Four things to know before moving to Mauritius for studies
Mauritius (a country that has a special place in my heart) is a tropical island situated in the Indian ocean not far from Madagascar, Rodrigues and Reunion. The Island’s people are a mix of Asian, African and European decent. Creole, the common language is derived from the different dialects of early settlers on the island. French is also spoken on the island. However, numerous other languages are spoken such as Hindi, Cantonese, Hakka, Bhojpuri, Gujrati, Arabic, Malagasy and English.
Here are some of the things you should know about Mauritius as a potential international student.
Identity
Identity is very important for Mauritian people. Not only do they take pride in who they are as a nation, but also, they love their religions, ethnicity and race. These factors provide an identity at a personal level for the different groups on the island. Here, someone’s heritage determines a lot of things. Your heritage or rather, what your heritage appears to be, will also determine a lot of things.
Weather
The weather on the island is perfect for sun lovers. It tends to lean more towards the hotter side of tropical climate. It is warm and humid. However, from January to April it is very very hot, temperatures rise above 30 degrees and the air feels suffocating and draining. Venturing outside without sunscreen during this time is a recipe for disaster. A preferable sunscreen would be a matte kind. The one I use is the Nivea shine control I recommend washing one’s face at least three to four times a day as well. Most places have air conditioner though.
Some examples of the cooler places are Moka, Sodnac and Vacoas which are situated in the central region of the island that is higher above sea level than the rest. From May to July, the weather gradually becomes cooler, and then back to hot again.
Transport
The transport system on the island is very effective. There is a bus system that runs across the island as well as a metro system. I personally love the metro system and the bus system is pretty straightforward as well. There is no uber or lyft though, and taxis are rather expensive when travelling long distances. Most foreigners and foreign students rent or buy cars to get around.
The Mauritian vibe
The Mauritian vibe is very chilled and laid back. Popular activities are hiking, running, camping, deep sea diving, going out for lunch or coffee, etc. People go about their business with no need for small talk. It is not a place that would be described as buzzing with life but rather, flowing with life. This is one of the reasons why I love this place. It has got a romantic and dreamy feeling to it. Once you live in Mauritius for about a year, there is no denying that this country’s energy and vibe will flow into you one way or another.
The African Dilemma
Though the island is politically stated as part of Africa, those of us who live here cannot deny that there is a great detachment and alienation from the continent due to the fact that it is an island. Most Mauritians know about Africa through what the media represents.
Regardless, I love this place!
Originally published at http://kerensarahobara.com on November 2, 2020.
