Au Pair in America

Culture Quests

Au Pairs in General | Child Care Practices | Driving Skills | English Language Skills
Education | Health | Diet | Religion | Telephone and Internet

The following information is generalized and compiled from questions posed to the agents and interviewers in Georgia. Although au pairs from this country may or may not have had these experiences/beliefs, Au Pair in America wishes to share this general information with our families.

Au Pairs in General

• Au Pairs from Georgia are not able to leave the US and return during their year due to visa restrictions.
• The idea of being an au pair is well known in Georgia.
• Experiencing life in America is the greatest motivation for most applicants. Many young women are currently studying medicine and they would find the childcare experience in America invaluable.
• The job potential of an au pair improves upon her return to Georgia.
• Applicants do not have difficulty affording the program fees.
• Young people in Georgia have limited freedom of their family to socialize and date.
• Curfews are common.
• Young women are accustomed to sharing in household chores.
• Nudity is not common.
• Georgians describe themselves as hospitable, warm, and open-minded. Young people in Georgia are very active. They have warm and friendly personalities. They are very sociable and like meeting new people and being around friends.

Child Care Practices

• Childcare is one of the most important duties in Georgia. Most mothers do not work outside the home, but stay home to take care of the children. Children are raised in a warm, caring family environment.
• Physical discipline is not common in Georgia.
• Applicants obtain childcare experience through formal schooling, babysitting or au pairing in Germany.
• Generally the mother is responsible for childrearing duties.
• Traditionally, only the husband would work, but it is becoming more common for both parents to work.

Driving Skills

• Most applicants obtain their driving license at age 20-25.
• A driving license is not difficult or expensive to obtain, though not all women obtain a driving license.
• The steps involved in obtaining a driving license in Georgia include:
  • Driving Lessons
  • Theoretical test
  • Practical test
  • Fees
• The International driving permit is available.
• Applicants typically take formal driving lessons and practice driving using their parents’ car.
• Most cars have manual transmissions.

English Language Skills

• English is a compulsory subject in schools in Georgia.
• In public schools they start studying in 4th grade for four hours per week. Classes are focused on written skills and basic grammar. As a rule many student have private English language teachers before entering university, as they have to pass the English exam in order to continue with their studies.

Education

• Approximately 95% of young women continue their studies at university.
• Those who do not attend university usually live in small villages and work.
• The academic year in Georgia starts in September and ends in May or June.
• The educational opportunities of the Au Pair in America program are very important to the Georgian applicants.

Health

• The most common inoculations are tetanus, diphtheria, polio, BCG (tuberculosis), mumps, typhoid, whooping cough, and measles.
• Most young women are inoculated and tested for TB (tuberculosis).
• In some cases, free medical care is available.
• Most young women visit the dentist on a regular basis.
• “Eating disorders” are not common, but do occur.

Diet

• Most young people in Georgia eat meat.
• Vegetarianism is not common.

Religion

• The most common religions in Georgia are Christian Orthodox, Muslim, and Catholic.
• Most young people in Georgia practice their religion regularly.

Telephone & Internet

• Most homes have a telephone and applicants have access to the Internet.
• Family members may not be able to take a message in English from a potential host family, but younger siblings may be able to communicate in English.

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