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Mauritius
March 1 - March 4, 2008
March 1, 2008
Welcome to Mauritius!!I have never heard of this country before, until I decided that I was going to take part in semester at sea.For those of you who don't know, Mauritius is a country (or island) that is sort of part of Africa and can be located in the Indian Ocean outside of Africa, right next to Madagascar.It is a beautiful country, very laid back and very diverse as well.Mauritius is actually majority from Indian decent, with some of the next population being from France.They practice Hinduism and really partake in their religion, which I will explain more later.Mauritius used the currency of a rupee and $1.00 gets me R28 (rupees).Not too bad, as things are similar priced as to the things we buy in the states.
As usual today, I got up early to watch the sunrise and us pulling into port.Sunrise and port arrival was a tad bit later for this country as we did leave late from South Africa.At 7am, hundreds of students and I were outside welcoming another country to our experience.We pulled into our port as we saw the luscious green mountains appear and our welcoming dancers at the port entrance.As customs came on board the ship and got our paper work cleared a diplomat came on board to welcome us, a standard procedure for each arrival.At 9AM, it was time to leave the ship and get ready for a great experience.
Today I was trip leader for 30 students to head to the Adventure Park and Beach trip.I had no idea on what to expect from this trip, but let me tell you it lived up to all of my expectations.Our drive was about 90 minutes through the mountains and up and down the most curviest roads I have seen, even worse than my driving in the mountains of North Carolina (sorry Boone).On top of that the roads here are not that wide and there are not many roads as you can make it from north and south and east and west on the island in 90 minutes.As the bus was driving, I totally thought we were going to hit the oncoming cars or fall off the mountain.But we made it to the park in one piece and were ready for our trip to begin.
So for the next 4 hours the students and I were going through a serious of high ropes activities.It was great.I really got a chance to get my students better and build a good team with them, and in a different country.We went through many elements, but the best part was we were doing this in one of Mauritius limited forests and jungles.The forests in the areas have not been surviving well and this is one of the few places remaining.We walked through bridges suspended in the air while being harnessed to wires, walked through planks of wood while trying to catch onto the next, were able to cargo net through different obstacles and yet the best was ZIP lining through the forest.. which you can see me on video doing this on the site.This was a great experience and I had so much fun.At the end I was so exhausted, bruised and bitten by so many bugs.Good things malaria does not exist here, but that is okay, I begin my medication this week to prepare for India.
After our adventure on the elements, we got our lunch, which was curry chicken and rice and beans, which was fabulous.I love tasting and eating the food in these countries and experimenting with them.Once our lunch was completed, we headed over to the beach for some time to relax for a while.
We went to Flic and Flop beach, which is one of their famous beaches on the island.On our arrival, we met up with hundreds of other semester at sea students who were already at the beach. Mind you, the students use this port visit as their spring break and let me tell you, they were partying it up.The locals were not too happy as they did not want to be around us.The beach water was crystal blue and so warm.As you walked into the water you could see and FEEL the hard coral and rocks on the sea floor and watch the small fish swim around us.It was great.The Indian Ocean is pretty SWEET and I cannot believe I was actually swimming in the Indian Ocean!! Very salty and very warm and very fun.
Our time was up at the beach and it was now time to head back to the ship… so sad.On our drive back to the ship we ran into some traffic.As you see, we are here at a awesome time, as the locals are getting ready for a big holiday and celebration.They are on a pilgrimage to the local lake to pay tribute to their god Shiva.So what they do is make huge alter looking temples and carry them in groups of 10 - 30 people and walk for 4 days through the towns in the middle of the roads until they reach the lake where they will stay for a few days and pray!!I cannot believe that I was seeing this, something that not all Americans can say they see or even heard of!!It was great to see how invested and in tune they were with their religion to be dedicated to this pilgrimage for this long of time and how intense it is on them.
