The Brazilian culture is one of the world’s most varied and diverse. Being such a big country, there are cultural differences among various regions of the country. Brazil has many Portuguese influences resulting from the colonial time: most importantly its language, architecture, most of its customs, and catholic religion. Brazilians are considered rather affectionate, warm, and tactile people. 

Most Brazilians grow up with music and sports (predominantly soccer). Brazilians take pride in living a happy life and social norms do not consider punctuality as important as some other countries do. Clear communication is important so we recommend you to give clear guidance to your Brazilian au pair.

Family is one of the most important values for Brazilians. Families are usually large, and extended family members are usually close with one another. They regularly meet for family gatherings and meals. Family members are there to support each other in times of need (if going through a hard time, or just helping with child care).

It is very common for young people to live with their parents for a long time. As most universities do not provide dormitories, college students often live at home and commute, sometimes even after graduation too.

Access to post-secondary education remains a challenge, especially for people from lower economic classes. High school students must pass entrance exams to access universities. Those who can afford to attend private schools for their secondary education tend to score higher in their exams; if they don't, they may choose to continue their studies in private universities.

Most Brazilian au pairs will have gained child care experience through caring for their siblings, cousins, nephews & nieces, or neighbor’s children. Growing up with children and having them around is a big part of their lives so you can expect to Brazilian au pair to quickly warm up to your child(ren).

Obtaining a driver’s license can be difficult and is quite costly in Brazil; it costs more than a monthly minimum wage. In addition there are long wait times for driving lessons and exams. We encourage you to discuss your driving needs with au pairs during the interview process.

Learning English in schools is more and more common, although not mandatory in Brazil. Some of those interested in learning the language often attend private schools or take private classes and therefore English fluency can vary from one economic class to another.