Driving Skills | Health | Education | English Language Skills | Child CareAu Pairs in General | Religion | Telephone | Diet | Miscellaneous

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

Driving Skills

1. Cost and difficulty to obtain a driver's license
   Approx. $200.
   


2. Obtaining a driver's license e.g. driving lessons, practical and theoretical test?
   Theoretical classes for 2-3 months; practical lessons depend on each individual.
   
   
3. Availability and cost of obtaining an International Driving License
   Yes, it is available.
   
   
4. Obtaining a driving license
   At the ageof 17-18.
   
   
5. How common is it for 18-26 year olds to own their own car or use the family car
   It depends on the social class the people belong to.
   
   
6. Cars – manual or automatic
   Most are manual.
   

Health

1. Most common inoculations
   Tuberculosis.



2. Innoculation for TB (Tuberculosis)
   Yes.
   
   
3. Free health service
   Yes, for those who work.
   
   
4. Cost and regularity of visits to the dentist
   Visits to the dentist are quite regular.

Education

1. Percentage of young women that go on to university
   About 70% apply, but not everybody passes the test.
   
   
2. Alternatives chosen if not attending university
   They may go and work, take some special courses, or go to other colleges.
   
   
3. Importance of educational opportunities of the Au Pair in America program to the au pair
   Very important.
   
   
4. Start and finish of the academic year
   1st of September to 1st of June.

English Language Skills

1. Is English a compulsory subject in the schools in your country?
   Yes.
   
   
2. Description of the study of English in schools, e.g. from what age English is taught, how many years is English compulsory, courses focused on written or oral skills
   Children start studying at the age of 7 (1st grade). The classes focus on oral skills, writing and grammar.

Child Care

1. Common attitudes to and types of discipline for children
   Parents love their children but demand order and obedience.


2. Physical discipline of children
   No.
   
   
3. How child care is obtained if formal qualification not held
   They start babysitting younger family members and friends' and acquaintances' children.


4. Sharing child care responsibilities by both parents
   Both, however the mother tends to do more.


5. Both working parents
   Yes.

1. The concept of being an 'au pair'
   It is becoming more and more common.
   
   
2. The motivation of young people to want to be an au pair
   Getting acquainted with other cultures, improve their language skills and earn some money.
   
   
3. Improving job potential upon returning home after a year in the U.S.A.
   Yes, it does help with finding a job.

Religion

1. Most common religions
   Lutheran and orthodox.



2. Practice of religion by young people
   No, most don't.



3. Would a young person choose to practice a religion that is different than her family's religion
   Most don't.
   
   
4. Common religious practices, e.g. special practices or dietary restrictions
   No.

Telephone

1. Telephones in the home
   Yes.
   
   
2. Would most parents/family speak English well enough to take a message from an American Host Family?
   Not the parents, but younger family members.



3. Computer or e-mail access
   Not many have computers at home, but they have access to e-mail at school and libraries.

Diet

1. Attitudes to eating meat
   Yes, meat is a regular part of the diet.



2. Vegetarianism
   No.



3. Other common dietary traditions
   No.

Miscellaneous

1. Freedom of their family to socialize and date
   Yes.



2. Curfews at home
   Each family is different.
   
   
3. Sharing household chores
   Yes.



4. Diversity of population
   No.



5. Three main characteristics of the people
   Calm, friendly, and hard-working.
   
   
6. Attitudes to nudity both in and out of the home e.g. sunbathing in the nude?
   Generally not approved.

Additional useful information
N/A

Au Pair in America®, 2007