cmbb_hdhunt
Introduction
I am a business professional servicing the resources sector. I lived in Mauritius for nearly a year but travelling between Mauritius and Johannesburg made it tough to stay in Mauritius permanently. I made many good friends while I was on the Island and look forward to getting in touch again. I was very fortunate to meet many locals and expats. I gained a wealth of experience exploring the country. There are many places, restaurants and socialising opportunities. You just have to get out there. Prior to Mauritius I lived in the UK and spent some time in Canada too. I travelled extensively while in Europe. Prior to living in the UK I grew-up and lived in South Africa. I guess you could say I have come full circle...
I joined expat.com on 11 August 2010.
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cmbb_hdhuntposted on the thread Working in Rosebank and living in Dainfern Valley
Pictures by cmbb_hdhunt
Expat experience
I moved to the UK from South Africa nearly 10-years ago.
I liked the way everything seemed to work and there were many systems for getting things done. The government seems to work, people tend to look equal and are equal, legal systems work, etc.
All of these systems are ways to keep 30% of the work force in the public service. That is a huge burden on tax payers. Tax payers also pay for people who do not work and while the social welfare system is admirable in its design it sometimes benefits people who could be working but just won't. The legal system too is a bit soft on people whose views and actions impact on the general safety and security of the law abiding citizen. Not everything, or every system, is perfect.
This is my home country, the place of my birth. What is comforting to see is that more and more middle class people are integrating and this is where economic growth is incubated. These are all people with similar jobs, mortgage issues, children concerns and worries about the future. This is where people of all colours and creeds are most likely to meet and get to know each other, their differences, etc. We are not that different.
Since being away for 10-12 years reverse discrimination has not improved and many sectors of society are highly divided. The elite still get rich at the expense of the poor, now it is just not a racial excuse that can be used anymore. What is comforting to see is that more and more middle class people are integrating and this is where economic growth is incubated. These are all people with similar jobs, mortgage issues, children concerns and worries about the future. This is where people of all colours and creeds are most likely to meet and get to know each other, their differences, etc. We are not that different. What will be interesting to monitor is the the real and present future - in 2012 the first children born into a democracy become of legal age, 18. For the first time these children will possibly be entering the work force, a truly equal opportunity arena for them. This sector of society will not benefit from Black Economic Empowerment, or Affirmative Action. There will be no view of being previously disadvantaged either. The government for the last 2 decades has been the same ruling party who have not seen fit to empower the new generation, how could they? They did not empower the disadvantaged generation either and some social ills are still insurmountable for the majority of South Africans. I had hoped to see more change. Oh well, in Africa we can hope and pray for a better outcome but we generally are pragmatic and know some of us will not be better off for having the vote, or ability to self -determine.
I grew up in South Africa and worked for -10 years in Johannesburg and Durban.
Great people, very temperate weather, brilliant wildlife, wonderfully colourful local culture and great outdoor lifestyle. You only have to visit Africa once to know there is something special about the whole continent. I can't explain it but it may be a smell, a dark history going back millennia or the cradle of humankind?
Many say security issues but I found reverse discrimination to be the reason for my emigration to the UK.
I am very interested in moving to another expatriate location at some stage. I must say, even though I wanted to improve my French, it did not happen but my French is no longer non-existent... I believe I have made a good network of friends, some of them life long friends. What a great experience expating has been. I enjoyed seeing the island, being outdoors, on the beach, at social events etc. I was a bit adventurous and circumnavigated the island once or twice.
I liked the people, friendly and hospitable. Most expats seemed to be 'chilled' too. Bar one or two silly incidents my stay was uneventful. Go to the island with an open mind and be aware that 'the image of paradise' is a thin facade and the country has many similar ills to elsewhere in the developing world. The country folk are keen to embrace change and some areas are seeing dramatic improvement. Industry is moving away from agriculture and into high-tech industries but the education system will need a little period of time to catch-up. The young are very keen on their future, which cannot be said for the young in some other locales in Africa.
The 'Island' can become quite small and it gets to be that many expats will know one another. As with many small places your movements become noticed and people talk, which can feel a bit intrusive. Mauritius has some social ills, which are becoming ever more prevalent and which the government seems unable to bring to task. The country has specific problems with alcohol and resultant spousal abuse. The excuse often given is unemployment but I believe the issues lies closer to the mentality of certain elements of society and the unwillingness to embrace new thinking. Drug usage, especially hard drugs, is on the rise and if not curbed Mauritius will have a long-term problem for which there are little resources to control or curb. Nightclubs should be no-go areas since the the chemicals are openly 'pushed' in many clubs. Another prevalent issue is the stray dog population which is massive, some people estimate well over 200,000 animals and there seems no interest to curb this issue either by neutering or culling. Some NGO's have offered free neutering programs but religious views have resulted in programs being poorly visited. Driving habits are some the worst I have ever encountered, even in Asia! I must say that driving in Mauritius takes a special form of patience and a good deal of luck. For those adventurous drivers out there it is sometimes likened to an online adventure game become reality. The decisions of some drivers beggars belief!
