Monday 12 March 2018

50 things about learning about your Mauritian heritage to me:


50 things about learning about your Mauritian heritage to me:

1. The first time staying at your grandparents means to learn that they have shower out side the house in a seperate outdoor bathroom which has the shower...... (bucket/stool/jug).

2. Learning also that the loo is also outside and a porcelain hole and your aunt had to hold you by the shoulders as you refuse to put your feet on the ground while your toes are clinging on to your savat dodo's for dear life.

3. Knowing that Chi Chong hated it when you raided his small sweet shop with all your 10 cousins when you where all under the age of 12, and you all have taken over the floor space of the tabagie.

4. Knowing that no matter what Briyani you eat Indian/Pakistani/ other South Asian what ever.....MAURITIAN BRIYANI IS THE BEST!!!

5. Going to Bagatelle is the place to be on a Friday & Saturday night. (Also the place you are always going to bump into family)

6. Always having to answer "Asian other" on job application forms or any other forms you have to fill in life.

7. Having to explain "other" if you ticked "other" on the form and putting "MAURITIAN".

8. Knowing that everything evolves around tea and gajacks and someone always asking where the satchini at.

10. No matter where you go in the world when you hear someone speak  Mauritian creole you always smirk like your a member of a secret language club as you understand exactly what they are saying and give them the smirk and eyes of acknowledgement.

11. If you don't use "Eyyyyy", "Arrryoooo" "Ehhien?", "Kiiii", "Eppp", daily you aint Mauritian.

12. Parents always say "Ziss" and "Zatt".

13. Form of child discipline was either "Cout Savat", "Rotain bazaar" or just a "Clack dans figure".

14. When your mum is on the Heathrow airport kraft cheese smuggling black list.
15. When you meet a fellow Mauritian first thing asked is "What is your surname"

16. No matter where you go in the world Mauritius has the best beaches / oceans / sunsets and sunrises EVER.

17. Dhall puri gives and is LIFE.

18. Never understanding why Dhall puri is eaten with khir.

20. When you have a cold / cough / or any illness Thermozen is always the remedy.

21. As a child your mum would side combe your hair and douse you in "Bien-รŠtre".

22. Having to greet all people with air kisses - even the ones you don't like.

23. Family can plan a pick nic like a military operation, someone with whip out lights / full bbq / big pot of maccaroni & chairs out of nowhere.

24. All mauritian dads and uncles dance the same sega move.....Regardless what music is actually playing.

25. When Mauritius has 8 Mirinda flavours and one of them being my favourite Vanilla and the UK only has three.... (Vanilla not being one of them).

26. As a child knowing you where going to Mauritius for 6 weeks was your idea of hell (When your school teachers would be envious) only because you knew your mum would drag you around to spend hours sitting in various living rooms for hours, not being able to speak creole and be bored out of your mind because you had no idea whos house your where in and where....So you cant even escape.

27. As an adult you appreciate the fact that your parents took you to all your family as over the years you build a bond/ love / respect and it becomes home from home and teaches you more about your roots and and backround more so. And each time you leave....It gets harder.

28. The first ever sega song you know by heart is "Bhai Aboo".

29. If you have never experienced the mauritian bus life.....You have not lived.
30. Mauritian La foirs have the best knock off D&G shirts, Chanel, Louis print knock off stuff...Not to mention Top Shop Denim, H&M, Next gear also for like 200rs (4quid).

31. When you never revised for your GCSE french because you already know creole and so you dont bother.

32. When you go to France and reply back in creole and people look at you like your crazy.

33. When being called "A pima" I take this as a compliment.

34. When Mauritius has more bank holidays than your annual working holiday year allowance.

35. Why are women reffered as "35?"

36. Knowing you can become a Mauritian citizen within 2 days because your aunt fast tracked your application.

37. When your mum or aunt are on the phone gossiping about people they know..But then you realise they are talking about the people in a Star Plus dramer.

38. Learning the difference between the use of words that sound the same but have different meanings... "Killot / Ki Lot", "Gatรฉ / Gatter"

39. When your hair turns into an afro - The soft water effect.

40. When your being told off by your parents and do it in creole thinking they are being discreet but their facial expressions and tone say otherwise.

41. When you go to a wedding and dont know the other 1000 people there but they all know who you are.

42. Talking to those who have less than you are more kinder, sincere and nicer, always make me humble.

43. Having to explain where Mauritius is.

44. Zassar legum goes with everything.

45. Mauritians are like Rougaile (Tomato sauce) you can put us anywhere with anything and we adapt.

46. The south of the Island has the best beaches, no wifi, no shopping malls but plenty of pineapple fields to run around (owch).

47. Every family member has some sort of strange ghost story (Mainly a women in white by a church or a voice being heard outside the house).

48. Mosquitos love you.

49. No how many times you go back, you are always welcomed with so much love and a sense of belonging.

50. How there is so much movement and vibrancy because of the mixture of race and religions which makes our Island unique.  A tiny Island which has so much history, colour, warmth and heritage....These are some of the things that make me proud to be Mauritian.

Happy 50th Independence day Mauritius!!
#Savatdodo #Kraftcheese #Dhallpuri #mangotree
๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡บ ❤๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š


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