Latvia

July 29, 2019 by

AU PAIR CULTURE QUESTS

LATVIA

Northern Europe
Capital: Riga
Languages: Latvian
Religion(s): Christianity
(predominantly Roman Catholic/Lutheran)

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CIA World Factbook

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

Many Latvian teenagers become very independent in their teens and help out with younger siblings because parents generally work long hours.
A new characteristic of Latvian family life is that parents leave to work in another country and children are left with grandparents and relatives.
Most students earn money by looking after children in their free time, and also as helpers at summer camps and kindergartens.

Family

Generally, Latvian families have 1 or 2 children.
Children are taught to be independent and are responsible for daily household duties. Many families have country houses and gardens where children can experience peaceful summer holidays and can help out in the garden.
Even when children leave home to study, they return home every weekend to be with their family.

English Skills

In private kindergartens, English is taught early on, but in most cases English classes start in secondary school.
Parents often choose to take kids to private English classes.
English is also self-taught, because children are surrounded by English music and movies in their daily lives.

Driving Skills

The minimum driving age in Latvia is 18. Most applicants obtain their driving license at this age.
The process of obtaining the license is at least 3-6 months long. Completing a full professional driving course and a driving school exam are required before the candidate is allowed to take the state exam.
Latvian drivers experience a variety of weather conditions, including rain, snow and ice.

Education

Education in Latvia is free and compulsory until the age of 18.
Most high school graduates enroll into university or college.
After the second or third year of university, students tend to take an academic year out to participate in cultural exchange programs or study in another country.

Health

Latvia’s healthcare system is based on an all-inclusive insurance system. State subsidized healthcare is available to all Latvian citizens who are covered by this general health insurance program.
Regular medical check-ups are provided by schools at every stage of education.
It is common to visit the dentist on a regular basis.

Common Characteristics:

Latvia is a small nation, but Latvians are very proud of their heritage.
Latvians are hard working, polite and responsible.
Latvians can be reserved when you first meet them, but they are friendly and helpful after they get to know you – friendships are genuine.

FUN FACTS:

Aleksandrs was a famous Latvian explorer. He moved to Venezuela in 1939. His most famous discovery was Angel Falls and he named the river, from which Angel Falls flows, Gauja. He also named 3 other rivers in Venezuela after Latvian Rivers such as Daugava (Riga), Venta (Kuldiga, Ventspils) and Ogre.
The capital of Latvia, Riga, is the largest city in the Baltic States and is famous for some of the best Art Nouveau architecture in Europe.
Walter Zapp invented and built the first Minox”Spy Camera” in Latvia.

USEFUL PHRASES:

How are you? Kātev iet?
Fine, thanks. Paldies – labi.
My name is… Mani sauc…
Nice to meet you. Prieks iepazīties.
Thank you. Paldies.

“The Au Pair in America program is well organized and has developed a great support system for its participants. For me it was one of the best years of my life!” – Jana, au pair from Latvia

“You know when someone says – IT CHANGED MY LIFE!!! So, this is the case! I never thought I could gain so much being an Au Pair in America!” – Anda, au pair from Latvia

“It’s a wonderful experience! I would definitely do that one more time if I could! This year made me a better person.”– Madara, au pair from Latvia

“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

Mexico

July 29, 2019 by

AU PAIR CULTURE QUESTS

MEXICO

North America
Capital: Mexico City
Languages: Spanish
Predominant Religion(s): Christianity (Catholic)

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Kids Culture Corner: Mexico
CIA World Factbook

The following information is generalized and compiled from questions posed to the agents and interviewers in Mexico. 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 Mexican people to take care of their siblings and cousins. It is considered natural that older children in the family take care of younger siblings.
Preparing meals from scratch for children is very common.
Children are taught responsibility by giving them light tasks from an early age.

Family

Two or more children per family is a very common occurrence.
Mexico is a very family-oriented country. Mexicans visit other family members over holidays and weekends.
Most Mexican applicants have a helper in their house and in some cases the helper lives with them and is like a part of the family.

