Germany

July 29, 2019 by

AU PAIR CULTURE QUESTS

GERMANY

Western Europe
Capital: Berlin
Languages: German
Predominant Religion(s): Christianity
(Roman Catholic/Protestant)

Expand

USEFUL LINKS

Flag of Germany

Kids Culture Corner: Germany
CIA World Factbook

The following information is generalized and compiled from questions posed to the agents and interviewers in Germany. 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.

Child Care Skills

Family

English Skills

Driving Skills

Education

Health

Child Care Skills

The idea of being an au pair is a very familiar concept in Germany, yet Germans themselves rarely have a nanny or au pair as parents often rely on the willingness of their older children to help with younger family members.
Germans often gain their childcare experience by babysitting for family members and neighbors, doing internships in kindergartens, or helping out at youth clubs.
Young people in Germany often start babysitting at the age of 13 or 14, as they see it as a great way to increase their pocket money… and some cities even offer babysitter classes for babysitters-to-be!

Family

For most applicants and their families, a close family life is very important. Even though most young Germans are relatively independent, they enjoy participating in family reunions, going on vacation, and celebrating religious events together.
Germans are used to helping out around the house.
Nowadays, it is becoming more common to grow up in Germany with a single mum or a single dad, so young Germans are becoming more used to living in non-traditional family environments and are therefore quite flexible.

English Skills

English is primarily taught as a first foreign language starting at the age of 10/11. Therefore, most applicants already have at least 8-9 years of English before they apply for the Au Pair in America program.
German youngsters are happy to participate in language camps or school exchanges in order to improve their language skills.
Due to the relatively high language standard, applicants do not have to take an English test to apply to become an au pair, but they are interviewed in English (for at least 30 minutes) to test their language skills.

Driving Skills

To obtain a full driver’s license in Germany, you have to be 18 and attend theoretical and practical classes, which conclude with a final test. The process is much lengthier and costly than in the U.S.
Germans are allowed to apply for their “learner’s license” at 17, which allows them to drive before the age of 18 as long as they are accompanied by a parent/adult.
Despite the young age of some German applicants, they have often been driving for a full year before obtaining their license and are used to driving in different weather environments, including in snow/ice and rain/fog.

Education

The school system in Germany is divided into 3 different levels, which means that students can leave school after 9 (Hauptschulabschluss), 10 (Realschulabschluss) or 13 years (Abitur) of schooling.
To adapt to the international educational system and to remain competitive, a large part of German regions have started to reduce the 13 year option to 12 years.
A lot of young Germans decide to do a gap year abroad after finishing high school. This enables them to improve their intercultural understanding and language skills and gives them more time to decide what to study.

Health

Germany has a universal multi-payer health care system with two main types of health insurance: “Statutory Health Insurance” and “Private Health Insurance.”
The statutory health insurance covers most conditions, and the cost of this insurance is deducted from the monthly salary (about 13%).
It is common to visit the dentist on a regular basis.

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

Germans are often seen as open-minded, ambitious, polite, responsible and reliable.
Germans are interested in world affairs and/or cultural exchange.

FUN FACTS:

Germans generally have a strong passion for soccer and are very proud of being the World Champions in 2014!
Even though the country is not that large (357,168.94 square km), you will find many different accents and dialects by traveling from north to south, and from east to west.
One of the best known quotes that shows the closeness of the United States and Germany is the one by John F. Kennedy: “Ich bin ein Berliner” (1963), with which he expressed U.S. support in the reconstruction of Germany.

USEFUL PHRASES:

How are you?: Wie gehts dir?
Fine, thanks.: Gut, danke!
My name is…: Ich heiße…
Nice to meet you.: Schön, dich kennen zu lernen!
Thank you: Danke!

“My year as an au pair has been the best year of my life so far. I became part of an American family, which was the greatest gift for me.”– Carolin – au pair from Germany

“I think it’s important for a young person to be away from home for a while. It makes you stronger and more independent. I would recommend it to everybody.”– Melanie – au pair from Germany

“Take this chance as it will be the best year of your life!”– Christina – au pair from Germany

“I like the opportunity to see American life as an insider, to come to know the traditions and customs, approach to bringing up children, managing the household, learning peculiarities of eveyday language, American cuisine, and just the chance to hear from the children I love you.”

Ekaterina, au pair
Russia

Guatemala

July 29, 2019 by

AU PAIR CULTURE QUESTS

GUATEMALA

Central America
Capital: Guatemala
Languages: Spanish, Amerindian languages

Expand

USEFUL LINKS

Flag of Guatemala

Kids Culture Corner: Guatemala
CIA World Factbook

The following information is generalized and compiled from questions posed to the agents and interviewers in Guatemala. 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.

