Mauritius Addendum PY 2015 Table of Contents
Mauritius Addendum PY 2015 Table of Contents 1. Program Information a. Staff b. Program History c. Program Summary 2. Country Information a. Weather and Climate b. Food and Drink c. Language d. Culture and Religion e. Potentially Uncomfortable Situations f. Guidelines for Living with a Host Family g. Excursions 3. Preparing for Your Trip a. Finding a Flight b. Passports and Visas c. Health and Safety d. Packing List e. Additional Reading Disclaimer for Addendum Your host village in this program country is somewhere that can benefit from a volunteer English teacher. You should expect to be one of the only LE volunteers in your village (though in some programs, we do send two volunteers to one location). This means that you may not have direct access to an American. It may not be a very well-developed community, and the ease of transportation infrastructures is not the same as you could expect in highfunctioning urban areas. Transportation varies country-to- country and village-to-village (consult the remaining portions of this addendum for info more specific to your host region), and most are connected by public bus routes. The frequency of the bus/train schedule will not be the same as in urban areas, and you should not rely on schedules or purchasing tickets via the Internet. You will need to consult with your host family and PD when arranging transportation. Not all host families own cars or share vehicles with neighbors/relatives. All villages have phones and Internet connections, and many but not all host families have Internet in their homes. For families who have Internet connectivity, it may not be the same level/consistency as in developed, urban area. Volunteers who are very concerned with being in touch all the time should invest in their own cell phones and you can talk to your PD about it. Villages will have access to a medical clinic or hospital in the nearest larger city. Be prepared to live in a place with different social norms that may challenge and fascinate you. As a volunteer you need to be culturally sensitive and your host family may not have the same views as you. You should reach out to your Program Director or Director of Programming if you ever feel uncomfortable. 1. Program Information a. Staff Lissy Hodge, Program Director US Phone: (816) 536-9851 E-Mail: [email protected] Originating from Kansas City, Lissy Hodge is a junior at Wheaton College in Massachusetts studying Elementary Education and Math. She loves teaching and helping children learn and so she was so excited to become part of LE. She volunteered in Mauritius this past summer and had a fabulous time! Not only did she get to do what she loves, but she got to experience a whole new culture and learned so much more about teaching, people in general, and herself. Because of her experience, she wanted to continue to help LE develop and grow. She is so excited to be returning this coming summer as the Program Director and can’t wait to help her volunteers in hopes that they can have the same invaluable learning experience that she had. b. Program History Learning Enterprises first began its work in Mauritius in 1999 when it launched “Let’s Use the Internet Program” (LUTIP). This was different from previous LE projects. Run by Mauritians, the focus was on foreign volunteers teaching the children how to use the Internet. The following year LUTIP grew in size and the Mauritians decided to take full control of the program. Since then, LE has focused on teaching English in Mauritius, where foreign volunteers live with host families and teach in their host villages. c. Program Summary Important Dates The Learning Enterprises Mauritius program runs for approximately 5 weeks, from mid-July to mid- August. The program is slightly shorter than other LE programs due to the fact that we teach during the winter break in Mauritius which last 4 weeks. Estimated dates for 2015 are July 12 to August 17. These dates are estimates because the schools have not decided their exact dates for winter break yet. Once I know these, I will update the trip dates. Estimated timeline: July 1: Lissy arrives in Mauritius July 12: Volunteers arrive in Mauritius July 12: Orientation officially starts July 18: Volunteers move to villages and host families July 20: Volunteers start teaching July 31-August 2: Midpoint Break August 14: Last Day of Teaching August 14-17: Volunteers say goodbye to group, families, and depart Orientation Details Orientation will be held in a tourist beach town called Flic en Flac during the week before teaching begins. To get to and from the airport, either I will plan for a van to come pick us all up at once or volunteers will coordinate to take taxis together from airport to Flic en Flac on other side of island, about a 45-minute drive. During orientation, we will spend our time getting to know each other and the island, planning lessons, learning basic Mauritian Creole, practicing French, and determining strategies to use inside the classroom in order to make our teaching as effective as possible. Midpoint Break Midpoint break falls halfway through our 4 week teaching period. We will most likely meet in Chamarel, a beautiful, rural mountain village that we teach in to discuss teaching and discipline strategies to improve upon our teaching for the second half of our time in Mauritius. Volunteers will arrive in Chamarel Friday night and leave Sunday afternoon. We traditionally hike the tallest mountain in