Germany: Our Feature Country
Welcoming a German au pair into your home is an incredible way to introduce your family to a culture rich with tradition and a high regard for family. Germany itself is made up of elegant big cities blending beautiful old architecture and modern developments, small picturesque towns and large stone castles. German people are highly educated and have outstanding English language skills; they are also known to be independent, adaptable and disciplined. The combination of these traits will benefit your children as they come to experience engaging, creative and intellectual activities with their German au pair. Meet some of our German au pairs now.
Family Values
Germans have a great respect for family. Many national festivals revolve around gathering generations of family together and celebrating life. German families enjoy frequent contact, are very loyal and like to observe tradition. German people are known for being open-minded, tolerant and hardworking. They also emphasize individuality and independence, especially among women.
Music
Germany's classical music tradition is one of its greatest sources of pride. This is the country that produced Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, Handel and Wagner, among others. From an early age, children are strongly encouraged to study music after school (frequently with a private tutor) and international students of all ages compete for entrance into Germany's famous music conservatories.
Festivals
German festivals are a lively and energetic experience and frequently revolve around family as well as traditional food and drink. The most well known festival is Oktoberfest which gathers up to 7 million visitors every year to have fun and enjoy splendid German beers and authentic food. Rottweil's Fastnet (most often known as "Carnival") it is a very traditional secular celebration dominated by pagan characters in wooden masks. Germany also has several religious celebrations following the Church calendar and these are held annually in the Catholic parts of Germany.
Cuisine
Best known as a meat-and-potatoes kind of country, German meals are by no means limited to these two staples. A good German breakfast includes a selection of rolls, jam, cheese, cold meats, hard-boiled egg and coffee or tea. Lunch is the main meal of the day and consists of around six to seven courses, starting from an appetizer or "Vorspeise" and finishing with a delicious "Torte" or cake at the end of the meal. Dinner is allegedly a lighter meal, but this can still mean a plate full of sausages and dumplings. German food has become popular world wide. After all who can pass up a great bratwurst with a heaping of sauerkraut at a baseball game!
Sports
The most popular sport in Germany is soccer, or as it is traditionally called "Fussball." Soccer is played at thousands of amateur clubs with more than 6.3 million members throughout the entire country. In 2006 Germany hosted the FIFA Soccer World Cup. Other sports, such as basketball, ice-hockey and tennis are also popular in Germany. American Football and baseball are not typical German sports but are becoming increasingly popular.
Sunseherai
Sunse is 20 years old and from Neckarbischofsheim, Germany. Sunse has over 1,500 hours of childcare experience working as a nanny and pre-school teaching assistant! For the two years Sunse worked as a nanny, kept the children busy with activities such as painting, puzzles, drawing, and cooking. Sunse feels the best way for children to learn is by engaging them in activities.
Sunse is currently applying to different Universities in Germany to study language; she is already fluent in German, Spanish, and English!
Sunse loves to play volleyball, dance with friends, write creative stories, listen to music and sing!
Anne
Anne is 19 years old and from Stelle, Germany. She has over 1,000 hours in childcare experience ranging from infants to teenagers! For the past four years she has also worked as a private English and Mathematics tutor and as a nanny for toddlers and young children.
Anne loves the AuPairCare program because she likes "new experiences in a different country, with different cultures and different people!" She hopes to travel to the United States to provide great childcare for an American family and improve her English skills.
Anne is an avid horseback rider and loves all animals. She also enjoys skiing, hiking and swimming!
Jana
Jana is 18 years old and from Schonderfeld, Germany. She has over 600 hours of childcare experience working with toddlers. Jana has also taken extensive courses in First Aid, lifesaving and child development.
In the coming years, Jana plans to attend college in Germany and to eventually become a teacher. Jana says, "I enjoy being with children and like the honest and lucky nature of kids. I will definitely persue a future profession with children."
Jana loves all kinds of sports, dining out with friends, reading English books and listening to music!
Jennifer
Jennifer is 19 years old and from Horst-Hehenkamp, Germany. Jennifer has acquired over 600 hours of childcare experience working as a nanny and youth hostel camp counselor! Jennifer has also taken courses in child development and behavior which allows her to handle many child-related situations.
Jennifer would like to live in the United States because she wants to travel, meet new friends and gain more childcare experience. "It's a dream of mine to discover America and it would be a great experience to live with your family for a year. I really look forward to meeting your wonderful children and family!"
Jennifer loves to socialize with friends, go on long runs, horseback ride and water-ski!
Sonja
Sonja is 19 years old and from Emsdetten, Germany. She has over 1,500 hours of total childcare experience and, of those, over 600 hundred hours have been spent specifically caring for young infants and toddlers! Sonja has worked as a motivational group leader for young girls at her Catholic parish. She has also worked as an English and German tutor for the last few years.
Sonja is currently applying to various colleges in Germany and would someday like to become a teacher. She is excited to become a part of the AuPairCare program and experience life in the United States while being able to care for young children.
Sonja really enjoys volunteering in her local community, playing badminton and riding bicycles!
Anne
Anne is 19 years old and from Dislanken, Germany. Anne has over 200 hours of childcare experience working as a private Mathematics tutor! Anne also volunteers at a formal dance studio for young girls where she coordinates creative dance routines for the children's performances.
Anne has recently graduated from high school and looks forward to attending University after her year in the U.S. She has dreams of pursuing a Mathematics degree and minoring in English. According to Anne, "spending a year in the U.S.A. will be a great life experience for me and I can't wait to share this exciting time together with you!"
Anne loves all forms of art from dancing to drawing! She also enjoys playing tennis, volleyball and American baseball!
Claudia
Claudia is 19 years old and from Hennef, Germany. She has over 1,400 hours in childcare experience with infants, toddlers and young children! Claudia has been a nanny for the past five years and a personal tutor to pre-teen students for the past two years.
Claudia has dreams of becoming an au pair in the United States because she would like to return to Germany and become an English teacher one day.
Apart from Claudia's love for children, she likes to travel, play soccer, socialize with friends, play the cello, cook and most importantly get to know other people and cultures!
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