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Cultural Exchange

Cultural Exchange

What is the Dragon Boat Festival?

The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a vibrant Chinese holiday celebrated annually on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. This festival brims with energy and color, bringing together communities through age-old traditions. It’s a day filled with dragon boat races, delicious food, and cultural festivities that honor both history and family bonds.

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May 27, 2025

Celebrating Cultural Holidays with AuPairCare: A Year-Round Guide

Celebrating cultural and international holidays helps support AuPairCare's mission of providing an enriching cultural exchange experience through live-in childcare.

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October 11, 2024

What is Día de los Muertos?

Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a traditional Mexican holiday celebrated to honor and remember loved ones who have passed away. This unique festivity blends indigenous traditions with Spanish influences. It is primarily observed on November 1st and 2nd, coinciding with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.

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October 10, 2024

What is Diwali?

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is a major Hindu festival celebrated in India and other parts of the world. It is one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar and is usually observed for five days.

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October 10, 2024

Discover the Enriching World of Au Pair Latin America with AuPairCare

Latin au pairs are a fantastic way to expose your children to diverse cultures, a unique heritage, and a popular language (you can’t go wrong with learning more Spanish or Portuguese).

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November 20, 2023

Country and Culture Highlight Page: Thailand

Thailand is a beautiful and inviting country, full of rich culture that set it apart from other countries. If you’re looking for an au pair to help with childcare responsibilities, this country has something special to offer. Thai au pairs will expose your children to a new language and culture, teaching them about people and places different from theirs.

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June 21, 2023

Country and Culture Highlight: South Korea

There are many benefits to hiring Korean au pairs that extend beyond having an extra set of hands to help with childcare. They provide a unique opportunity to introduce a new language and culture to your family. By exposing your children to a rich culture outside of the one they are familiar with, you are expanding their worldview and teaching them how to become more open-minded and accepting of people different from them.

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June 12, 2023

Our Ultimate Guide to Asian Au Pairs

Asian au pairs are a fantastic way to expose your children to rich cultures, heritages, and languages, especially if they have never had the opportunity to leave the United States. Asia is home to many unique places, each one filled with rich cultures, languages, and ways of life.

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May 10, 2023

Carving Out Cultural Connections

This year, au pairs and host families in Ann Arbor, Michigan, gathered for the 4th annual AuPairCare Pumpkin Carving Contest!

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February 13, 2023

Exchanging Cultural Holiday Traditions

For Colombian au pair Lizeth, the winter holidays were a perfect opportunity to share her heritage and traditions with her host family. Read all about how the Lawal family and Lizeth celebrated Dia de Velitas!

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February 9, 2022

Discover Life as an Au Pair in Germany

AuPairCare's sister program also places au pairs in Germany! Live in Germany, travel through Europe, learn a language, and gain international work experience!

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September 15, 2021

Featured Au Pair: Selay from Turkey

Host mom Lauren shares how au pair Selay from Turkey has positively impacted their family forever! She says "Though our family still has new challenges during this pandemic, Selay has exceeded every imaginable expectation and gave us a new normal that brings us so much joy every day,,, together, we went from surviving to thriving".

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June 4, 2021

Featured Au Pair: Tamires from Brazil

For the Mallay family in Texas, their au pair's arrival came at the perfect time. With a new baby on the way and school closures, au pair Tamires from Brazil "brought a level of calm that I'm not sure words can justifiably describe", says her host mom. "Not only is she an ultimate au pair, but also a champion for the entire au pair program in general."

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March 12, 2021

Au Pairs Participate in Getty's "Life Imitates Art" Challenge

In the midst of stay-at-home restrictions, au pairs, host families, and their Area Director took creative measures to connect virtually with members of their community.

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August 19, 2020

Culture Highlight: Celebrating Carnival in Brazil

What is Carnival? Carnival is a festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. It usually takes place in February or March, and it is widely celebrated in countries with a large Catholic population.

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March 1, 2019

Do Koreans Celebrate Thanksgiving?

In the spirit of Thanksgiving in the US, it seems appropriate to talk about how other countries give thanks. Although it occurred in September this year, Chuseok is the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving that spans over 3 days and is an important holiday in Korea.

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November 21, 2018

Au Pair Country & Culture Highlight: Germany

AuPairCare has many au pairs from Germany in our pool. Read more to explore German skills and attributes that may be important to you as a host family.

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April 25, 2018

Au Pair Country & Culture Highlight: Poland

Many young people come from Poland to join host families as an Au Pair. Let's explore the country and its culture!

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July 27, 2017

Spring Festivals Around the World

As a tribute to our diverse au pair pool, we want to share with you some fun and unique spring festivals that take place around the world. One of the best things about the au pair program is the opportunity to learn more about different cultures around the globe.