Mauritius on Saturday, Le Piton. Village Information LE Mauritius will teach in four villages for 2015. Each village hosts two or three volunteers, who will be teaching partners in their classes. These villages all situated in the same district on the West coast of the island. From North to South they are: • • • • Albion: A coastal town with around 3,000 residents. This is a fairly suburban area and probably the most affluent village in which we teach. This was a new village in 2011, but numbers were around 20 each day in 2014. Bambous: A small city of about 13,000, the largest and most urban in which LE teaches. In 2014, numbers differed each day, but were always at least 20 students and up to 40 students a day. Like last year, I will have 3 volunteers in Bambous this year because of the large number of students. Flic en Flac: A small local population, but well-known tourist town with a great beach. This town often serves as a meet-up between volunteers. Classes here usually have between 15-25 students. Case Noyale: A small, rural village near both the mountains and the beach with about 20 students. Case Noyale was one of the first villages that LE worked in and we were happy to go back last year and will return again this year. The town is relatively secluded and difficult to travel from. Village Life The villages in which LE operates tend to be moderately developed with limited transportation to other villages and towns. Some villages are rather well-connected with buses coming every several minutes while others have buses coming less than every hour. Not many people drive or have their own cars, so you will have to rely on bus services or hiring a car. Most families live on a rather low income and unemployment rates are high. Schools reflect this socioeconomic situation, leaving villagers with poor education and limited opportunities to get well-paid jobs. Many family members work at hotels and resorts or in the sugar cane business. Families are large, and it is common to find most of the extended family living in the same village or nearby. Students and Teaching Free English classes are advertised for children between ages 8 and 12. However, it is common to get students in your classes who are younger and older than this age group, so be prepared for an age range of about 6-14. The level of English proficiency will vary depending on their year in school. Almost all children will already know the very basics of English (greetings, alphabet, numbers, months, body parts, colors, etc). However, many of the younger students may not and you should be prepared to review this vocabulary. Splitting classes into younger and older students is also advised and expected in some villages depending on number of students, behavior in the classroom, and varying levels of English. Splitting classes has been effective in the past, as it means that less- advanced students do not struggle to keep up or get too frustrated and lessons are more effective for students of all levels. Overall, students do not get adequate exposure to English language in their formal schooling environment. Our goal is to do exactly this through creative and interactive teaching styles. Please bring plenty of teaching resources with you (see packing list). Your school is unlikely to have access to many books, so it is vital that you make that extra effort to bring some English picture books with you. Books are excellent for structuring lessons and provide great stimuli for reading, speaking, and writing. It should be easy to share books and other teaching supplies with your fellow volunteers (especially your teaching partner) so that one person does not have to bring them all. Other supplies that have been used in the past and are also very helpful include teen magazines, flashcards or sticky notes, pictures or illustrations of things you intend to teach, and maps. Important: Mauritian students are required to pass exams throughout their time in school. These exams focus strongly on and are administered entirely in English. They are extremely important to a student’s success and many of your students will be preparing for the first one, called the CPE and taken at the end of primary school around age 11 or 12. Students have two chances to pass the exam, but if they fail both, they are not allowed to continue in secondary school. Volunteers will be getting information about these exams to help discern what students should know by their grade level. You should not base your entire curriculum around these tests, especially since that is generally a boring and uninspiring way to teach which goes against LE’s mission of inspirational teaching. However, the exams are a useful guide if you are having difficulty finding continuity between your lessons. Volunteers in the past have also offered separate lessons with students planning on taking the exam in the near future. Sample Day: • 7:30: Wake up • 9:00: Walk to school, teach until noon, with break during this time, decided upon individually by the volunteer • 12:00: school ends, lunch • 1:00-5:00: Free time with host family, students, or volunteers; volunteers typically spend this time meeting up for an afternoon with other volunteers, relaxing and spending time with host family, or working on service project • 5:00-8:00: Lesson planning and relaxation time • 8:00: Dinner with host family • 10:00: Bed Mandatory Service Project This is the fourth year that the Mauritius program includes a voluntary service project. Each volunteer is required to participate in a service project in his or her community. These are meant to be complementary to the volunteers’ teaching and to involve the volunteer more within his or her host community. The purpose is to lead by serving others while promoting service learning within the community. This is a vital step to learn more about your host community and become a real member of your host village. It is an important way for LE volunteers to reach out and become part of their host village not just their host families. In the past, volunteers have worked at orphanages and nurseries, given music lessons, and tutored students outside of the classroom in English or other subjects. 