Child Care Skills

Au Pairs in General

English Skills

Driving Skills

Education

Health

Child Care Skills

Common discipline techniques include loss of privileges and time outs, entertainment time restriction (i.e. TV, internet), and playtime restriction. If necessary, a dialogue with parents or in-house authority figure will be initiated.
Physical discipline is not common in Guatemala.
Applicants obtain childcare experience through formal schooling, babysitting and day care centers.
Usually the mother is responsible for the majority of the childcare responsibilities.
It is common for both parents to work and be away from home during the day.

Au Pairs in General

The idea of being an au pair is becoming common in Guatemala.
Applicants from Guatemala are motivated by the love of children and the opportunity to learn a new language and culture in a safe, legal setting.
Applicants do not have difficulty affording the program fees.
Young people in Guatemala have the freedom of their family to socialize and date.
Curfews are common.
Young women are accustomed to sharing in household chores.
Nudity is not prevalent in this conservative society.
Guatemalans are hardworking, disciplined and friendly.

English Skills

English is not a compulsory subject in Guatemala.
Schools that offer classes focus on both oral and written skills.

Driving Skills

Most applicants obtain their driving license even if they do not have a car or have access to one; it is a rite of passage.
The minimum driving age is age 16. Most applicants obtain their driving license at age 18.
A driving license is not difficult to obtain, but it is costly.
It takes approximately one week to obtain a license in Guatemala.
In order to obtain a driving license in Guatemala:
- Vision test
- Theoretical written test
- Practical test
- Fees
The International driving permit is available.
Approximately 50% of applicants take formal driving lessons.
Applicants practice driving using their parents’ car; once they have started working they will save money with the intention of buying a car.
Most cars have manual transmissions.

Education

Approximately 45% of young women continue their studies at university.
Others pursue employment or get married.
The academic year in Guatemala starts in January and ends in November.
The educational opportunities of the Au Pair in America program are of vital importance as these opportunities will further applicants’ chances to improve their education skills and get better jobs in the future.

Health

The most common inoculations are Polio, whooping cough, tetanus, cholera, hepatitis (B), TB, chicken pox.
Most young women are inoculated and tested for TB (Tuberculosis).
Guatemala has a free health service; IGSS, Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social.
Most young women visit the dentist on a regular basis.
“Eating disorders” are not common, but do occur.

Diet

Most young people in Guatemala eat meat.
Vegetarianism is not common.
A staple in the Guatemalan diet is a thick corn tortilla. Guatemalan dishes also include beans, meat and chicken.

Religion

The most common religions in Guatemala are Catholic and Protestant.
Most young people in Guatemala practice their religion regularly.

Telephone & Internet

Most homes have a telephone and a computer with access to the Internet.
Family members may be able to take a message in English from a potential host family.

“By inviting a person from another country to join our family, live with us, and learn about our culture, we actually learn so much about ourselves, how our own culture and way of life appear through the lens of someone new.”

Belle, host parent Massachusetts

“The flexibility the program affords us is outstanding. With other child care options, I always felt I was accommodating their schedule instead of my own.”

Jill, host parent New Jersey

[Aupair-with-baby-in-SB.jpg]

Hungary

July 29, 2019 by

AU PAIR CULTURE QUESTS

HUNGARY

Central Europe
Capital: Budapest
Languages: Hungarian
Religion(s): Christianity
(predominantly Roman Catholic)

Expand

USEFUL LINKS

Flag of Hungary

Kids Culture Corner: Hungary
CIA World Factbook

The following information is generalized and compiled from questions posed to the agents and interviewers in Hungary. 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.

Child Care Skills

Family

English Skills

Driving Skills

Education

Health

Child Care Skills

Applicants obtain childcare experience through formal schooling, caring for family members/neighbors and babysitting.
The idea of being an au pair is common in Hungary. Candidates often have previous au pair experience before applying to the Au Pair in America program.
Common motivational techniques include verbal warnings and a general expectation to do well and respect their parents.

Family

Most households consist of a married or unmarried couple and their children. Even when a couple lives in separate households, great value is placed on having the help of a grandmother or grandfather.
Young people in Hungary have the freedom to socialize and date.
Hungarian applicants are used to helping with household chores and cooking.