For dinner tonight a few of us went to an authentic Indian Restaurant, as much of the country is from an Indian decent.The food was to die for.I don't remember what exactly I ordered, but it was a chicken meal with a tomato and onion sauce, and I mean it was GREAT.So tasty, so elegant, so good.We had our rice, the nano (I think, which is like our flat bread) and enjoyed our meal.The price was great as well.We spent R3,000 which is only $100 for 4 people and had everything you can think of us.So after a $25 bill and being able to eat this food it was such a treat.I believe there is a picture of my meal on my blog site as well.
For the first day, it was great.I had a lot of fun, enjoyed being with the students and eating the food.Walking around and seeing the island was just amazing as well.It is interesting to see the similarities that everyone here has with us as well.From the things they like to do, to the shopping to the fun times they like to have.
March 2, 2008
Day two!!Off to an early start again.Today we were going to a private island to enjoy some beach, snorkeling and fun!!After a 45 minute ride to our boat, we headed to our private island for the next 8 hours and let me tell you I was I paradise.We brought 45 students with us and they enjoyed this trip like it was nothing else.When we arrived at the island we were greeted with a bottle of champagne and were welcomed by the staff.After our welcome we learned that the entire area was ours to do what we wanted to do.They had an open bar (remember our students are allowed to drink and we are as well with them), snorkeling, great beaches, a glass bottom boat, and all of the awesome food you could think of for lunch.
I started off today with some swimming in the ocean again and looking at the great coral reef and fish in the area.The water was so warm and amazing!How relaxing today, to get away and be on a deserted island to do what I wanted to do!!I could not ask for anything more.After swimming around for a while we went snorkeling in the area and had a great glimpse of the water life, and then got ready for some great lunch.You would never believe how they did this BBQ!!We had fish and plenty of it.I had shrimp, lobster, marlin, tuna and some other fish that was still looking like a fish!!No lie.. take a look at the picture.I ripped that fish open and ate it, and it was great.The odd thing was the fish was looking at me and still had it eyes and teeth all in tack.. it was the entire fish just grilled to perfection.You could not have asked for anything better than that type of lunch!!On top of the free wine and rum we were drinking… and then yet, dessert came out.We had banana fosters and tons of local fruit, which was to die for!!
After lunch we went for a swim back in the ocean and just relaxed next to the fish and coral reef and talked about our trip and things.Today I hung out with a lot of the students to get to know them better!!A few of them are from NJ and it is cool to have a great commonality with others on the ship.During the afternoon, I continued to taste the local rum they had at the bar.They make their own rum here and had many choices, from orange, to apple, to lemon to pineapple flavored rum!! It was strong, but yet very tasty!!The sad news today was the time to leave the island.It was just such a great day to be out in the sun relaxing with the students and yet learning about the coral reef and the marine life that exist in Mauritius!!
For dinner tonight we did not want the food on the ship so we headed back downtown for some food.The students and I went out again for dinner, but this time we wanted American food that we have been craving.. yes, we had Pizza HUT.. sorry, we needed to do it.We had such a great lunch that we did not want to spend money on a good meal since we were still full from lunch.Let me tell you, my body was amazed on how good the pizza tasted!!It was just great to sit back around the locals screaming and yelling on how good the pizza tasted!!You do not know how much you miss some of your favorite foods and things you are so used to in life!!
After dinner, we just headed back to our ship via the water taxi and called it a night.Tonight I am writing my blog from yesterday and today as I get ready for yet another long day in port.I have no idea and concept of the time of day any more the day of the week or anything.I just go with the flow and do what I have to do.
Stay tuned to hear about the service visit I am doing…
March 3, 2008
Today was my laid back day, but probably my most emotional day in seeing what a second to third world country is going through.The morning was just shopping through the tourist Waterfront and then heading downtown to the real streets and market area.I tell you, I think each country, including the United States has markets and sells items on the street for the tourists and for the locals.It was such an experience to be walking in the market watching the locals buy their fruit, meats, fish and other items they needed to eat and live on, just like we do.They had some different things to purchase, but no big deal… one of the differences, but the big similarity is that they go shopping and buy things just like we do… shocking right.. NO!!More commonalities are coming apparent from this experience around the world.Celebrating the major differences, like their religion or beliefs are important and do exist, but they are all just like us as well.Trying to make a living, having fun in life, hanging out with friends and own businesses to keep a living.