2. Country Information A. Weather and Climate Mauritius has a beautiful, tropical climate. Summer (November to April) is humid with occasional heavy rain, and temperatures vary from 77-93oF (25-35oC). LE volunteers teach during the Mauritian winter, which falls from May to October. It is significantly cooler, especially inland and after dark. Temperatures in the winter range from 68-77oF (20-25oC). Mauritius experiences heavy rain inland during the winter. Expect a normal day in Mauritius to be hot during the day, cool at night, and have one or two short rainstorms sporadically throughout the day. B. Food and Drink The communities in which LE operates are mainly Creole. This means that the food is wonderful! Typically, Creole dishes are a spicy combination of Indian, Chinese, and French cuisine, and rice is eaten with almost every meal. Typical dishes include deer, beef, fish, chicken, lentils, beans, chou chou, or bredes (green vegetable). You will most likely eat more meat and less vegetables and fruits than you are used to at home. Families are likely to have three large meals a day with little or no eating between meals. You will find delicious homemade snacks and fruit to buy from street vendors. Though the food is usually safe, be warned that it may upset your stomach. If you are vegetarian, it is highly recommended to take a break while in Mauritius. If this is the case, contact Lissy because it will be hard to find a family to host a vegetarian, and food, including meat, is a large part of the culture. Water is potable, and most families and volunteers will drink from the tap. I suggest for the first few days drinking bottled water to allow your body to adjust through the water used in the cooking first. Also, because Mauritius produces sugar cane, rum is widely consumed. Though most families will want to drink with you, this is not true of every host family, and it is acceptable to say no. Families will sometimes pour drinks for you even if you don’t want any, so just sip very slowly to act as if you are drinking without actually doing so, state again that you do not want to drink or that it makes you sick. Host families are very insistent about providing you food and drink because it is their way of making you feel welcome and at home. Please don’t be afraid to refuse if you are full or uncomfortable (with alcohol) but try not to offend your host families with frequent or forceful refusals. C. Language The most commonly spoken language is Creole (also known as Kreyol or Morisyen), officially spoken by about 80% of the population. Creole originated in African slave communities and became of mix of French, Indian, and African languages. Mauritian Creole is another example of the population’s huge cultural mix. Creole has just very recently started being taught in the education system, and it is not a standardized written language yet, though it is getting closer to becoming regulated. All children are also taught French and English, and most adults and some children speak, read, and write French fluently. Approximately 3.5% of the population officially speaks French at home, and French is the language of the media on television and in newspapers. Creole is used informally at home and with friends. Indian communities also speak Bhojpuri, an Indian dialect officially spoken by about 12% of the population. English is the official language of Mauritius but spoken by less than 1% of the population. All official documents are printed in English and government meetings are conducted in English. Proficiency is necessary in school, as government examinations are administered in English. Children must pass a proficiency test in order to be admitted to higher levels of education. This is where Learning Enterprises comes in! That being said, as much as we hope to help improve Mauritians’ English skills, Creole is the cultural glue of all of Mauritius. The easiest way to distinguish a Mauritian from a nonMauritian is to determine whether or not he or she can speak Creole. In order to become fully immersed in the culture, I HIGHLY recommend you all to try to learn some basic Creole and expect you all to use at least the basic greetings for your host families and other Mauritians. Remember that we are guests in their country where they are housing, feeding, and welcoming us with open arms. It is important to be respectful to Mauritians’ culture by using Creole, and at least French as often as possible. Your experience will be much richer if you at least attempt to speak the language, seeing that Mauritians will generally respect and appreciate your attempts and view you more as a member of the family than a visitor. It is suggested that you bring a French dictionary, and I will later send out to volunteers a Mauritian Creole phrase sheet. D. Culture and