Located in Central/Eastern Europe, Romania’s culture has many Polish, German, and French influences. Romanians tend to be reserved and formal at first, until getting to know people. You can expect your Romanian au pair to be very polite and respectful, and to open up to your children once given a chance to bond with them.

Romanian couples usually have one or two children, and large families are not very common. If from the country-side, it is quite common for relatives (usually grandparents) to live in the main household. But when from the city, a family will usually live separately from their relatives. Nevertheless, families ties remain strong and it is a core value of a Romanian’s life.

Romanian au pairs will typically have experience doing private babysitting, caring for a fewer number of children but on a more regular basis or for longer periods of time.

Children tend to leave the parental household rather late, usually after completing post-secondary education or once getting married. The percentage of students pursuing post-secondary education is still quite small but is increasing.

The minimum driving age in Romania is 18 years old. To obtain a driver’s license, one must first pass a written exam and then a practical exam and is more expensive than here in the United States. Most families may not afford to have a car available for their children, and as public transportation is rather good in most Romanian cities, it is the most common mean of transportation for young people. We recommend you discuss your driving needs with your au pair during the interviewing process.

Romanian children have initiation early on to foreign languages, usually English, French, or German. This continues in Grade 4 and later and most students choose English. If they chose another language, students would have the option to add a free choice class of intensive English. As for many other countries, you can expect your Romanian au pair to be more comfortable in writing and reading than speaking and listening. It is a good idea to write down you au pair’s schedule and duties at least in the early stages!