English Skills

Studying a foreign language at school is compulsory. Those who choose English start classes at the age of 6-7 with 1-5 lessons a week. There are many possibilities to attend language schools or to take private lessons.
Most Hungarians choose English as their first foreign language.
Au pair candidates usually apply with a good or at least intermediate level of English. They are assessed by personal interview.

Driving Skills

The minimum age to drive a car in Hungary is 17 years old.
Driving courses consist of theoretical lessons as well as practical lessons. Candidates have to pass the theoretical exam first before being able to start the practical lessons. The practical exam consists of two exams: a vehicle handling exam and a traffic exam. A first aid course is also part of the driving course.
Most cars in Hungary have manual transmission.

Education

The academic year in Hungary starts in September and ends in June.
Hungarian higher education has a dual system consisting of colleges and universities. The duration of training at college level is a minimum 3 years and a maximum of 4 years. The duration of education at university level is a minimum of 4 years and a maximum of 5 years (with the exception of medical universities, where it is 6 years).
The majority of young Hungarians continue their studies at university. Those who do not attend university study at other educational institutions or seek employment.

Health

Healthcare in Hungary is financed by health insurance contributions and is free to all who are insured via the National Health Insurance Fund.
Life expectancy is rapidly increasing in Hungary.
Most state-employed doctors and specialists also have private practices, which many Hungarians choose in order to receive a better and more comfortable treatment, especially in the case of dental treatment, gynecology and childbirth.

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

Around two-thirds of the Hungarian people are Roman Catholic; around a quarter are Calvinist; and the rest of the population either belongs to the Lutheran, Jewish, or Greek Orthodox faith.
It is common for friends, family members and close acquaintances that have not seen one another for a while to greet each other/say goodbye with pecks on both cheeks.
Hungarians are resourceful, helpful, intelligent and hard working. They have a good sense of humor, good accommodation skills and a strong sense of identity.

FUN FACTS:

The Hungarian language is known as Magyar and is the direct descendent of the language spoken by the “Huns.” It is not an Indo-European language and has only two related languages in Europe: Finnish and Estonian.
Hungarians have invented many important items over the years including the electric motor, the Telephone Exchange, and BASIC programming language. Laszlo Biro invented the ballpoint pen and Erno Rubik invented the Rubik’s Cube.
Hungarians are very good at sports. The most successful sports in Hungary’s Olympic history are fencing, water polo, swimming, kayak-canoe and wrestling.

USEFUL PHRASES:

How are you? Hogy vagy?
Fine, thanks.: Köszönöm jól.
My name is…: A nevem ….
Nice to meet you.: Örülök hogy megismerhetem.
Thank you.: Köszönöm.

“It is an amazing experience, I learned so much about other cultures and myself. I met great people and made friendships that I know will last forever.”– Ivette – au pair from Hungary

“For someone coming from a small town, it is a life changing experience. It broadens your horizons and makes you more confident in your abilities.” – Judit – au pair from Hungary

“For me it was the best decision in my life and I would recommend this to every young person. It’s a great opportunity to learn English, to travel and to be part of an American family.” – Piroska – au pair from Hungary

“You can not beat the flexibility of the Au Pair program. My au pairs have been so great that my friends want to steal them and take them home!”

Catherine , host parent
Connecticut

Ireland

July 29, 2019 by

AU PAIR CULTURE QUESTS

IRELAND

Western Europe
Capital: Dublin
Languages: English, Irish
Predominant Religion(s): Christianity (Roman Catholic, Anglican) – most other religions are represented

Expand

USEFUL LINKS

Flag of Ireland

Kids Culture Corner: Ireland
CIA World Factbook

The following information is generalized and compiled from questions posed to the agents and interviewers in Ireland. 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.

Child Care Skills

Family

English Skills

Driving Skills

Education

Health

Child Care Skills

Irish people are usually very family-oriented, so it is normal to help take care of younger children in the family or babysit for family friends.
Preparing meals from scratch for children is very common (often preferred to eating out).
Irish families believe in the value of positive motivation. Emphasis is placed on good manners and formality.

Family

Large families are common and family events are important – especially enjoying Gaelic football and hurling, as these are the traditional sports of Ireland.
Children are taught responsibility by giving them tasks and duties from an early age.
Parents encourage their children to spend time outside, but of course this depends on the weather!

English Skills

English is the mother tongue, but some can speak Irish.
The Irish accent has many variations and is very different to the English accent.
Most TV programs are in English, although many are produced in the USA!