Religion About 48% of the population is Hindu, 24% Roman Catholic, and 17% Muslim. Various eastern faiths are also practiced. Mauritians are quite religious but also very tolerant of other religions. Your very Catholic or Hindu host family will have close friends who are of the other faiths and will attend ceremonies, like weddings, across different faiths. Culturally, Mauritians are extremely fun, warm, and welcoming and have a very relaxed sense of “island time”. Don’t expect things to happen too quickly in Mauritius. Parties and gettogethers are not meant to happen and be over but to last for several hours, just chatting. Likewise, special dinners will usually be preceded by up to two or three hours of chatting and drinks. Mauritians are also generally much more open than Americans or Europeans. They are not uncomfortable talking about their own or their family members’ past relationships, drinking habits, or physical attributes. Don’t be offended if your host family tells you that your French isn’t great, that you have a pimple on your face or that you’re too fat or skinny. They are simply stating things how they see them, which isn’t deemed inappropriate in Mauritian culture; they are not trying to be mean or insult you. E. Potentially Uncomfortable Situations Discrimination and Racism: Mauritius prides itself on being a “melting pot” of ethnic communities. However, there are still some deep-rooted issues based on ethnic, religious, and especially economic differences. Overall, there is very little visible discrimination or racebased tension in Mauritius, but there is some discrimination against the recent wave of Chinese immigrants to Mauritius. Women’s roles: Although it is becoming more common for women to work in Mauritius, they are still responsible for child rearing and taking care of the home. Also, women get married very early, usually between 20 and 24. There is also much more heckling and catcalling than one would find in the US or Europe. Female volunteers will often also be asked if they have a boyfriend and when they are getting married. This is something that can make female volunteers often feel very uncomfortable, but we should always respect our host communities. Remember that this characteristic of the Mauritian culture, and doesn’t represent the desires of individual host family members. I encourage female volunteers to prove their Mauritian friends wrong by telling them about your studies and displaying your knowledge and independence, rather than getting angry or highly offended by your family. LGBTQ: Homosexuality has just recently become legal in Mauritius, but it is still very socially taboo and generally not talked about. Any type of LGBTQ identification is not accepted and ‘coming out’ does not exist in Mauritius. Cultural Differences of what you can and cannot talk about: Most subjects are acceptable. Wait a few days and use your judgment before talking about any touchy topics like religion and politics. Just be aware that you are living in their culture and you must respect their views even if you do not agree with them. Go with an open mind and be willing to learn about their life and culture and share your own. Be polite and curious! F. Guidelines for Living with a Host Family The host families with which LE works are self-selecting and are excited to have foreign students live with them. They see it as an opportunity to share their beloved culture and island with a foreigner. Many also want to learn about other countries and cultures as well as have a change to improve their own English skills. • Be kind, considerate, and grateful. Your host family will accommodate you as best they can, but remember that you are a guest in their house. • Make an effort to communicate with your host parents and host siblings, even if the language barrier prevents you from having long philosophical conversations. Gestures and facial expressions are universal and usually get the message across. Your host family will greatly appreciate your attempts to understand their culture! • Spend time with your host family. Although they will encourage you to get to know your students as well as your peers in the village, they will also want to get the chance to see you. Don’t use your host family’s house simply as the place where you eat and sleep. • Follow the rules that your host family outlines for you. If they don’t give you any, use common sense and ask. Do not challenge your host parents if they tell you that you cannot stay out past a certain hour or if you should avoid going to a certain bar. Even if you think that something they tell you might be unreasonable, understand that disregarding their advice shows utmost disrespect to them. • Make sure that your host family knows about your plans ahead of time. If you accept another host family’s invitation to dinner at their house or plan to spend the weekend traveling, let your host family know. • If you have serious conflicts with your host family, contact Lissy immediately. Some families will have computers with Internet access and with ability to Skype. Volunteers without Internet access will be able to use Internet cafes. In all cases, the speed of the Internet will vary greatly from what you’re used to. Because they are responsible for you, host families are generally extra- protective, which can be difficult if you have been living on your own. Remember that your families are looking out for your best interests; they are experts on what is and is not safe or appropriate