Brazilian APs

[Anonymous]

We would have liked a Brazilian au pair this time around, but couldn't find one who was ok with our situation - small house, shared bathroom, no housekeeper. We interviewed three that we really liked and all were very put off by not having their own bathroom and all three asked if we had a housekeeper and started distancing themselves after we said no. We have interviewed probably 25 other candidates over the three years we've had au pairs and literally no one else was put off by these things to the degree the Brazilians were. I have no idea if we just got the three Brazilians who expected to be matched with a family with a large house, separate AP suite, and a housekeeper, but it was very odd.

[Anonymous]

The Brasilian is more hot ....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We would have liked a Brazilian au pair this time around, but couldn't find one who was ok with our situation - small house, shared bathroom, no housekeeper. We interviewed three that we really liked and all were very put off by not having their own bathroom and all three asked if we had a housekeeper and started distancing themselves after we said no. We have interviewed probably 25 other candidates over the three years we've had au pairs and literally no one else was put off by these things to the degree the Brazilians were. I have no idea if we just got the three Brazilians who expected to be matched with a family with a large house, separate AP suite, and a housekeeper, but it was very odd.

I would chalk it up to the fact that there is a big Brazilian network of APs and they know what to look for in a family and questions to ask. They hear the horror stories.

The housekeeper issue is odd though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We would have liked a Brazilian au pair this time around, but couldn't find one who was ok with our situation - small house, shared bathroom, no housekeeper. We interviewed three that we really liked and all were very put off by not having their own bathroom and all three asked if we had a housekeeper and started distancing themselves after we said no. We have interviewed probably 25 other candidates over the three years we've had au pairs and literally no one else was put off by these things to the degree the Brazilians were. I have no idea if we just got the three Brazilians who expected to be matched with a family with a large house, separate AP suite, and a housekeeper, but it was very odd.

I would chalk it up to the fact that there is a big Brazilian network of APs and they know what to look for in a family and questions to ask. They hear the horror stories.

The housekeeper issue is odd though.

I don't know, some insanely high percentage of au pairs are German and none of our Germans had an issue with not having their own bathroom or a housekeeper. And before I get attacked - our au pairs have no housekeeping duties, like not even children's laundry which seems to be very common, and we make that clear. So it's not like they think they'll be picking up the housekeeper's slack.

[Anonymous]

no but the vast majority of middle class and up Brazilian families have domestic help, including daily housekeeper and don't have to keep even their own room clean or do their own laundry. She's looking to maintain her current standard of living at your expense.

This is not the case in Germany. They are culturally much more like Americans (car culture, self reliant, kids do their own wash) in the middle class.

[Anonymous]

We have a Brazilian au pair now and can't get rid of her fast enough - has not bonded with our children, can't drive a lick, lies at the drop of a hat, and self-absorbed. Because of her, we have decided to go with an American nanny. FWIW, I fully agree with a pp, it's not the country that determines how good the au pair is, it's the individual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:no but the vast majority of middle class and up Brazilian families have domestic help, including daily housekeeper and don't have to keep even their own room clean or do their own laundry. She's looking to maintain her current standard of living at your expense.

This is not the case in Germany. They are culturally much more like Americans (car culture, self reliant, kids do their own wash) in the middle class.

Re Brazilians having domestic help. Not true. Period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:no but the vast majority of middle class and up Brazilian families have domestic help, including daily housekeeper and don't have to keep even their own room clean or do their own laundry. She's looking to maintain her current standard of living at your expense.

This is not the case in Germany. They are culturally much more like Americans (car culture, self reliant, kids do their own wash) in the middle class.

To each her own. The German APs I have experienced have been very cold and have no previous experience and therefore no concept of what it takes to care of young kids.

And they are young. Too young for me.

[Anonymous]

What about experiences with Spanish or Italian au pairs? Any opinions?

[Anonymous]

Quick note about domestic help in South American counties, it is far cheaper employing a housekeeper and many people have them who may not be considered rich.
But, that being said that doesn't necessarily make an AP an entitled brat.