contact the candidate immediately; good ayis are always in demand. Remember, if you’re happy and your ayi is happy, that’s all that really matters. It may take several tries to get it right, but putting in the effort to find and train your ayi will benefit all those concerned.

Keeping Your Ayi
Consider her workload and pay her accordingly. If you have six kids, make sure to pay her extra, and always make sure she is happy with her position. Be the employee you would want to work for, and don’t advertise the fact you have a great ayi to others.

Photo: Adobe Stock Photo
This article appeared on p42-43 of the beijingkids July 2018 Home & Relocation Guide issue.

Olivia of Cuisine Mei Wenti answers this difficult question for those who are the sole source of income for their ayi.

As I’m writing this, I’m also right in the middle of organizing my departure for summer vacation. I have been looking forward to spending this vacation more than other because I haven’t been back to France for a year now. A year is a long time for me, but also for my beloved ones who haven’t seen my 18 months old daughter growing up. Their last memory with her was when she was trying carrot puree for the first time!

During my summers, what I enjoy above all is going to local farmers markets. I love to smell and  touch all the fresh and amazing fruits and veggies. I always fill my basket, ready to make amazing summer salads! Summer vacation is also an occasion for me to relax after a very tense year launching the online version of Cuisine Mei Wenti.  But the stress was worth the project! This week I received a testimonial from a family and an ayi that really pleased me. Receiving testimonials lets me know I’m a great help for families and also give Ayis useful skills for their future is the best gift I could receive before summer holidays.

But like expatriation, I have to be prepared to go and come back from vacation. I organize myself. It’s not the most pleasant task to do but I truly encourage you to do so.

Before leaving for vacation, some people like to shop at many different kinds of market to bring back souvenirs, other like to put the house in order. As far as I’m concerned, I’ll have to work until the day before I depart this year!
I prepare both my departure and when I will arrive back. I have found that I enjoy my break much more when I am not worried about arrival, and coming back is also much easier. I also organize my Ayi’s work while away.
First ask myself  “Do I need her to work the entire time I’m gone?” This summer, it won’t be necessary, and I feel my Ayi also really needs a break. Taking care of an 18-months old baby can be very tiring, and she also needs to see her own kids.
Nevertheless, before she heads to vacation and while my husband is still working, I assigned to her some tasks she usually doesn’t have the time to do.

Here are some of her tasks:
•    Clean the dust from the pantry.
•    Defreeze and clean the freezer.
•    Wipe out the different closets with a washcloth.
•    Wash my daughther’s toys.
•    Wash winter clothes and store them.
Some families like their Ayi to attend first aid training, English classes, or cooking classes during the summer. According to my experience, cooking classes are not really a good idea. Although she might enjoy the class, if you are away your ayi will not have a chance to practice. Who will give her feedback ? I doubt the training will be one hundred percent effective.
If your partner is still at home for a week or two and you don’t want him to have pizza every night, why don’t you write a meal planner before leaving? Your ayi may be a great cook, but what she probably fears most of all, like most of helpers, is not having meal ideas. Having new ideas and organizing a balanced menu every day may be stressful, especially if you are not at home to guide her.  I would suggest youtake time to write a small cooking program with a few menus for each week. To make it simple choose a bilingual cookbook, like Cuisine Mei Wenti. Write down the numbers of the pages of your favorite recipes on your menu planner sheet. This will remove a thorn from her heel and will occupy her.  Your husband will also not have to order pizzas every night!
 
Are you ready for summer? What do you have left to do?  Do you have any questions for me? Comment below. I wish you a wonderful summer!
Appétissement votre!

Olivia is from South of France and is a food lover with an eye for nutrition. When she arrived in China she felt the need to iron out everyday kitchen problems so decided to teach her wonderful Ayi about balanced meals by introducing her to Western food culture. “Cuisine mei wenti” Academy was born out of this need. Later in 2014, as she became a busy mum, she realized how cooking varied food for her little girl was important. This is how she came up with Babyfood Program.
 Follow her on wechat: guinebaultolivia, email her at info@cuisinemeiwenti.com, or sign up for her newsletter on www.cuisinemeiwenti.com/blog, where this article originally appeared. Also take note, her online classes start in September!