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May 1, 2017

Sports Around the World!

A great way to learn more about cultures around the world is through their unique customs. In this blog, we're examining sports around the world!

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October 26, 2016

AuPairCare Celebrates J Day Across the Country

On August 1st all around the country AuPairCare staff and program participants got together to celebrate J-Day. Here are three stories from across the United States that sharehow we chose to showcase the J-Day motto: #eatplaygive.

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September 8, 2016

Au Pair Country Culture Highlight Ecuador

AuPairCare welcomes many Ecuadorian au pairs to the U.S. each year. Their warm family-oriented nature can make you feel almost immediately that you've gained another family member. Here are some of the attributes of Ecuadorian au pairs to consider as you search for your au pair.

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August 14, 2016

Back To School Around the World Infographic

Can you believe it's already time to start planning for back to school? In our Infographic 'Back to School Around the World', we take a look at different back to school facts across cultures.

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August 6, 2015

Au Pair Country & Culture Highlight: Czech Republic

Au pairs from the Czech Republic often describe themselves as being flexible and excited about the au pair program. Learn more about Czech au pairs in this edition of AuPairCare's country and culture highlight series.

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June 18, 2015

Au Pair Country & Culture Highlight: China

Chinese young people havestarted embracing the idea of being an au pair over the past few years andthe number of au pairs from the country are expected to continue to grow. China hasa rich and ancient culture, and by welcoming a Chinese au pair into your home you can experience this unique culture first-hand!

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May 18, 2015

Au Pair Country & Culture Highlight: Turkey

Turkey is a fascinating country with a long and rich history. Turkish people are family-oriented, but young people in Turkey also like to socialize on their own. The idea of being an au pair is catching on in Turkey, as young people are excited to practice English and experience American culture, which in turn improves their job potential in Turkey upon their return.

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March 24, 2015

Au Pair Country & Culture Highlight: Italy

Italians see becoming an au pair as a great opportunity to practice their English skills, experience a new culture, and greatly improve their job potential when they return home. This, combined with the strong cultural focus on family leads Italian au pairs to be great additions to your home.

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February 20, 2015

Au Pair Country & Culture Highlight: Mexico

As the most populous Spanish-speaking nation, Mexico is a country rich in culture. Mexico is also the birthplace of mariachi music and home to foods such as barbacoa, mole, tamales, avocados and the ever-important cocoa bean! The strong cultural, economic and demographic ties between the United States and Mexico make Mexican Au Pairs a favorite pick of many host families.

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January 20, 2015

French Au Pair Country & Culture Highlight: France

With a language and culture that is hundreds of years old and full of interesting and fun quirks, France is a fascinating country to experience through your au pair! Learn more about the country where the term "au pair" originated.

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December 15, 2014

Au Pair Country & Culture Highlight: South Africa

Au pairs from South Africa often have a lot of experience with children both in their own families and in schools and daycares. There is a strong focus on improving the education and physical well-being of children, so there are many opportunities for young au pairs to play, interact with, and educate children of all ages.

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November 4, 2014

Au Pair Country and Culture Highlight: Sweden

The au pair year has become a tradition among many young people from Sweden for their gap year before attending university. This Nordic culture offers a wealth of creativity and fun. Let's explore this Scandinavian Nation!

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October 19, 2014

Country & Culture Highlight: Japan

AuPairCare has one of the longest traditions of bringing au pairs from Japan to the U.S., in part because our co-founder, Takeshi Yokota, hails from Japan. Comprised of an archipelago in East Asia, Japan has a family-oriented culture rich with longstanding traditions in theater, literature, and design. Let'™s explore Japanese skills and attributes that may be important to you as a host family.

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September 3, 2014

Au Pair Country & Culture Highlight: Colombia

Many of our au pairs who join American host families hail from Colombia, a South American country rich in culture. Let'™s explore Colombian skills and attributes that may be important to you as a host family!

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June 25, 2014

Au Pair Country & Culture Highlight: Brazil

Many young people come from Brazil to join host families as an au pair. Much like in the U.S., Brazilian culture is a melting pot of cultures, the population is comprised of African, Amerindian, and European influences. They all help make up a rich and diverse national culture that champions family life and fun! Let's explore Brazilian skills and attributes that may be important to you as a host family.

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June 4, 2014

AuPairCare Celebrates J-Day 2018 Across the Country

On August 6th all around the country, AuPairCare and Intrax staff and program participants got together to celebrate J-Day. Here's how AuPairCare participants and staff celebrated the J-Day motto: #eatplaygive.

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