| With the rising costs of childcare, American families | | | | bad behavior is a sign of disrespect and a child who is |
| are hosting au pairs in staggering numbers. There | | | | overly indulged by parents (with toys, sweets, |
| has been an increase in the number of au pairs with | | | | privileges not earned) is considered spoiled as result |
| nearly 22,000 young women residing in the USA last | | | | of poor or failed parenting. |
| year, up 44% from 2004! This is a dramatic | | | | Driving Skills |
| increase and the trend appears to be growing | | | | - Most West German au pairs are excellent drivers. |
| despite the weak economy. | | | | They receive their license at age 18 and the test is |
| The French term, au pair, denotes a young woman | | | | much more demanding and time consuming compared |
| who "lives as an equal" with her host family. Au pair | | | | to their American peers. Most driving pupils need |
| agencies recruit young women from over 55 | | | | 20-30 lessons in order to pass the test and there is |
| countries, with China as the newest "hot" placement | | | | an hour practical driving test! If any German fails |
| for sophisticated American families seeking to expose | | | | the test more than 3 times, a psychological test is |
| their children to Mandarin. | | | | then required by the state. |
| Despite global connections between countries and | | | | - Most parents have a car for the teen to practice |
| the politcally correct phrase "we are all one world" | | | | on and they support their teenagers in getting the |
| cultural differences exist across Europe, Asia and | | | | license and becoming good, safe drivers. |
| South America - top areas au pair agencies recruit | | | | - German au pairs are exclusively sought out by host |
| from. These cultural differences add flavor and spice | | | | parents for their excellent driving skills making them |
| to the host family's year with their au pair and both | | | | one of the most popular au pairs. |
| benefit from cross-cultural experiences. | | | | |
| Knowledge of cultural differences is critical to a host | | | | English Skills - West German Au Pairs get an A+ |
| family's success with their au pair -American behavior | | | | - English is a compulsory subject at the age of 10, |
| may be viewed as rude or insulting to an au pair, and | | | | but many children start as early as kindergarten. As |
| Americans can often misinterpret an au pair's | | | | a result, German youth have competent English skills |
| interactions with their children, etc. | | | | with many having no or a very slight German accent. |
| One of the more popular countries that Americans | | | | - German au pairs are popular with host parents for |
| prefer when hosting an au pair is Germany. Let's | | | | their English skills. Host parents typically expect them |
| take a look at why this is true: | | | | to help the children with homework and German au |
| The idea of traveling to the United States to | | | | pairs are generally very competent in this area. |
| become an au pair is a very familiar concept in | | | | - West Germans' proficiency in English is generally |
| Germany. These young women are motivated by | | | | better compared to Germans from East Germany - |
| several factors including a desire to become more | | | | East Germans get a C- in English! |
| independent, to improve their English skills, and to | | | | |
| experience American culture. German youth are | | | | Health |
| fascinated with American music, TV programs, | | | | - Germans are typically very healthy. They have |
| Hollywood stars and movies. In addition, young | | | | good medical and dental insurance. |
| German women know that a year abroad that | | | | - Most young women are not inoculated or tested |
| improves her English is a significant plus on her | | | | for TB (tuberculosis). |
| resume, greatly increasing her job potential once she | | | | - Eating disorders are not very common in Germany. |
| returns home. Therefore, the au pair program | | | | - Most young people in Germany eat meat and lots |
| continues to be a highly popular gap year for young | | | | of vegetables and fresh foods are preferred to fast |
| women who usually return to Germany to continue | | | | foods/processed foods. A growing number of |
| at University. Approximately 37% of all au pairs | | | | German youth are becoming vegetarians and you |
| who arrive in the United States are from Western | | | | should ask your au pair if she eats meat. |
| Europe and 23% of that number are from Germany | | | | |
| (although in recent years, that trend seems to be | | | | Religion |
| declining). | | | | - The two most common religions in Germany are |
| German Culture | | | | Catholic and Protestant |
| - Young people in Germany have much more | | | | - Most young people in Germany do not practice their |
| freedom from their families to socialize and date | | | | religion on a regular basis |
| compared to their American peers. Socializing with | | | | |
| friends is very important and German youth go out | | | | Other Useful Information |
| to pubs from the early age of 16. If your German | | | | - Most German families have at least one computer |
| au pair likes to go out and socialize, do not | | | | with access to the internet and most young |
| misinterpret this as "party girl" - she will most likely | | | | Germans have their own cell phones; contacting |
| be sitting in a Starbucks talking with other German au | | | | prospective au pairs is relatively easy during the |
| pairs or visiting our nation's famous sights to expand | | | | interviewing process |
| her knowledge of America. | | | | - Family members usually speak English and can take |
| - Curfews are not common and there is generally a | | | | messages from you if the au pair is not home which |
| relaxed and accepting attitude between parents and | | | | is a great plus for you as a host parent. |
| their adolescent children. | | | | - German students end their academic year in June |
| - German youth are generally open-minded, well | | | | and most of the young women apply to arrive in the |
| mannered and tend to be ambitious regarding their | | | | USA during the summer months but before our |
| careers. | | | | school term starts here in the USA so plan to have |
| - Germans take family life very seriously and most | | | | your German au pair arrive in early or mid August so |
| German families eat together for all meals, including | | | | she can sign up for fall courses at your local college. |
| lunch. Government rules allow all shops and | | | | |
| businesses to close each day for from 12 noon to 2 | | | | - German au pairs are typically serious students and |
| o’clock so the family can come together for | | | | will expect to sign up for courses immediately upon |
| lunch. No one is late for meals. | | | | arrival. German au pairs will expect flexibly from her |
| - Germans are very private people and greatly value | | | | host parents so she can attend her classes without |
| their time alone. It would not be unusual for your | | | | interruption. |
| German au pair to keep her door shut while she is on | | | | - West Germans are generally more educated, are |
| her time “off” and during these times you | | | | more experienced drivers and possess better English |
| should make sure the children are not barging in and | | | | skills compared to East Germans. |
| bothering her. She may interpret this behavior as | | | | - Generally, German au pairs have less trouble |
| very rude and intrusive. | | | | assimilating into American culture and do not generally |
| Childcare | | | | suffer from culture shock. They genuinely like |
| - Discipline techniques include talking to the child, | | | | American culture and look forward to their year |
| taking sweets away, taking away television or video | | | | abroad. |
| privileges, or sending the child to their room. | | | | - Most Germans will not extend beyond the 12 |
| - Corporal punishment is forbidden in Germany | | | | months – they will return home to continue their |
| - German au pairs tend to be highly organized and | | | | education, start a business or look for a professional |
| responsible and catch on quickly to the family’s | | | | job. |
| routine. | | | | |
| - Applicants obtain their childcare experience through | | | | With the growing trend of using au pairs as their #1 |
| formal training (in kindergartens, etc.) and babysitting | | | | childcare option, American families are competing with |
| for friends and family. | | | | one and another for au pairs who are responsible, |
| - German parents (either mother or father) typically | | | | mature, good drivers and who speak good, |
| stay home with their young children at least until they | | | | competent English. German au pairs generally meet all |
| are old enough to attend kindergarten. Working at | | | | of these criteria while adding old world charm mixed |
| home is very common for German parents. | | | | with a youthful and modern perspective. Germans |
| - Your German au pair will expect the children to | | | | are proud of their culture and are usually delighted |
| treat her with respect, to comply with her | | | | with our America experience - a wonderful |
| instructions and to follow the house rules. Unruly or | | | | combination for any host family! |