Driving Skills

The minimum driving age in the Republic of Ireland is 17.
Obtaining a learner’s permit requires passing a computerized theory test. The process of obtaining the full license requires having held a learner’s permit for 6 months and completing a combined practical and theory driving test, which covers driving, road safety and a minor amount of mechanical knowledge of a car.
Irish drivers can experience a wide variety of weather conditions, including rain, snow and ice as well as beautiful sunshine.

Education

Education in Ireland is free at all levels, including college (university).
Education is compulsory for all children in Ireland from the ages of six to 16 or until students have completed three years of second level education and including one sitting of the Junior Certificate examination.
Parents put a lot of focus on children’s education from a very young age. Usually French is taught from age 7. Various additional courses (e.g. dancing, ballet, arts & crafts, sports, swimming, horse-riding) are often added to the extra school curriculum or studied as an after-school activity.

Health

All Irish residents are entitled to receive health care through the public health care system.
Emergency care is provided at a cost of €100 for a visit to the Accident and Emergency department.
A person may be required to pay a subsidized fee for certain health care received; this depends on income, age, illness or disability. Prescription drugs and medical appliances are available to all for free or at a reduced cost.

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

Irish people are often said to have the “Gift of the Gab” (the talent of talking rings around most other people).
The Irish are very musical.
Irish people consider themselves passionate, funny and creative!

FUN FACTS:

The Irish flag has three vertical bands of green, white, and orange; officially the flag colors have no meaning, but a common interpretation is that the green represents the Irish nationalist (Gaelic) tradition of Ireland, orange represents the Orange tradition (minority supporters of William of Orange), and white symbolizes peace (or a lasting truce) between the green and the orange.
Ireland covers five-sixths of the island of the same name; the remaining one-sixth of the island is Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom.
The world famous Guinness beer is from Ireland – it originated in the Dublin brewery of Arthur Guinness.

“The greatest year of my life!”– Natalie, au pair from Ireland

“I loved the family and children and made wonderful friends from around the world. The experience was even more than I hoped for!” – Michelle, au pair from Ireland

“Thank you Au Pair in America for such a wonderful year!”– Marianne, au pair from Ireland

“You can not beat the flexibility of the Au Pair program. My au pairs have been so great that my friends want to steal them and take them home!”

Catherine , host parent
Connecticut

Israel

July 29, 2019 by

AU PAIR CULTURE QUESTS

ISRAEL

Western Asia/Middle East
Capital: Jerusalem
Languages: Hebrew, Arabic
Predominant Religion(s): Judaism

Expand

USEFUL LINKS

Flag of Israel

Kids Culture Corner: Israel
CIA World Factbook

The following information is generalized and compiled from questions posed to the agents and interviewers in Israel. 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.

Child Care Skills

Family

English Skills

Driving Skills

Education

Health

Child Care Skills

Applicants usually gain their childcare experience through babysitting or working in a kindergarten.
It is very common for Israeli applicants to have experience looking after younger family members.
Many young Israelis work with children at kindergartens and schools during their National Service.

Family

Most Israeli families have a father, mother, and at least three children. Most parents work during the day, so grandparents play a big part in taking care of the children.
It is quite common that their extended family lives in the same city. Relationships with grandparents, aunts and uncles are strong.
Approximately 40% of applicants are kosher, and 10% are Orthodox.

English Skills

The English level of Israeli applicants is generally very high. English is a second language in Israel.
English is a mandatory subject at school (for at least eight years).
The American culture is very influential in Israel, and thus English is heard in movies and music. Movies are usually shown in English and subtitles are added.

Driving Skills

The minimum driving age in Israel is 17.
Drivers must take at least 30 hours of driving lessons with a certified instructor and then pass a written exam and a driving test. For the first 6 months of having a license, a driver is considered “young” and must drive with an experienced driver in the car.
The roads in Israel are good and are similar to the roads in Europe and the U.S. Most cars have automatic transmission.

Education

In Israel, students receive their Matriculation Certificate after 12 years in school.
The standard of education is high, but there are a lot of students per class.
There are not many private schools in Israel.

Health

The health system in Israel is one of the most advanced in the world.
Israel has a mandatory health insurance for all Israeli citizens. Every Israeli citizen that travels abroad is still insured in Israel.
Most citizens have additional insurance policies to be extra safe.

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

Israeli applicants usually do to their au pair year after two years of military service or social service.
Israeli applicants are generally quite independent, responsible, and mature. They already have had many experiences in life and are capable of dealing with stressful conditions.
Israelis stand up for their rights but will also open up to those who value and respect them.