in their country. Mauritians are known for their warmth and hospitality and will most gladly share their culture with you. As previously stated, Mauritians operate on their own, special “Mauritian time,” which is much slower than the pace Americans are used to. Family excursions will take much longer to plan and execute and family meals will always happen later than expected. Remember to just be patient; they have not forgotten to feed you. In the same vein, the relaxed attitude of the Mauritian people can make it difficult to gain official confirmation on host families early in the year. Ideally, I would be able to tell all volunteers about host families and teaching partners before they leave for Mauritius, but, just like last year, host families may be assigned after a volunteer’s arrival in Mauritius. G. Excursions You are expected to teach in your village every weekday morning, so you have the afternoons and weekends free to explore your surroundings. Don’t use your family’s home merely as a place to eat and sleep. It is important that you spend ample afternoons getting to know your family and of course giving them the opportunity to practice their English with you. You will find it very rewarding to get involved in your village if the opportunity presents itself. Your host family will be well-networked and happy to introduce you to friends and family. You will find that transportation is poor in some areas, which can make it difficult to travel for day trips. With good planning, trips can be done, and buses are very cheap. Great places to visit near the villages include the Seven Colored Earths and the waterfall in Chamarel, Black River National Park, Alexandra Falls, Le Morne, and Tamarin and Flic en Flac beaches. You can take a quick drive to see Grand Bassin, the largest Hindu pilgrimage site outside of India. The southern coast is also famous for its poetic rocky cliffs, le Roche qui Pleure, and Le Gris Gris. You can visit the nature park Casela between Bambous, Tamarin, and Flic en Flac, where you can see tigers, lions, tortoises and more. The west coast is wellknown for great scuba diving, fishing, water sports, and hiking. Due to the fact that is possible to travel to almost anywhere on the island by bus in less than 3 hours, it is not impossible to arrange to travel to see the sights in the north and east on the island. By car, driving from the east to west coast of the island takes only around an hour. You should also try and see some of the main towns of Mauritius: Quatre Bornes known for its famous street markets on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, Curepipe, and the capital Port Louis, which has lots of shopping and restaurants. All in all, you’re in for a good time! 3. Preparing for Your Trip A. Finding a Flight Buy your ticket as early as possible, as prices tend to increase rapidly, but not before you send your potential flight itinerary to Lissy. Let your fellow volunteers know about any cheap flight you find. Few major airlines offer flights to Mauritius. The most common airlines to look at are Air France, Air Mauritius, British Airways, and Emirates. Some good websites to find cheap flights are: kayak.com, mobissimo.com, statravel.com, and vayama.com. B. Passports and Visas If you are from the EU or USA, you do not need a visa. Notify Lissy if you are from another country, as you may need to apply for a visa. If you have any questions, research it and then ask Lissy ahead of time. This is not something to leave to the last minute, and it is your responsibility to get this done. Also, your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date; if it is not, make sure you get this done ahead of time seeing that passports can take up to two months to receive. Customs and Entry requirements to Mauritius will be different than you are used to if you have traveled in Europe before. IMPORTANT: Customs will not let you pass if you do not have the address where you will be staying and proof of a return ticket. You must also give a reason for your stay. Do not write that you are teaching or volunteering as this causes huge delays in customs. Mauritians are rightfully wary of foreign scams and think that ‘volunteering’ might be one. Instead, write that you are in the country for tourism with friends. Lissy will be giving you the address of the apartment where we will be staying in Flic en Flic, which will suffice to get through customs. American Embassy – 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis, Telephone: 202- 4400 C. Health and Safety Vaccinations For additional information, consult the Center for Disease Control and State Department Travel websites. The center for disease control suggests that those traveling to Mauritius get the following vaccinations: routine vaccinations (must be up-to-date), typhoid, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B. Even if there are no implications regarding special shots or vaccines for your region, it is your responsibility to make sure that you are up to date on all of your normal shots and vaccinations. One of the easiest ways to obtain all your shots is to visit a travel clinic or see your primary care doctor. Malaria: Mauritius is malaria-free, so no vaccinations or tablets are necessary, but some doctors will recommend it if you will be in a rural area like we will be. Additionally, you should be aware that many other extreme illnesses are transmitted by mosquitoes and exist in Mauritius. Most of these illnesses have no