Finnish au pairs describe culture shock in Morocco in new Yle reality series

Two young women from Vaasa, western Finland, have recounted their experiences as au pairs in Marrakech, where they faced stark cultural differences, from restrictive social norms to chaotic traffic, in the latest season of Yle’s long-running reality series Au Pairs, which premiered Wednesday.

Sabina Vehkamäki, 21, a business student, described her initial reaction to Morocco as “a shock,” telling Yle that daily life in the North African city was unlike anything she had expected. “The culture is so different from what I’m used to in Finland,” she said, though she gradually adjusted to the rhythms of her host family—a household that included three children and a father who had spent eight years in Saudi Arabia.

Rebecca Vesiluoma, 19, on a gap year, said she was initially forbidden from going out alone in Marrakech, a restriction that forced her to negotiate with her host family. “It made me think about what it’s like to live as a Moroccan woman,” she said. While Islamic dress codes meant covering shoulders and knees, Vesiluoma adapted her wardrobe out of respect for local customs, describing how she developed a personal “Morocco style” influenced by the women around her.

Both women struggled with the lack of structure in their roles. Vehkamäki said her host family’s hospitality often left her feeling more like “a pampered Nordic princess” than a working au pair. “I had to take the initiative myself,” she admitted. Vesiluoma, whose extended host family included multiple generations and a steady stream of visitors, found that tasks like childcare and household chores were rarely assigned outright. “At first, I was just a guest,” she said, but eventually, she was invited to participate in daily routines, from laundry to cooking traditional meals.

Beyond the home, the women described Marrakech as a city of overwhelming sensory contrasts—crowded with donkeys, mopeds, and cars navigating nonexistent traffic rules. “The rule was that there were no rules,” Vehkamäki said. Social interactions also differed sharply from Finland’s reserved norms. “People are constantly on the phone, stopping to chat with strangers in the street,” she noted, adding that the Moroccan approach to socializing had made her more outgoing.

The 13th season of Au Pairs, produced by Mediawan Finland for Yle, follows four Finns as they live with host families in Marrakech for two months. Series producer Suvi Valkonen attributed the show’s enduring popularity to its authentic portrayal of young adults navigating independence. “For many, this is their first time leaving home or experiencing something completely new,” she said, citing themes like loneliness, friendships, and cultural adaptation as key to its appeal among young viewers.

The program, which has previously filmed in destinations including Thailand, South Africa, Australia, Miami, and London, airs on Yle TV2 and is available in full on Yle Areena.