This afternoon was the most eye awakening experience for me.Today, about 45 students and myself went to visit a childrens orphanage in Mauritius.This orphanage takes on children who have been neglected or abononed from their birth parents.The facility takes on these children, after reviewing their case and history, and has about 9 of them live in a house with a house mother.At the facility there are 10 different houses, so about 90 children who live in a nice small village.The house mothers have these full time jobs to raise their new 9 children to be educated and successful. The children range from two years old to 18, as once they are 18, it is time for them to go to college and continue on with their new life.The facility was just amazing on how all of the children act like new biological brothers and sisters.Yes, they may not have the houses, the toys, the accessories we have or are used to, but what they do have is important to them and they make do.There was no complaining on what they don't have or what they want, they just are happy to have somewhere to live and be happy and safe.
After we got our tour and introduction to the facility, it was time to visit the houses and meet the mothers and the children, the most amazing experience of my trip so far…. Yeah the fun trips highlight my experience, but what I did this afternoon will be with me for a while.Today, I adopted a new brother… a 5 year old boy named Darren to play with for the next two hours.In the beginning he was pretty shy but the both of us warmed up to each other very fast and had the time of our lives together.Darren did not speak any English, but we were still able to communicate with each other and have fun.We played in the playground on the swings, money bars, merry go round, play soccer and just ran around the playground.Darren had a blast with my camera.I taught him how to use it and he went crazy taking pictures of himself and the other children in the village.He loved looking at the pictures and laughing at the ones he took.Darren has been abandoned many times and this is his new home, so it was fun for him to have someone new to play with and be with for the afternoon.
The hardest part was leaving!!When the school bell went off for them to go back to work on their homework, the tears just started pouring out of his eyes.Darren decided that with his crying and then me picking him up and him hugging me would help the situation as he wanted to come back on the bus with me and the rest of the group.As I started to walk out of the village he would not let go of me and kept on crying and crying and screaming for me and the group to come back.It was very difficult to leave the kids behind.The good thing is that they are being taken care of, they are getting their education and they are being loved by their new mothers and families.Mauritius has done a great job on setting up these villages for these children who need these families.This is not like a foster family, as they do have those, but this village really caters to the other needs of abandoned children.
Take a look at the pictures of the fun the both of us had together this afternoon.He was so much fun to be with and all of us had a great time cheering up the students and giving them some free and fun time this afternoon.It felt really good to be giving back to the country we have visited and learned so much about.They really do need our help if we can give it to them!!
After I returned back to the ship, I just stayed in for the night to relax and take care of a few phone interviews for my job search.They did go very well and I am happy with what occurred with them.I just hope my return to the USA in May is not a deterrence for them not to pursue my candidacy for an interview if they are interested in me.Oh well, I guess I shall see soon.
Well off to bed and off to get ready for yet another trip on my last day in Mauritius!!
March 4, 2008
Last day in port and my last trip for this country.How fast 4 days go when we are having fun.I have no idea the day of the week or the time, as I just go with the flow on how things need to get done.Today I went to visit the volcanoes in Mauritius.They were pretty nice, but we had bad weather today, so our trips got cut short a bit, so much today to talk about, besides visiting more of the island and having yet another great LUNCH!!
We were able to pull out of port tonight 45 minutes early, which is exciting!All of our students were on ship on time and in good condition tonight!No major concerns at the gangway duty, which was good to hear and work for tonight.
Well, we are now off to India, can you believe it, I will be in India in 6 days, how cool is that.The voyage is going great and I cannot still believe that I am here doing this.
I am going to bed, as I am so tired from the past 4 days!!This week is going to be busy as well, but I can't complain living on a ship and traveling the world.
Talk to you soon.
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