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

For basic information and a statistical overview of United Nations member countries and links to local newspapers, visit:http://cyberschoolbus.un.org/infonation/index.asp

To review the on-line version of the World Factbook with information about this country as compiled by the CIA, please visit: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html

For information about Nordic countries (Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Norway) and related activities in the US, visit: http://www.nordiccalendar.com/


The following information is generalized and compiled from questions posed to the agents and interviewers in Iceland. Although au pairs from Iceland 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
   You need to be 17 years old to obtain a drivers' license in Iceland. It costs around $1200 - $1350. More than 70% of people older than 17 years old have a driving license.
2. Obtaining a driver's license e.g. driving lessons, practical and theoretical test?
   You need to take 16 hours of practical lessons and 24 hours in a driving school. The driving lessons are both driving practice, and basic knowledge about the engine as well as lessons taken at the driving school. Finally there is a practical and written test before you obtain your license.
3. Availability and cost of obtaining an International Driving license
   Yes, it is available for the cost of $11.
4. Obtaining a driving license
   Yes, most young women obtain a driving license at the age of 17-18 years old.
5. How common is it for 18-26 year olds to own their own car or use the family car
   It is quite common for 18 - 26 year olds to own their own car. Most young people in Iceland are also allowed to use the family car.
   
6. Cars - manual or automatic
   50% are manual and 50% are automatic

Health

1. Most common inoculations
   Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Haemofilus influenzae (Hib.), Morbilli/measles, Parotitis epidemica/Mumps, Rubella. These inoculations are given to children at school at the age of 5, 9 and 14. Infants are also given inoculations at the age of 3, 5 and 12 months old.
2. Innoculation for TB (Tuberculosis)
   Icelanders are not inoculated for TB but it is screened for regularly as part of the National Health Service. The only time Icelanders are inoculated and tested for TB is when there are special reasons for it.
3. Free health service
   All Icelanders are insured by the National Health service in Iceland. We pay certain amount to see a doctor ($10) and we pay a part of all medication. If you see a specialist you pay around $30 for each visit. If we go to a hospital we do not pay anything as it is included in our National Health Service.
4. Cost and regularity of visits to the dentist
   It is expensive, most dentist recommend that you come for a regular check every 6-12 months. I would say that most young women go every 6-18 months. It is also included into our National Health Service so all children see a dentist at least once a year from childhood until the age of 16.

Education

1. Percentage of young women that go on to university
   At least 25% - 35 % of young women in Iceland go to university.
2. Alternatives chosen if not attending university
   There are some alternatives. We have all kinds of diploma studies, such as computer and secretary schools. Many young women and men take apprenticeship for two years e.g. hairdressers, and carpenters.
3. Importance of educational opportunities of the Au Pair in America program to the au pair
   It is very important for au pairs to be able to take educational courses along with being an au pair. It is both sociable and of course they can use their free time to gain valuable experience by studying in another country. It gives them more opportunities.
4. Start and finish of the academic year
   It starts between August 20th - 25th and it finishes in the end of May. We have two weeks Christmas vacation and 5 days up to one week for Easter.

English Language Skills

1. Is English a compulsory subject in the schools in your country?
   It is compulsory from 11 - 16 years old, but those who study at colleges study English for 6 - 8 years. Most young Icelanders have very good knowledge of the English language.
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
   It is compulsory in High School at the age 11 - 16 years old to study English. In College (16 - 20 years old) at least another 2 years are taken, very often 4 years. Courses are focused on written and oral skills
   

Childcare

1. Common attitudes to and types of discipline for children
   Icelandic children are raised to be independent and self-reliant. They are supposed to be well behaved, but at the same time relaxed and open and able to speak up for themselves and express their opinions freely. This can sometimes be mistaken as if they are to forward and even rude, when it is meant to show their maturity and independence.
2. Physical discipline of children
   Families do not discipline their children, it is considered an abuse if they do.
3. How child care is obtained if formal qualification not held
   Young women in Iceland gain most of their child care experience by taking care of younger family members, children in the neighborhood and for family friends. In Iceland girls start taking care of children at the ages 10 - 14. During summer many girls take care of children while kindergartens are closed or stay in the countryside and take care of children all summer long while helping out on farms.
4. Sharing child care responsibilities by both parents
   Parents share child care responsibilities but in some homes women still assume these tasks, although Icelandic women are considered by many nations to be very independent and liberal.
5. Both working parents
   Yes it is very common. Most parents work outside the home.

Au Pairs in General

1. The concept of being an 'au pair'
   Yes, it is but in the last few years the interest for au pairs has diminished.
2. The motivation of young people to want to be an au pair
   Most young people want to experience living abroad and get to know other culture, learn foreign language and get to know people from all over the world.
3. Improving job potential upon returning home after a year in the USA
   Their job potential improves very much, employers think highly of people who have experience from staying abroad. For Icelanders it is very important to speak 2 - 3 languages well in order to be able to follow up in the global World
4. Current level of unemployment
   At the moment the percentage of unemployed people in Iceland is low. Only 2.5% for the ages 18-25. This is one of the reasons for the decreasing numbers of Au Pairs, as young people can now choose from many different jobs and earn good salaries.

Religion

1. Most common religions
   The majority of Icelanders are registered as Lutherans, although only a small number practice the faith regularly.
2. Practice of religion by young people
   Most young people do not practice their religion.
3. Would a young person choose to practice a religion that is different than her family's religion
   It is very rare.
4. Common religious practices e.g. special practices or dietary restrictions
   No, there are no dietary restrictions.

Telephone

1. Telephones in the home
   Yes, probably 99%. Most young people in Iceland have also their own mobile phone.
2. Would most parents/family speak English well enough to take a message from an American Host Family?
   Yes.
3. Computer or e-mail access
   Most young people have access to e-mail and 70% of Icelandic homes have a computer.

Diet

1. Attitudes to eating meat
   Yes.
2. Vegetarianism
   It is not very common, but it has grown in the last few years.
3. Other common dietary traditions
   Yes there are many common dietary traditions. For Christmas, Easter and other holidays we celebrate in Iceland, most families have very similar food. We still eat sour and smoked food on special holidays, it is the traditional food of Iceland.

Miscellaneous

1. Freedom of their family to socialize and date
   Yes they do.
2. Curfews at home
   The independent age in Iceland is 18. But young people in Iceland are quite independent before that age. Curfews are not commonly used as an upbringing tool in Iceland.
3. Sharing household chores
   Yes they are supposed to share the household tasks with their parents and siblings.
4. Diversity of population
   We do not have people of many ethnic groups in Iceland. Although more and more people from different parts of the world immigrate to Iceland.
5. Three main characteristics of the people
   Independent, hard working, well informed and educated. Determined, self-reliant and outspoken. Reserved and even shy when first met, but open up quickly as soon as they find their place.
6. Attitudes to nudity both in and out of the home e.g. sunbathing in the nude?
   We do not sunbath nude, but it is common that females sunbathe topless. However at home nudity is not a source of embarrassment and Icelanders are rather liberal in this aspect.

Additional useful information
Young Icelanders are just like most other young people from all over the world. They want to do their very best and they are eager to get good education and experience that prepares them for adult life. They need to have someone they can trust and to be able to express themselves freely and they should be taken seriously as any other adult. At the same time they still need security and some guidance in order to be able to adjust to new customs and culture as most of the au pairs are leaving home for real for the first time.

Au Pair in America®, 2007