The Venezuelan culture is what one may think as a typical Southern American culture. Venezuelans are very flexible on the concept of punctuality and, for example, it is not expected or acceptable to show up on time to a dinner invitation. When an on-the-dot arrival is expected, Venezuelans use the expression hora británica (“British time”).

Venezuelan couples have on average 2 to 3 children. Family is at the center of a Venezuelan’s life. The concept of family goes beyond the nuclear family and extends to relatives (grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins). You can expect your au pair to look forward to bonding with your family and being a part of it. It is very common to work on or two jobs and study at the same time. For financial reasons, Venezuelans usually continue to live at home through their education, and sometimes after completing their education too.

More often than not, relatives live very close, sometimes on the same block. It is likely that your Venezuelan au pair will have gained a lot of child care experience through caring for young relatives (nieces and nephews, cousins) in the family.

The minimum driving age in Venezuela is 18 years old. Driving in Venezuela may be a bit chaotic and rules and signs are not always respected. Your Venezuelan au pair may find it easier to adapt to driving in the United States. We recommend that you discuss your driving needs with your au pair during the interviewing process.

Basic English is taught grade 1 through 9, and is compulsory in grade 9 to 11 for students who choose the path of Humanities (as opposed to Sciences). In post-secondary education, English is usually taught mainly to understand texts. Your Venezuelan au pair is likely to understand English better when communicated in written rather than orally. It can be a good idea to write down your au pair’s tasks and schedule, especially in the early stages!