Moving to Mauritius Through the Eyes of a Teenager

Westimmo: Hello. Before we start this interview about moving to Mauritius, can you tell us a little about yourself?

Gabin: Hello, my name is Gabin and I am 16.

I am French, and I arrived in Mauritius a month ago. It is not the first time I have gone to live abroad — because of my parents’ work I have had that opportunity several times. We came to Mauritius because my father was posted here. Arriving was a bit complicated for me, but I like it here. People are very kind and it is very easy to fit in.

MOVING TO MAURITIUS

— Had you heard of Mauritius before you came to live here?

Of course I had heard of Mauritius before coming to live here. My parents had even been here on holiday.

— Was fitting in at school not too difficult?

No, fitting in really is not difficult, people come to you. I already knew people from my school before term even started.

— Really? And how had you met them?

In quarantine. At the hotel I met a group of friends from my school, and that let me settle in before the start of term.

— What was the hardest thing for you when you arrived in Mauritius?

The hardest? I would say the time difference with France — Mauritius is two hours ahead. Adjusting was hell. Always tired, sleeping less, or the opposite, but either way it is exhausting.

— Do you miss France?

No, I do not particularly miss France. Everything you can find in France you have here. In Mauritius you even have everything close by — in the south-west, for example, you have the sea on one side and the mountains on the other. It is just brilliant.

— From your point of view, could Mauritius be improved?

Mauritius is a beautiful country, but as in every country there are darker sides.

I find it sad that a lot of natural spots, like beaches and forests, are dirty. People throw their rubbish away without thinking about preserving this paradise island. If I could speak to all those people, I would say: you live on a small paradise island, look after it!

— Do you speak other languages? If not, is it hard to communicate with people in Mauritius?

I understand English, even if expressing myself is harder.

But no, it is not a problem for me. On the contrary, living in Mauritius also lets me improve my English. And maybe even learn Creole!

— What is the most shocking thing for you in Mauritius?

What shocked me most in Mauritius is the number of stray dogs — they are everywhere. The most shocking part is the lack of help given to them. There are more and more campaigns to help these dogs, but it is not enough.

— Are prices higher or lower in Mauritius than in France?

In Mauritius the price of the weekly shop, for example, is much higher than in France. That said, there are student prices — for me, being at school, I can get cheaper prices in some shops.

— How do you find the quality of life in Mauritius?

I am very surprised. I did not think Mauritius had such a good quality of life. Of course there are still big social differences: there are extremely wealthy people and very poor people.

Westimmo is not simply an estate agency but, first and foremost, your guide in Mauritius. For some of you, moving abroad is a family matter. And when we move as a family we ask ourselves even more questions — the very first being: how will my children live this new adventure? Here is one teenager’s account.

Your departure will inevitably call for further information. To give yourself every chance, get in touch with us.

A PASSION FOR TRAVEL

— Have you travelled a lot?

I have been enormously lucky to have visited different countries — five in all, counting the ones I went to on holiday. I have already gone to live abroad twice. The first time, my parents’ work took us to Jordan, an unforgettable experience. I met lots of new people and learned about new cultures. I visited one of the seven wonders of the world, Petra, an ancient city created in the eighth century by the Edomites. Here is a photo of Petra.

I also lived in Réunion for four years. It was a very good experience. I do not remember it that well, I was still small, but I have very good memories of that island.

One country, one discovery

— Which country was your favourite?

I do not really have a favourite. Every country has its qualities and its faults, its history, its culture, its religion. What I like about Mauritius, in fact, is the mix of all that. You find Indian, Mauritian, Chinese and European culture. That is another aspect of Mauritius worth highlighting — it is not common.

I like discovering new cultures, and every one of these adventures will stay unforgettable.

In conclusion

“Being an expatriate is a stroke of luck. It can give you a great deal: discovering a new country, meeting new people, learning to speak another language. Changing country is also a test — you have to move, lose your home, your friends and your habits. But in the end you rebuild yourself and you grow. It gives you a view of the world that others do not necessarily have, and friends all over it.” — Gabin