Poland

July 29, 2019 by

AU PAIR CULTURE QUESTS

POLAND

Eastern Europe
Capital: Warsaw
Languages: Polish

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Kids Culture Corner: Poland
CIA World Factbook

The following information is generalized and compiled from questions posed to the agents and interviewers in Poland. 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 Polish 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 (often preferred to eating out).
Polish families believe in the value of positive motivation. Techniques such as motivational charts, schedules and written house rules are favored.

Family

Two or more children per family are a common occurrence and a large family with three or more children is often the dream of many young couples.
Children are taught responsibility by giving them light but regular tasks and duties from an early age.
Poland is a very family-oriented country. It is common to visit other family members over holidays or weekends. For most parents, spending time outdoors and organizing sports activities is the idea of “quality time” spent with their children.

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 classes focus on oral and written skills.
English-language movies and TV series are not dubbed in Poland (subtitles are used instead). As a result, Poles have everyday contact with spoken English when watching TV, going to the cinema or using the internet.
The opportunity to improve their language skills during the Au Pair in America program is one of the reasons Polish applicants join the program – they humorously admit they’d like to “polish their English”.

Driving Skills

The minimum driving age in Poland is 18. Most applicants obtain their driving license at this age.
The process of obtaining the license is at least 4-6 months long. Completing a full professional driving course is required before the candidate is allowed to take the exam.
Polish drivers experience a variety of weather conditions, including rain, snow and ice.

Education

Education in Poland is free and compulsory until the age of 18.
89% of Poles complete at least upper secondary education, which is the highest result in the EU (alongside Czechs, Slovaks and Slovenes). 55% of young Poles complete university education (MA or BA degrees).
Parents put a lot of focus on children’s education from a very young age. Children start to learn foreign languages very early and various additional courses (e.g. dancing, ballet, arts & crafts, sports, horse-riding) are added to the standard curriculum.

Health

Poland’s healthcare system is based on an all-inclusive insurance system. State subsidized healthcare is available to all Polish 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:

Polish people describe themselves as hospitable, ambitious and resourceful.
Poles have strong family ties.
Tradition and culture are very important values for young Poles.

FUN FACTS:

Poland has exactly the same population and is almost the same size as California.
Poland’s biggest city is… Chicago – the number of people of Polish origin is higher in Chicago’s metropolitan area than in Poland’s capital Warsaw!
Poland is the most important bird breeding ground in Europe, as it hosts over one quarter of all migratory birds travelling to Europe for the summer.

USEFUL PHRASES:

How are you? Jak się masz?
Fine, thanks. Dobrze, dziękuję.
My name is… Nazywam się…
Nice to meet you! Miło Cię poznać!
Thank you. Dziękuję.

“Go for it. Be positive and open. It has been one of the most important experiences in my life.” – Karolina, au pair from Poland

“I would say it is the most life changing adventure, worth every single minute spent discovering places, people and cultures; a beautiful journey into getting to know yourself and your priorities. So, no second thoughts – just make the first step!” – Dorota, au pair from Poland

“Just do it. It’s the best adventure.” – Paulina, au pair from Poland

“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

Peru

July 29, 2019 by

AU PAIR CULTURE QUESTS

PERU

Western South America
Capital: Lima
Languages: Spanish (main), Quechua, Aymara
Predominant Religion(s): Christianity
(Catholic)

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Kids Culture Corner: Peru
CIA World Factbook

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

In Peruvian families it is common for mothers to take care of their children, but also they receive help from the father or other family members such as older siblings or grandparents.
Most families prefer home cooking and make meals from scratch for their children. Common dishes include rice, meat and potatoes or soup. Children are encouraged to eat a lot of fresh fruit and root vegetables.
Peruvian families believe in the value of positive motivation.

Family

Peruvians usually have at least 2 or 3 children.
Families in Peru, no matter what their status, show a high degree of unity, purpose, and integration through generations. It is very common for them to meet once a week and they will always meet up for a special occasion.
The roles of the different family members and sexes tend to follow rather traditional patterns.

English Skills

At the beginning of 2015, a mandatory English Program was created by the Peruvian government, where public schools are required to teach English from the first year.
Most young people have at least a basic understanding of English, and English is important when applying for jobs in Peru.
The opportunity to improve their language skills during the Au Pair in America program is one of the reasons Peruvian applicants join the program.

Driving Skills

The minimum driving age in Peru is 18. Most applicants obtain their driving license at this age.
You have to take approximately 20-40 hours of practical lessons before you can take your test. This usually takes 6-8 weeks.
To get your license, you need to have completed high school, hold a medical certificate of psychological aptitude, have passed the examination of traffic rules and of course you need to pass the driving test.

Education

Education in Peru is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, and according to the Constitution, Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Education is mandatory.
Public institutions are free. Approximately 65% of Peruvians complete secondary education.
Public schools are free and public universities guarantee the right to free education for students with satisfactory academic performance.