English Skills

English is taught at all levels of education and knowledge of English is mandatory for most degrees.
More privileged Mexicans often attend bilingual private schools from a very young age.
The opportunity to improve their language skills during the Au Pair in America program is one of the reasons Mexican applicants join the program.

Driving Skills

The minimum age for obtaining a driver’s license in Mexico is 18, but Mexicans can obtain a driving permit at the age of 16.
The process of obtaining the license is not long.
Completing an exam and a driving test is required in order to obtain the license.

Education

In Mexico, basic education is normally divided in three steps – primary school, junior high school and high school.
There are both public and private institutions for higher education.
Higher education usually follows the US education model – approximately 25% will continue on to higher education.

Health

Healthcare in Mexico is provided via public institutions, private entities, or private physicians.
Public healthcare delivery is accomplished via an elaborate provisioning and delivery system put in place by the Mexican Federal Government. In 2012, Mexico achieved universal healthcare.
Residents of the United States, particularly those living near the Mexican border, now routinely cross the border into Mexico for cheaper medical procedures.

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

Mexican people describe themselves as hospitable, family oriented and warm.
Most Mexicans have very strong family ties.
Tradition, culture and Mexican food are very important for Mexicans.

FUN FACTS:

Mexico is the 14th largest country in the world!
The Aztecs used cacao seeds as a form of currency.
The world’s largest pyramid is in… Mexico!

USEFUL PHRASES:

How are you? ¿Cómo estás?
Fine, thanks. Bien, gracias.
My name is… Me llamo / Mi nombre es…
Nice to meet you! ¡Qué gusto conocerte!
Thank you. Gracias.

“It has been the greatest experience. It was all worth it, I would do it over and over again. Dare to have the time of your life!”– Denisse, au pair from Mexico

“It was a great adventure, the best two years of my life. Do it, you will never regret it!”– Monse, au pair from Mexico

“An unbelievable journey full of adventures.”– Zwryl, au pair from Mexico

“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

Netherlands

July 29, 2019 by

AU PAIR CULTURE QUESTS

NETHERLANDS

Western Europe
Capital: Amsterdam
Languages: Dutch, regional languages
Predominant Religion(s): Christianity

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Kids Culture Corner: Netherlands
CIA World Factbook

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

Dutch applicants usually gain their childcare experience through babysitting for neighbors or family friends.
Many Dutch applicants have a childcare qualification or they have completed internships/work placements in day care centers or schools as part of their studies.
Dutch applicants usually look after younger family members.

Family

It is quite common for young Dutch people to move out of their parents’ house when they go to college or university.
Dutch people are used to helping out with household duties.
It is still more common for the father to work full-time and the mother to work part-time while bringing up the children. Both parents try to drop off and pick up the children from kindergarten or school. It is also common to rely on grandparents for regular babysitting.

English Skills

English is a compulsory subject at school from elementary school through high school.
Dutch applicants generally have a good level of English.
TV shows and films are often shown in their original English version with Dutch subtitles.

Driving Skills

The minimum age to start taking driving lessons in the Netherlands is 16 and a half. Lessons are taken with a qualified instructor.
Candidates have to take a theoretical and practical exam.
Both tests consist of various parts which assess different components, for example traffic rules.

Education

High school lasts from the ages of 11-12 years old to 16-18years old.
After high school, students have various options (Secondary Education, Higher General Secondary Education, Pre University, University of Applied Sciences of College, University or College).
The concept of taking a gap year between school and university is quite common in the Netherlands. Language courses, volunteer work, work and travel, and becoming an au pair are all popular gap year options.

Health

Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands is required by law to have basic insurance.
Basic insurance covers being treated by doctors, treatment in hospital and medication.
It is possible to get additional insurance (optional) to cover costs that are not included in the basic package.

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

Dutch applicants are open and down to earth.
They are hard workers.
They are polite, friendly and social.