vaccines. Therefore, it is very important to take measures to avoid being bitten by using repellant creams and wearing long sleeves and pants after dark. Rabies: Doctors recommend getting a rabies vaccination when traveling to any developing countries with lots of stray dogs, which Mauritius has. Rabies shots are extremely expensive, not always necessary, and take a considerable amount of time and preparation to administer. Yellow Fever: If volunteers have traveled recently to a country where yellow fever is an issue, volunteers MUST have a proper documentation of a vaccination or volunteers will be UNABLE to enter Mauritius. Consult the CDC website to see what countries have a Yellow Fever issue (South America and Africa) and consult your doctor. Prescription Medications Bring all of your prescription medications for the summer, as it will be difficult to obtain refills. Additionally, we suggest that you ask your physician to prescribe a dosage of antibiotics ahead of time. Not all doctors will comply, but try to explain that you will be going to a rural area where pharmacies are not as easy to come by and where medicine brands may be unfamiliar. Zithromax is a common non-penicillin antibiotic that treats ear infections, strep throat, tonsillitis, and other bacterial infections. Also, ask for an over- thecounter or prescription version of traveler’s diarrhea meds. Along with the prescription meds, it would be wise to bring TUMS and Imodium AD as well. Hospitals Hospitals are within an hour at most (without traffic) from each host family. Most villages have a dispensary where you can pick up medication. Insurance Learning Enterprises requires that all participants have valid insurance coverage that will cover them in country. Check your existing plans and many of you will find that you already have international travel insurance, or at least an international coverage policy called ‘airlift’ or ‘international evacuation coverage.’ This policy means that you are covered should something serious happen to you and you need to be flown either back home or to a nearby hospital facility. If you do not have international coverage, good temporary travel insurance is STA international student travelers insurance or CISI international student travelers insurance. Most importantly, we don’t want to see anyone stuck in a situation where they have no way of covering medical treatment. Let us know if you have any problems, and we will be happy to provide whatever advice and answers we can. That being said, it is not unheard of to be in a medical situation where you cannot activate your insurance coverage at the time of treatment. If you pay for those treatments yourself, keep the receipt and then file for a reimbursement with your insurance company. As a result, be sure to bring a credit card with at least $1000 of credit available to cover the initial expenses before reimbursement. General Health Expect to get sick at least once in Mauritius due to the combination of travel, new diet and habits, and exposure to children. ‘Eating healthy’ is not often thought about in Mauritius, and you will usually not find any plain vegetables at meals. Likewise, most Mauritians will drink more soda and alcoholic drinks than water, so try to keep yourself hydrated and aware of how much water you’re drinking. Also, a good walk or jog is great for your body after 3 big helpings of curry! Lastly, when coming home (or if it is bothering you a lot in Mauritius) make sure you have a nurse or doctor check you for lice; Mauritian children are often obsessed with volunteers’ hair and like to touch it, which can lead to some unwanted problems. To avoid this, try to wear your hair up if you have long hair and don’t allow children to play with it. Communication The easiest way to keep in touch with people is through e-mail. Internet cafes will be a bus ride or walk away and are rather cheap ($2 per hour). Some families may even have an Internet connection in their home. Calling home from Mauritius is very expensive, so I suggest rather e-mailing or Skyping your family if possible. If you need to call your family, I suggest international calling cards, which you can purchase once you arrive in Mauritius. Also, many volunteers like to have a mobile phone in Mauritius in order to stay in contact with host families and other volunteers while not at home. To do this, you can either use an international service that your phone may have and will need to be turned on before leaving for Mauritius or you can buy a new, cheap phone in Mauritius or use a different international phone. Phones in Mauritius generally cost around $40 and are pay-as-you-go. Local calling is around $10 per 100 minutes and $10 per 7 international minutes. D. Packing List We suggest that you don’t pack in anything too large; you don’t want to show up with more belongings for one trip than Mauritians have in their whole home. Pack extra clothing and all prescriptions in your carry-on whenever traveling. Be aware of liquids in your carry-on and other regulated objects. Clothes Take the kinds of clothes that you would be comfortable wearing for days on end: basic pants, t- shirts, and shorts. Do not bring anything too valuable that you would be very upset losing or anything difficult or delicate to wash. Bring clothes that you would not mind giving or throwing away as your may need to make room in your suitcase for souvenirs! Last year, I brought 6 t-shirts, 1 pair of jeans, 3 pairs of shorts, and two light