Health

The health system in Peru has two sectors, one public and one private. Within the public sector, there are two types of national insurance, called SIS and EsSalud.
In addition, MINSA (Ministry of Health) mandates certain public hospitals that offer healthcare services, regardless of insurance coverage.
Periodically, the government and some private entities create campaigns, where information about health is offered to citizens.

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

Peruvian people describe themselves as optimistic, creative and persevering.
Peruvians are characterized by being hard workers.
Peruvians maintain a very strong sense of national identity – they love to celebrate their Independence Day on July 28th!

FUN FACTS:

Peru has 84 “microclimates” of the 114 that exist in the world and also has more than 75% of ecosystems, making it one of the most bio-diverse countries on the planet.
Peru is one of the richest countries in terms of natural resources – it is one of the world’s top producers of gold, silver, copper, lead, iron and zinc and also has reserves of oil and natural gas.
Lake Titicaca in Southern Peru is the world’s highest navigable lake and South America’s largest lake. Machu Picchu is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world.

USEFUL PHRASES:

How are you? ¿Como estas?
Fine, thanks. Bien, gracias.
My name is… Mi nombre es…
Nice to meet you! ¡Encantado de conocerte!
Thank you. Gracias.

“To be an au pair is a beautiful experience that will always be in my memories.” – Carmen, au pair from Peru

“It’s the best experience ever in life. You learn a lot, gain confidence and independence. You will make great friends.” –Mirna, au pair from Peru

“Being an au pair was the most rewarding experience of my life. I made many friends, traveled to different places, and shared different experiences which will last forever in my heart.” –Janira, au pair from Peru

“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

Panama

July 29, 2019 by

AU PAIR CULTURE QUESTS

PANAMA

Central America
Capital: Panama City
Languages: Spanish/some English
Predominant Religion(s): Christianity (predominantly Catholic)

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USEFUL LINKS

Flag of Panama

CIA World Factbook

The following information is generalized and compiled from questions posed to the agents and interviewers in Panama. 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 common for Panama adolescents to take care of their siblings, cousins, neighbors’ children, etc. It is an accepted part of everyday life that older children in all families help take care of their younger siblings while their parents are at work. In fact, while the requirements to become an au pair specify 200 hours of certified childcare experience, our average Panama au pair has more than 2,000 hours and 2 years of college behind them before they apply to our program.
Preparing meals for children is very common and often preferred to eating out.
Panama families are friendly and warm and the children grow up surrounded by family, cousins, and friends, often visiting parks and enjoying the outdoors together.

Family

Two or more children per family is very common in Panama but larger families with three or more children are often desired. Probably 98% of our au pairs grow up caring for their younger siblings, cousins, etc.
Most children are taught responsibility by giving them light tasks and duties such as babysitting from an early age.
Panama is a very friendly, family-oriented country. It is quite common to visit other family members over holidays or weekends. For most parents, spending time outdoors and organizing sports activities is the idea of “quality time” spent with their children. Most boys and girls play soccer and football, ride bikes, roller skate, swim, and and about 35% of Panama au pairs also have equestrian skills.

English Skills

English is the second language and Panamanians are very USA-oriented. With the U.S. building of the Panama Canal in 1903 and the subsequent dozen US Military bases here for more than 95 years, many Panamanians worked for the US Military or American families in the Canal Zone. Most English classes here focus on oral and written skills.
English-language movies and TV series are fantastically popular in Panama. There are at least a dozen US movies playing here at any given time and there are movie theaters from one end of Panama to the other. As a result, Panamanians have contact with spoken English when watching TV, going to the cinema or using the internet.
The opportunity to improve their language skills during the Au Pair in America program is one of the primary reasons Panama applicants join our program. Many ex au pairs work for U.S. airlines in Panama such as United Airlines and American, and US banks such as Citigroup, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, etc. Many more work in our Panama City hotels such as Marriott, The Hard Rock, Holiday Inn Express, Intercontinental, Hilton, The Waldorf Astoria, the Ritz Carlton, etc. Many other ex au pairs find a career in additional areas of tourism where they can continue to use their improved English.

Driving Skills

The minimum driving age in Panama is 18. Most applicants obtain their driving license at this age although with their parents’ permission they can get a learner’s permit at age 17.
The process of obtaining the license includes a written test and a driving test.
Panama drivers experience a variety of weather conditions, including heavy rain and heavy traffic.

Education

Elementary education in Panama is free and the national university is very low cost. There are also branches of the Florida State University, Louisville University, Columbus University and American University in Panama, in addition to at least a dozen other local universities.
Many young Panamanians complete university education with MA or BA degrees.
Parents focus on their children’s education from a very young age. Children usually learn dancing, ballet, arts & crafts, sports and horseback riding.