Photos: Courtesy of Olivia Guinebault

You have an ayi who has been working with you for months, maybe years, but she still doesn’t take the initiative to come up with meals ideas, buy new vegetables, make more quantities to freeze them, prepare week-end meals in advance. She sees a pile of clean clothes on the sofa or bed, but won’t fold them or doesn’t put them away.

There are a few reasons she might not be making any initiative. Below are some suggestions for you to solve this pesky problem.

Chinese culture doesn’t necessarily encourage taking initiative.
Chinese people are hard workers, but they often do not like to take initiative. For them, this is an issue of whom a responsibility belongs to exactly. Suggesting an idea implies that the person will be in charge of that proposal, beginning to end, and that they will therefore be responsible if it fails. For example, I used to work in a luxury Chinese hotel. My manager one day asked me, “Olivia, why are you fighting so hard for this project? If you don’t follow what the top management suggests but nobody signs up for this event, it will be your fault.”

For your ayi, it is exactly the same. She probably has a fear of doing things wrong. Think: you are her manager; she is part of your staff. Your job is to encourage her and help her gain confidence. She needs to know that you understand that new ideas for a menu is often not easy, but that you are ready to experiment with her without getting upset.  You want to encourage her initiatives and that she can be rewarded at the end of the year for her effort.

Try to put yourself in her shoes.
Let’s say you are an ayi and your Chinese employer asks you to prepare a meal. Maybe you’ve been to Chinese restaurants, maybe you took a few cooking classes but organizing a balanced authentically Chinese meal, day in and out, is something else entirely. So even if your ayi has been working for many years for expat families, remember that food habits are different between countries, even different between families from the same countries. So she will be afraid of getting it wrong.

Second, it is possible that nobody has ever explained Western cooking and culture concepts to her. For instance, that a portion of soup corresponds to one bowl, or that cherry tomatoes are not served as fruits like in China. Another example, that we don’t want a dish to be too salty because we put the salt on the table in order that everybody can adjust the seasoning once eating. In China, it is the cook who has the responsibility of right seasoning.

Take some time to talk.
Once employed, you may tend to tell her to cook right away or to do the shopping. But have you ever taken some time to talk precisely about your needs and family habits and make a list? Have you ever been shopping with her, explaining her where to find which product? Remember she can only read Chinese. Take time to tell her the brands you like, how to check the expiration date of a product. Have you ever cooked with her? By cooking, I mean teaching her step-by-step. The first time, introduce ingredients and tools and show her how to make the recipe. The second time, let her she cook and you watch her. Then third time she cooks alone.

Finally, write down your family’s normal preferences for a breakfast, lunch and dinner, (fruit for breakfast instead of very green vegetables, for example).

Ayi Confession
Once, my own ayi confided in me, “For ayis, the most difficult task is to come up with meal ideas because most of us have never shared a meal with the family who we work for. When you have dinner, we are already back home! “

It is imperative to take some time at the beginning to share with her your habits of shopping, cooking and other household duties. You may feel like time is a constraint but be sure that the time you share with her at the beginning is used for instruction you won’t have to repeat in the future. After a while you will realize how confident she feels and how less frustrated you are.

Meet Olivia at the free bilingual event below, where she’ll talk about how to prepare baby food and share her cooking expertise! Bring your ayi along.

Cuisine “Mei Wenti” for Busy Mums, May 9
Adults. Olivia’s Cuisine Mei Wenti debunks the myth that delicately delicious French meals are only for the experts. She’ll be talking about nutrition guidelines and essential cooking tools for preparing baby food along with kitchen organization and some of her prize recipes.  Free. 10am-11am. Oasis International Hospital (wechat: 18811103237 Alexandra)

Photos: Pixabay, courtesy of Oasis International Hospital

Olivia is from South of France and is a food lover with an eye for nutrition. When she arrived in China she felt the need to iron out everyday kitchen problems so decided to teach her wonderful Ayi about balanced meals by introducing her to Western food culture. “Cuisine mei wenti” academy was born out of this need. Later in 2014, as she became a busy mum, she realized how cooking varied food for her little girl was important. This is how she came up with Babyfood Program.
Follow her on wechat: guinebaultolivia, email her at info@cuisinemeiwenti.com, or sign up for her newsletter on www.cuisinemeiwenti.com/blog