FUN FACTS:

The colors of the Dutch flag are red, white, and blue. Red stands for the people, white for the church, and blue for nobility.
Dutch people are on average the tallest people in the world. (Women 5 ft 7 and men 6 ft).
The total length of all roads together in the Netherlands is 132,397 km. That’s about four times around the world!

USEFUL PHRASES:

How are you? Hoe gaat het?
Fine, thanks. Goed, dank je wel.
My name is… Mijn naam is…
Nice to meet you. Leuk je te ontmoeten.
Thank you. Dank je wel.

“It is a once in a lifetime experience, you have to do it. You will never regret something that made you smile!” – Alberta – au pair from the Netherlands

“It’s a life changing experience. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about everything I’ve learned, all the amazing times I spent with friends and family and all the people I met. Being an Au Pair in America is my story of success so far – more are to come!” – Jodie – au pair from the Netherlands

“Becoming an au pair was the best decision I ever made.” – Cheryl – au pair from the Netherlands

“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

South Africa

July 29, 2019 by

AU PAIR CULTURE QUESTS

SOUTH AFRICA

Southern Africa
Capital(s): Pretoria, Cape Town, Bloemfontein
Languages: English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Southern Sotho, Tswana, Northern Sotho, Venda, Tsonga, Swati, Ndebele
Predominant Religion(s): Christianity

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Flag of South Africa

Kids Culture Corner: South Africa
CIA World Factbook

The following information is generalized and compiled from questions posed to the agents and interviewers in South Africa. 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 very much part of the South African culture that children take care of their younger siblings, as in most families both parents as working.
Many young adults participate in volunteer programs either through the church or community organizations.
Many South African tertiary colleges offer diplomas in childcare skills, and these diplomas include extended periods of practical experience. The courses also include modules in first aid, swimming, cooking and basic child psychology.

Family

South African people have a word called “Ubuntu,” which is a word of ancient African origin meaning “I am what I am because of who we all are.” Ubuntu is the essence of being human and refers to the belief that you can’t exist as a human being in isolation as we are all interconnected – your family plays a crucial role in Ubuntu.
We apply the Ubuntu philosophy to everyday life, and this means we treat everybody as if they are our own family. We should trust each other and lean on each other as if they are our family as well as love each other and protect each other.
An old African proverb sums it up perfectly – “It takes a village to raise a child.” The meaning of the proverb is that it takes more than one person to teach a child the ways of life. A child comes across many different experiences and circumstances during their life and is taught right and wrong by others.

English Skills

English is established throughout South African society amongst individuals from a variety of linguistic and ethnic backgrounds.
English functions as the primary language of government, business, and commerce.
Educationally, it is a compulsory subject in all schools, and is the preferred medium of instruction in most schools and tertiary institutions.

Driving Skills

In South Africa, driving licenses are issued by authorized driving license testing centers in a “credit card” format. The minimum age to hold a license is 18, and most applicants obtain their driving license at this age.
Before applying for a driving licence, a prospective driver must first obtain a learner’s license. The learner’s test is a multiple-choice test that examines knowledge of vehicle controls, rules of the road, and traffic signs.
The driving test has two components: the first is the yard test followed by the road test, in which the applicant demonstrates his or her driving ability on the public roads, following the instructions of the examiner.

Education

Education is compulsory, and South Africans attend twelve years of formal schooling, from Grade 1 to 12.
Grade R is a pre-primary foundation year. Primary schools span the first seven years of schooling, and high school education spans a further five years.
The Senior Certificate examination takes place at the end of Grade 12 and is necessary for tertiary studies at a South African college or university.

Health

In South Africa private and public health systems exist in parallel.
Basic primary health care is offered free by the state, but the richer citizens tend to pay for private health care services, which are far more advanced.
Vaccinations are free of charge at all health facilities, and health workers are sent to nursery schools and crèches to immunize children wherever possible.

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

The South African people are proud people who live together in a nation of diversity. Many different ethnic groups exist in South Africa celebrating their many different traditions and cultures together.
South Africans love sport! The most popular spectator sports are soccer, rugby and cricket.
South Africans are described as loyal, friendly, hard working and committed people.