FUN FACTS:

Israeli people are said to be like the “sabres fruit” (“prickly pear,” a cactus that grows in Israel) – tough on the outside but very sweet on the inside.
Sometimes, Israeli names can sound strange and uncommon in English and applicants “adopt” new names in the USA. For example the common name “Hen” is another word for chicken in English.
There are no known epidemics in Israel.

USEFUL PHRASES:

How are you? Ma Shlomcha?
Fine, thanks. Tov Toda.
My name is… Hh Shem Sheli…
Nice to meet you. Nechmad lifgosh otach.
Thank you. Toda.

“ It is an experience for life with memories that will go with you wherever you go.”– Moriah – au pair from Israel

“I recommend it very much. It makes you stronger, smarter, and independent.” – Olga – au pair from Israel

“I would say that being an au pair was the most life changing experience I ever had. It made me realize what’s important in life and made me appreciate myself much more.” – Anat – au pair from Israel

“I like the opportunity to see American life as an insider, to come to know the traditions and customs, approach to bringing up children, managing the household, learning peculiarities of eveyday language, American cuisine, and just the chance to hear from the children I love you.”

Ekaterina, au pair
Russia

Italy

July 29, 2019 by

AU PAIR CULTURE QUESTS

ITALY

Southern Europe
Capital: Rome
Languages: Italian
Predominant Religion(s): Roman Catholic

Expand

USEFUL LINKS

Flag of Italy

Kids Culture Corner: Italy
CIA World Factbook

The following information is generalized and compiled from questions posed to the agents and interviewers in Italy. 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.

Child Care Skills

Family

English Skills

Driving Skills

Education

Health

Child Care Skills

It is common for Italians to take care of their siblings and cousins. It is considered natural that older children in the family take care of younger siblings.
Italian families always eat together at dinner, and it is usually the mother who cooks for everyone.
Italian families have no written rules, but children usually make their own beds and help with cleaning and the cooking. If children misbehave, they usually have a privilege taken away from them.

Family

Two or more children per family is common, but the number of families with only one child is rising.
Italian children are taught to be quite independent; it’s common for children to walk to school by themselves from an early age.
In Italy, family time is very important, and all family members spend a lot of time together, especially during holidays.

English Skills

English is taught from an early age, and English classes focus on grammar and written skills.
English language movies and TV series are dubbed in Italy. For this reason, Italians find it very difficult to pronounce some words and rarely get rid of their accents.
The opportunity to improve their language skills during the Au Pair in America program is one of the main reasons that Italian applicants join the program.

Driving Skills

Obtaining a driving license in Italy is very expensive and includes a theory and practical exam.
To obtain the standard driving license, applicants must be at least 18 and must provide a medical certificate for eyesight, mental health and physical condition.
Italians consider themselves to be good drivers as they have to learn to drive in difficult conditions, including driving on fast-moving main roads and gridlocked city roads.

Education

Education in Italy is compulsory from age 6 to 16, and Italy has both public and private education systems.
A high proportion of Italians study at university.
Italian universities are among the oldest universities in the world and most are state-supported, so are a lot cheaper than American universities.

Health

Italy has the world’s 6th highest life expectancy due to a relatively healthy cuisine and diet.
Italy’s healthcare system is also ranked highly, and healthcare is provided to all citizens and residents by a mixed public-private system.
Surgeries and hospitalization provided by the public hospitals are completely free of charge for everyone, regardless of income.

Common Characteristics:

Italians love their country, and the first thing they miss is the food!
Italians love having large, social dinners with their family and friends.
Italians love to talk!

FUN FACTS:

It’s true! Italians really do talk with their hands!
Italy is the world’s largest exporter of wine, pizza was invented in Naples and dates back to 1860, and 14 billion espresso coffees are consumed in Italy each year!
Italy is home to Europe’s only 3 active volcanoes: Etna, Stromboli and Vesuvius!

USEFUL PHRASES:

How are you? Come stai?
Fine, thanks: Bene, grazie.
My name is…: Mi chiamo…
Nice to meet you. Piacere di conoscerti.
Thank you. Grazie.

“Participating in this program is a life changing experience, both professionally and personally.” – Ilaria – au pair from Italy

“To be an au pair is an amazing thing…your host family welcomes you as part of the family. You can learn more about the U.S. culture and get to know a lot of people from different parts of the world.” – Elena – au pair from Italy

“It’s a unique chance to learn a foreign language, travel, learn about the US culture and meet people from all over the world.” – Mara – au pair from Italy

“By inviting a person from another country to join our family, live with us, and learn about our culture, we actually learn so much about ourselves, how our own culture and way of life appear through the lens of someone new.”

Belle, host parent
Massachusetts