Health

Panama’s healthcare system is based on an all-inclusive nationwide medical insurance program. State subsidized healthcare is available to all citizens who are covered by this general health insurance program.
It is common to visit the dentist on a regular basis here.
Panama is also home to a branch of the famous Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the Cleveland Clinic.

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

Panama people describe themselves as friendly, hospitable, warm, ambitious, easy going and very resourceful.
They have very strong family ties and usually live with parents until marriage.
Family events, tradition and culture are very important values they inherit from childhood.

FUN FACTS:

Mother Nature is BIG in Panama. About one third of the Panama land mass, more than two million acres, is designated as public parks and national preserves. Panama borders both the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans with a total of more than 900 miles of beautiful coastline. There are more than 1,000 beautiful tropical islands surrounded by sandy beaches and emerald green and blue waters with many colorful, fun coral reefs to explore. Panama has lots of fish and more game fishing records than any other country in the world and, in fact, the native word “Panama”, means…”Plentiful Fish”.
Our biggest city today is the capital, Panama City, bordering the Pacific Ocean with a population of about 890,000 and a total of almost 1.5 million within the metropolitan area. Bordering the Atlantic Ocean is the old city of Colon with a population of about 250,000. Cristopher Columbus on his fourth voyage to the New World in 1502, discovered Panama. In fact our two Atlantic cities of Cristobal and Colon are Spanish for Christopher Columbus. Today, Colon is home to the second largest Free Zone in the world.
The Panama Canal was built in Panama as opposed to other countries because Panama has no active volcanoes, no hurricanes, no tornados and few earthquakes that exceed 4 or 5 on the Richter Scale. Panama became a melting pot for many cultures who arrived in the early 1900’s to help build the Canal. Today, there are more than 30,000 retired Americans who live in various parts of Panama.

USEFUL PHRASES:

How are you? Como estás?
Fine, thanks. Bien, gracias.
My name is… Me llamo…
Nice to meet you! Es un gusto conocerte.
Thank you. Gracias.

“I am living the best experience of my life.” – Yejeira, au pair from Panama

“I’ve been here for almost 9 months and I’m having the time of my life. I’ve matured, learned so many things, went to many places and I love my host family – they are THE BEST!” – Diana, au pair from Panama

“I am really happy with my experience here in USA, I’m enjoying every day, particularly the winter season, I was excited with the first snowfall. I am learning and improving my English every day. I am meeting new friends of different countries like Brazil, France, Jamaica, and Thailand.” – Arelis, au pair from Panama

“I like that I can go off to work knowing that I am leaving my children in their own home, happy and eager to spend the day with someone I trust and like very much.”

Hannah, host parent
Maryland

Norway

July 29, 2019 by

AU PAIR CULTURE QUESTS

NORWAY

Europe
Capital: Oslo
Languages: Bokmal Norwegian, Nynorsk Norwegian, small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities

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Kids Culture Corner: Norway
CIA World Factbook

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

Physical discipline is not common in Norway.
Applicants obtain childcare experience through formal schooling, babysitting, and working in preschools.
Usually both parents share the childrearing 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 common in Norway.
Applicants from Norway are motivated by the opportunity to develop English language skills.
The job potential of an au pair does not necessarily improve upon her return to Norway.
Applicants do not have difficulty affording the program fees.
Young people in Norway have the freedom of their family to socialize and date.
Curfews are not common.
Young women are accustomed to sharing in household chores.
Nudity is accepted, especially by young people. Topless sunbathing is common.
Norwegians like outdoor sports, are well-educated, and appreciate equality.

English Skills

English is compulsory from age nine.
Classes focus on both oral and written English. Many watch TV in English to help with comprehension.

Driving Skills

The minimum driving age is age 18. Most applicants obtain their driving license at age 18.
A driving license is not difficult to obtain, but it is expensive.
The steps involved in obtaining a driving license in Norway include:
- Driving lessons
- Theoretical test
- Practical test, includes winter driving
- 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.

Education

Approximately 50% of young women continue their studies at university.
Those who do not attend university study in professional schools, or work in offices or retail stores.
The academic year in Norway starts in August and ends in June.
University is free is Norway. The most important educational opportunity is to improve their English.

Health

The most common inoculations are tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, tuberculosis, and polio.
Most young women are inoculated and tested for TB (tuberculosis).
Norway has a free health service.
Most young women visit the dentist on a regular basis.
“Eating disorders” are not common, but do occur.

Diet

Most young people in Norway eat meat.
Vegetarianism is not common.
The typical diet in Norway includes seafood, meat, dairy and fruits.

Religion

The most common religion in Norway is Lutheran.
Most young people in Norway do not practice their religion regularly.