FUN FACTS:

Three of the five fastest land animals live in South Africa – the cheetah (63 miles per hour), the wildebeest, and the lion.
The only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace prize winners is in Soweto. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both had houses on Vilakazi Street in Soweto.
The world’s largest diamond was the Cullinan Diamond found in South Africa in 1905. It weighed 3,106.75 carats uncut. It was cut into the Great Star of Africa, weighing 530.2 carats, the Lesser Star of Africa, which weighs 317.40 carats, and 104 other diamonds of nearly flawless colour and clarity. They now form part of the British Crown Jewels.

USEFUL PHRASES:

South Africa’s 11 official languages have resulted in colorful additions to the English language, particularly in the use of colloquial terms such as:

lekker – nice, enjoyable
yebo – yes
braai – barbecue
cheers – goodbye and thank you

“This program has truly been one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of my life.” – Leila, au pair from South Africa

“I met so many new friends and enjoyed learning more about the American life and culture. Au pairing was definitely one of the best experiences I have ever had and I would not exchange any of those memories for anything in the world.” – Jennifer, au pair from South Africa

“I learned new things, have grown personally, and exchanged cultures which also allowed me to share mine too.”– Nombuso, au pair from South Africa

“The most important thing is that, like my host mum said…, I am part of the team. I share their daily routine and I am lucky to be with my host family.”

Verena, au pair
Germany

Slovakia

July 29, 2019 by

AU PAIR CULTURE QUESTS

SLOVAKIA

Central Europe
Capital: Bratislava
Languages: Slovak
Predominant Religion(s): Roman Catholic & Protestant

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CIA World Factbook

The following information is generalized and compiled from questions posed to the agents and interviewers in Slovakia. 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 Slovak people to take care of their siblings. It is considered natural that older children in the family take care of younger siblings.
Preparing meals from scratch for children is very common.
Slovak families believe in the value of positive motivation.

Family

The family is the centre of the social structure. It, together with close friends, forms the basis of financial and emotional support. Obligation to the family is a person’s number one priority.
Children are taught responsibility by giving them light but regular tasks and duties from an early age.
Slovakia is a very family-oriented country. It is common to visit other family members over holidays or weekends.

English Skills

English is taught at all levels of education, starting in kindergarten. It is a compulsory subject in every kind of school from 4th grade to graduation.
English-language movies and TV series are mostly dubbed in Slovakia.
The opportunity to improve their language skills during the Au Pair in America program is one of the reasons Slovak applicants join the program

Driving Skills

The minimum driving age in Slovakia is 18. Sometimes an exception can be made and they can start driving from 17 with an adult who has a valid driving license for at least 10 years. Most applicants obtain their driving license between 18 and 20 years old.
The process of obtaining the license usually takes 2-3 months. Completing a full professional driving course is required before the candidate is allowed to take the exam.
It is also mandatory to attend a First Aid course and to take a First Aid exam at the driving school.

Education

Primary education in Slovakia lasts for 10 years and it is compulsory. Children start attending school at the age of 6 until the age of 16.
The majority of Slovaks complete secondary education at least.
Parents put a lot of focus on children’s education from a very young age. Children start to learn foreign languages very early and take various additional courses.

Health

The healthcare system is based on an all-inclusive insurance system.
State-subsidized healthcare is available to all Slovak citizens who are covered by a general health insurance program.
It is common to visit the dentist on a regular basis, usually once a year.

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

Slovak people describe themselves as friendly, open and talkative.
Slovaks are very hospitable, modest and sincere.
Slovaks have strong family ties.

FUN FACTS:

Slovakia has the world´s highest number of castles and chateaus per capita.
Slovakia has more than 6,000 caves.
Slovakia has more than 1,300 mineral springs.

USEFUL PHRASES:

How are you? Ako sa máš?
Fine, thanks. Dobre, ďakujem.
My name is… Volám sa…
Nice to meet you! Rada ťa spoznávam!
Thank you. Ďakujem.

