Au Pair in America: live-in child care.

Culture Quests

Au Pairs in General | Child Care Practices | Driving Skills | English Language Skills
Education | Health | Diet | Religion | Telephone and Internet

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

Au Pairs in General

• The idea of being an au pair is very popular in Belgium.
• Applicants from Belgium are motivated to learn about another culture, meet new people, and learn another language.
• Applicants do not have difficulty affording the program fees.
• Young people in Belgium generally have the freedom of their family to socialize and date.
• Curfews are common.
• Young women are accustomed to sharing in household chores.
• Belgians are reserved as a nation but do like to have fun. They enjoy eating and like their beer (well known all over the world!). They are very hardworking people.
  

Child Care Practices

• Physical discipline is not common in Belgium.
• Applicants obtain childcare experience through formal schooling and babysitting.
• Both parents share the childcare responsibilities.
• It is common for both parents to work and be away from home during the day.

Driving Skills

• The minimum driving age is 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 Belgium include:
  • Theoretical written test
  • Driving Lessons - 10-30 hours
  • Practical test
  • Paying Fees
• The International driving permit is available and is issued for one year.
• Applicants typically take formal driving lessons and practice driving using their parents’ car.
• Most applicants would rather buy a car and live with their parents than purchase a home.
• Most cars have manual transmissions; very expensive cars are automatic.
  

English Language Skills

• English is compulsory in secondary school and occur three or four hours per week.
• Classes focus on written skills, grammar and vocabulary.
  

Education

• Approximately 50% of young women continue their studies at university.
• Those who do not attend university work or study abroad.
• The academic year in Belgium starts in October and ends in July.
• The educational opportunities of the Au Pair in America program are attractive to Belgian applicants.
  

Health

• The most common inoculations are diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis B.
• Most young women are not inoculated and tested for TB (tuberculosis).
• Belgium does not have 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 Belgium eat meat.
• Vegetarianism is not common.
• A typical Belgian diet includes a lot of dairy products, fruits and vegetables, breads, and meat. Belgium is also know world-wide for its beer.

Religion

• The most common religion in Belgium is Catholicism.
• Most young people in Belgium 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.
  

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