Brazil: Our Feature Country
Brazilian au pairs are a great way to introduce your children to an ethnically diverse and historically rich culture. Shaped largely by the Portuguese (who gave the country its most common religion and language), native Indians, a considerable African population, and other settlers from Europe, a special national culture emerged in Brazil. The outcome involves a high regard for family, fascinating music, lively festivals, rich regional cuisines and fanatic football supporters. Learn more about Brazilian au pairs and how their family oriented culture will enhance your childcare experience. Meet some of our Brazilian au pairs now.
Family Values
Brazilian culture puts a high premium on family values and ties. Families live within close proximity to each other and normally interact weekly, if not daily, with members of close and extended family. As a result, family is the core of social life and is always ready to provide support, guidance and friendship. Traditionally Brazilian families value honesty, organization, and freedom of speech most highly. Brazilian parents are known to be affectionate, tolerant and performance oriented.
Music
Music is not just entertainment in Brazil, it has been called the "soundtrack" of national life. Brazil gave the world samba and bossa nova. Like so much of Brazilian culture, the country's music borrows from its many cultural influences.
Festivals
Most secular celebrations in Brazil are tied to the liturgical calendar since many originally started as religious celebrations and then became secularized. The most famous festival is Carnival; Brazil's four-day "national party" preceding Ash Wednesday is marked by street parades, samba, music, parties, and elaborate costumes.
Sports
Brazilians are very passionate about soccer and are rated among the best players in the world. Every four years when the world's best teams vie for the World Cup championship, Brazil virtually shuts down as the nation's collective attention turns to the action on the playing field.
Food
The country's cooking style is reflective of the regional differences and diverse peoples that make up its modern population. Beans are found on the table daily in many forms and colors and coconut appears in soups, cocktails, poultry, fish, and shellfish recipes, as well as desserts and sweets. Be sure to ask your au pair his or her favorite regional dish and share experiences over a good home cooked meal that crosses all international boundaries.
Rubia
Rubia is 20 years old and from Maceio. Rubia has over 3,000 hours in childcare experience with children three months to ten years of age! She currently is studying Bio-Medicine at her local University and in her free time works at a Daycare near her home teaching children the English language.
Rubia has training in first aid, lifesaving and swimming! According to Rubia, "I love children. I am patient, kind ... and I would really like to become a part of your family!"
She loves to sing songs, play games, write poems, take pictures and play all kinds of sports with the children she cares for!
Carolina
Carolina is 22 years old and from Sao Paulo. She has had over 1,300 hours of childcare experience with children one year and older! Carolina has also volunteered at a local recreation facility with children between the ages of 7 to 10 years. She is currently working as a Nanny with a young toddler whom she's been caring for the past year, and has seen grow up before her very eyes!
"Working with children is incredible ... it sometimes seems I learn more from them then they do from me. Each day they enchant me in a different way."
Carolina loves to spend time with her family, read books, take photos and dine out with her friends! She is also trilingual in Portuguese, Spanish and English!
Juliana
Juliana is 20 years old and from Fortaleza. She has over 700 hours of childcare experience! For the past seven years Juliana has been volunteering at her church every weekend caring for children from infancy until twelve years of age. She was one of the first to start her volunteer group called "Future Generation", which now has 200 volunteers servicing over 400 children!
Juliana is currently studying Physical Education at the State University of Ceara. She has also begun to develop a new volunteer group to target the underprivaledged children in her native Brazil. According to Juliana, "Some children in the program have poor health and need special care, but more than medicine they need love and attention."
Juliana love to not only work in the community, but to read books, go hiking, listen to music and travel!
Karolina
Karolina is 20 years old and from Barra Mansa. She has had over 7,000 hours in childcare experience, and has worked as a teaching assistant in a daycare facility with children ranging in age from 3 to 8 years of age! Karolina has just finished an advanced level of an English language course called Wizard, and has aspiring dreams of becoming an English teacher in her native Brazil!
"I want to become an au pair because for me it is an opportunity to live in the United States, to improve my English, and to know a different culture while doing something I really love: being with children."
Karolina loves to play all kinds of sports! She especially loves karate/judo, volleyball, bicycling and dancing!
Camila
Camila is 19 years old and from Salvador. She is currently in her first year of college and studying to be a lawyer. She has spent many hours volunteering at a cancer facility with poor and under privileged children. As a direct response to this experience, Camila now feels inspired to work with children on a more permanent level.
She was drawn by the AuPairCare program not only so she would have the opportunity to look after children of another culture but also so she can learn from and "live with a family with different customs" while improving her English. Camila also loves to read, go to concerts, listen to music, go out to eat and travel. "I really like new experiences and challenges, so I would be a great au pair!"
Flavia
Flavia is 24 years old and from Rio de Janeiro. She has looked after children for over ten years and immediately fell in love with the AuPairCare program; "when I play with kids, I feel like a child again."
Flavia has volunteered at her local Christian Protestant Church nursery, caring for small infants for over 300 hours and has taken classes to educate herself in the best way to care for newborns. Flavia also volunteers at a special needs school twice a week as she feels that "they are an example for life".
She enjoys dancing, biking, gymnastics, cooking and playing with animals. According to her colleague at the nursery, "Flavia has an inside joy that captivates people around her."
Erica
Erica is 26 years old and from Franca. She has been a nanny for over eight years and currently works as part of a company that entertains children at birthday parties with activities such as face painting, singing, acting and games.
Erica has over 2,700 hours of experience with children from 3 months to 2 years of age. She also has extensive experience with first aid, CPR and as a life guard. She loves dancing, cooking, sports, camping and of course travel! "I love children and I have the experience needed to be an au pair in the US and I will help care for your children with love and care."
Gleysa
Gleysa is 22 years old and from Foraleza. Straight after completing high school, she taught children from ages 4 to 14 a range of subjects including math, English, Portuguese, science and geography. She also has experience working and playing with infants and young children in a nursery. Gleysa is currently studying architecture at college.
Gleysa is very close to her family and likes to have long discussions with them. She enjoys spending her free time gardening, riding horses, drawing, and having fun with her friends and family. She feels that "being an au pair will be a great experience for my whole life: learning new cultures, meeting new people from the world, and it will help me grow as a person."
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