“I have found many new friends here, gained many experiences and what is the most important, I do not regret my decision and I would definitely come back again.”– Natalia, au pair from Slovakia

“Go for it and you will not regret it!”– Kinga, au pair from Slovakia

“A great experience, it is very important to gain a new view on your life and the USA is exactly made for this! The best of luck to all au pairs!”– Michaela, au pair from Slovakia

“The most important thing is that, like my host mum said…, I am part of the team. I share their daily routine and I am lucky to be with my host family.”

Verena, au pair
Germany

Serbia

July 29, 2019 by

AU PAIR CULTURE QUESTS

SERBIA

Central/Southern Europe
Capital: Belgrade
Languages: Serbian
Predominant Religion(s): Christian Orthodox

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CIA World Factbook

The following information is generalized and compiled from questions posed to the agents and interviewers in Serbia. 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 obtain childcare experience through formal schooling, babysitting and by caring for younger family members.
Usually the mother is responsible for the childcare responsibilities during infancy and childhood. Both parents share the responsibility during the teenage years.
There are lots of private day care centres in Serbia, and the employees are highly skilled. The fees are not too high, so it’s an affordable option for parents.

Family

Families in Serbia are rather traditional and family-oriented. They like to keep their traditions and customs.
Due to the economic situation, young people usually live with their parents until marriage. Unemployment remains high in Serbia, so living with other family members is sometimes the only option available.
Families in Serbia play an important part in their children’s life and are eager to see that their children are well educated and professionally capable to achieve their chosen career; parents usually finance their children’s education.

English Skills

English is taught from early childhood. Children learn English from the first grade of elementary school, and in 5th grade they select an additional foreign language such as German, French, Russian, Spanish or Italian.
English is compulsory throughout primary, secondary and university education.
Most of the students develop an intermediate level of English.

Driving Skills

The minimum driving age is 18. Most applicants obtain their driving license at this age.
Driving in big cities like Belgrade can be very demanding, and driving skills are therefore good. In smaller towns it is not so demanding.
The process of obtaining the license is at least 4-6 months long and is expensive. The process involves passing a medical test, a theory test and a practical test.

Education

The academic year in Serbia starts in October and ends in June.
Elementary education lasts 8 years, after which the student can choose to go to a general high school or a professional, vocational high school.
After completing high school, students can apply to a state or private university, but they need to pass an entrance exam. Approximately 40% of high school students go on to enroll at a university.

Health

In the past few decades, there have been numerous changes in the Serbian government to the healthcare systems that were set up when Serbia was a Republic of Yugoslavia. There is now a very basic, free healthcare service, as well as private practices.
Serbia is trying to move toward preventative healthcare.
Most young people visit the dentist on regular basis.

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

Serbians, especially those who are interested in the Au Pair in America program, are usually open minded, polite and really great with children.
Serbians are usually neat and well dressed and like to follow contemporary trends. They take pride in their appearance.
Serbians are considered as friendly and warm, and they like to talk.

FUN FACTS:

Serbians generally enjoy life and love playing with children. They regard them as individuals that need special attention in order to become self confident, and they love having fun with them.
Serbia is at the top of the global export list for…raspberries!
The Serbian clock-making industry is even older than the world-famous Swiss one. The Serbs had their own clock 600 years before the Swiss!

USEFUL PHRASES:

How are you? Kako si?
Fine, thanks: Dobro, hvala.
My name is…: Moje ime je…
Nice to meet you.: Drago mi je da smo se upoznali.
Thank you.: Hvala.

“Being in America meant a lot to me. I became more independent, I met lots of people from around the world and learned a lot about other countries. I had a lot of fun and traveled a lot.”– Melana – au pair from Serbia

“Being an au pair opened a door to a whole new world and helped me discover strengths and capabilities which I wasn’t aware that I possessed!”– Jelena – au pair from Serbia

“It’s the best adventure.”– Paulina – au pair from Serbia

“In the U.S. I did not work for an employer, I was part of a family that would be my family for the rest of my life.”

Naomi, au pair
South Africa