Telephone & Internet

Most homes have a telephone and a computer with access to the Internet.
Family members will 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]

Russia

July 29, 2019 by

AU PAIR CULTURE QUESTS

RUSSIA

Asia
Capital: Moscow
Languages: Russian, many minority languages

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USESFUL LINKS

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Kids Culture Corner: Russia
CIA World Factbook

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

Russian mothers typically stay home with the children until they are two or three years old.
Common discipline techniques include discussions and withholding privileges.
Physical discipline is not common in Russia.
Applicants obtain childcare experience through formal schooling, babysitting, working in preschools, or private tutoring.
The mother usually is responsible for the childrearing responsibilities.
It is common for both parents to work and be away from home during the day once the children are over three years old.

Au Pairs in General

The idea of being an au pair is common in Russia.
Applicants from Russia are motivated by opportunities to improve their English.
The job potential of an au pair improves upon her return to Russia.
Applicants sometimes have difficulty affording the program fees. Many applicants are teachers who are paid low wages.
Young people in Russia have the freedom of their family to socialize and date.
Curfews are not common.
Young women are accustomed to sharing in household chores.
Nudity is not common.
Russians are cheerful, cordial, and have a great love for children. Russians are very open and honest and like to discuss problems and situations.

English Skills

English is compulsory in Russia.
Classes begin at an early age.

Driving Skills

The minimum driving age is age 18. Most applicants obtain their driving license at age 20.
A driving license is not difficult to obtain, but it is time consuming.
The steps involved in obtaining a driving license in Russia 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.

Education

Approximately 40% of young women continue their studies at university.
Those who do not attend university work, study at a technical school, or start families.
The academic year in Russia starts in September and ends in June.
The educational opportunities of Au Pair in America lend opportunities to improve their English, which is very important to Russian applicants.

Health

The most common inoculations are for tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, measles, and mumps.
Most young women are inoculated and tested for TB (tuberculosis).
Russia has a free health service.
Most young women visit the dentist on a regular basis.
“Eating disorders” are not common, but do occur.

Diet

Most young people in Russia eat meat.
Vegetarianism is becoming more common.
A typical Russian diet includes a lot of potatoes.

Religion

The most common religion in Russia is Orthodox Christian.
Most young people in Russia do not practice their religion regularly.

Telephone & Internet

Most homes have a telephone, and applicants have access to a computer and the Internet.
Family members may not 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]

Portugal

July 29, 2019 by

AU PAIR CULTURE QUESTS

PORTUGAL

Europe
Capital: Lisbon
Languages: Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official – but locally used)

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USEFUL LINKS

Flag of Portugal

Kids Culture Corner: Portugal
CIA World Factbook

The following information is generalized and compiled from questions posed to the agents and interviewers in Portugal. 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 withholding privileges.
Physical discipline is not common in Portugal.
Applicants obtain childcare experience through formal schooling, babysitting, and working in summer camps.
Usually both parents share the childrearing 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 a new concept in Portugal.
Applicants from Portugal are motivated by travel and language opportunities.
The job potential of an au pair improves upon her return to Portugal.
Young people in Portugal have the freedom of their family to socialize and date, though Portuguese parents are very protective of their children. The normal procedure for children is to complete high school, attend university, find a job, buy a house and get married. Only after you complete those things would you then move out of your parents house.
Curfews are not common.
Young women are accustomed to sharing in household chores.
Nudity is not common.
Portuguese describe themselves as caring, flexible, and fluent in English.

English Skills

English is a compulsory subject in school beginning at age 9, though some schools begin as early as age 6, and continue through the end of high school.
Courses are focused on writing, reading, speaking, and listening.

Driving Skills

Obtaining a driving license is a rigorous process in Portugal.
The minimum driving age is age 18. Most applicants obtain their driving license at age 18.
A driving license is difficult to obtain.
The steps involved in obtaining a driving license in Portugal include:
- Theoretical written test with traffic rules and scenarios
- Driving lessons
- Practical test
- Fees
The International driving permit is available.
Applicants typically take formal driving lessons and practice driving using their parents’ car. It is common for parents to buy their child a car while they are in university.
Most cars have manual transmissions.

Education

A large percentage of young women attend university.
Those who do not attend university start work or enter into a trade.
The academic year in Portugal starts in September and ends in June.
The educational opportunities of the Au Pair in America program are fairly important to applicants.

Health

The most common inoculation is tetanus.
Most young women are inoculated and tested for TB (tuberculosis).
Portugal has a free health service.
Most young women do not visit the dentist on a regular basis as it is expensive.
“Eating disorders” are not common, but do occur.

Diet

Most young people in Portugal eat meat.
Vegetarianism is not common.
A typical Portuguese diet includes rich, filling, and full-flavored dishes made from seafood, fish, meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables.

Religion

The most common religion in Portugal is Catholic.
Most young people in Portugal do not practice their religion regularly.

Telephone & Internet

Most homes have a telephone and a computer with access to the Internet.
Family members will 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]