As time passed and we became more familiar with our surroundings, it didn’t feel that way anymore. A lot of people did not recognize our accents, and questioned where we are from since the English-speaking tourists they usually encounter are from Europe, South Africa, and Australia. Americans are very rare on this island, so we were a bit interesting to some people.
One thing that is noteworthy about Mauritius is that it is much poorer than the United States, even though it is one of the wealthiest regions of Africa. I sometimes wonder what it must be like to grow up in a country like this, without having ever worried about what brand your clothing was, or having ragged pieces of metal as your fence around your home. Children have much more freedom here than they do in the United States. It is not uncommon to see young children walking up the street to a store by themeslves.
Many things are different here, from the very crowded grocery stores to the blazing hot sun. But over time, you stop noticing the differences and blend into the culture. We had a big period of transition when we first arrived here, but at this point we feel Mauritian ourselves. We’ve gained a sense of love and pride for this island.
It is good to travel the world, see many cultures, and learn as much as you can. Staying home all of our lives makes us feel that there is an "us" and a "them". It is a great feeling when you begin to see the world as one giant place where we are all growing up, going to school, talking to our friends, and trying to follow our dreams. We see that we’re not all that different after all.
