12 years ago, I met a man named Mervin. He came from a tiny island, hidden away in the Indian Ocean, 6,000 miles from the world I knew, a tropical paradise that most people put on a list of "Places to visit if I win the lottery." I never imagined that one university degree and 10 years in Paris later, I would be married to this man and living on his island.
The vast majority of tourists in Mauritius spend their entire holiday in a luxury beachfront hotel, and never experience the "real" Mauritius; the fascinating mix of cultures, traditions and languages, colourful markets, beautiful scenery and the hospitality of the locals. Of course every silver lining has a cloud, in this case, the endless struggle to obtain a residence permit, the terrifying drivers and the myriad insects and animals which all seem determined to share our house, to name but a few.
Hopefully my blog will provide an interesting, informative and sometimes humorous snapshot of my island life.