dresses. Mauritians are generally casual and have no cultural issues with shorts, swimsuits, or the like. However, please realize that you will probably be viewed as a tourist and will stand out whether you like it or not. Do not draw attention to this fact by wearing clothing that is too revealing, too casual, or inappropriate. Men will not hesitate to catcall and stare women down if they are dressed inappropriately, and it will get very old very quickly. What to bring: • The basics: a sweatshirt, five or six t-shirts, a couple pairs of shorts, a pair of pants/trousers, socks, underwear, pajamas; for women, casual dresses and longer skirts are often good pieces to deal with the heat of the day and coolness of night • Shoes: a pair of comfortable sneakers that can be used for hiking and sports (serious hiking, so real sneakers are advised; no keds, no converse – trust me), pair of flipflops or sandals, pair of nicer shoes for church, family parties, or more formal events that you may be invited to • Nicer outfit for a formal occasion like wedding or party in village, but it doesn’t need to be too dressy: a button-down shirt and pants for guys and a nice skirt or dress for girls. Also, will need something appropriate for a mass or service, so this outfit can serve for two these two types of events. • A set of going out clothes (mainly for orientation, mid-point break) • A light jacket or raincoat and possibly umbrella if you want; some villages get rain more than others • Swimsuit; bikinis are fine • 2 towels; one for showering for orientation and midpoint break and one for the beach Hygiene/Medical Items Keep in mind that most brands available at American or English pharmacies are also available Mauritius. You can use travel sizes to last through orientation and then stock up in local stores afterwards. What to bring: • Toothbrush and toothpaste • • • • • Razor and shaving cream Deodorant Shampoo, conditioner, soap Hand sanitizer Individual tissue packs (good for actual tissues and for public Restrooms; don’t assume that there will be toilet paper there) • Feminine products (tampons can be hard to find) • Sunscreen • Mosquito repellant with a high DEET concentration (AT LEAST 30%, more if you can find) • Glasses, contact lenses, solution, and extra contacts You should also put a together a basic first aid kit that includes the following: • Aspirin/Advil/Tylenol • Neosporin • Band-aids • Dayquil • Tums • Diarrhea or upset-stomach medication • Allergy medication • Anti-itch relief for bug bites Teaching Material You can buy most of your materials in-country and for cheap. Chalk and erasers are the only materials you can count on having in class. It is possible that your villages will have other supplies, but you should not count on it. What to bring: • Notebook (for lesson plans and other notes) • Tape, markers, and/or crayons • Map of the world and/or the US/UK • Small ball, Frisbee, or something else to throw • Something small to give away as prizes; students love little things like stickers with English phrases or American candy • Secondhand children’s books • Teen magazines, especially ones with quizzes and short articles that are readable for more advanced students • Photos from home; these can be used in class and can be shared with people in the village and with your host family General Items • A small, school-sized backpack for carrying teaching supplies and when traveling. • Gifts for host families: gifts are necessary for host families to show your appreciation. People love gifts from the US/UK, especially from your hometown or region, like books with photographs, calendars, t- shirts, etc. • Outlet adaptor: If you want to operate anything electronic, you will need a converter. Outlets in Mauritius use African, European, and UK style plugs, so an all-in-one international adaptor will work best. They’re very hard to find in Mauritius, so get one at home. • Travel journal (if you want) • • • • Camera with a large memory card seeing that you won’t have your computer to upload photos and then delete Small travel pillow for flights Guidebook: Lonely Planet, Let’s Go, or Culture Shock: Mauritius are highly recommended Travel-sized dictionary/phrase book in French (and Creole if you can find one) Documents • Passport • Student ID: Good for occasional discounts • Insurance Card • Itineraries • Proof of Return Ticket • Vaccination List Make sure that your parents have copies of all the documents that you plan to take with you (in case they’re lost or stolen). This includes: passport, social security number, driver’s license, etc. Put your passport number into your phone, if you’re bringing one. You should also have copies for yourself that travel with you in case the originals are lost or stolen. It is especially important to travel with a copy of your passport. If you can scan them and email them to yourself, you will always have a copy easily accessible and it is safer than carrying them around. Things Not to Bring DO NOT pack valuables. While danger of robbery exists in all countries, it can be particularly prevalent in poorer areas. Please do not bring anything that you would be devastated to lose or damage. You should not bring expensive jewelry or valuable clothing. Additionally, electricity is very expensive in many areas and extraneous electronics causes an unnecessary burden on hosts. Be careful about leaving valuable objects out in the open. Furthermore, do not carry valuable objects on your person outside or in back pockets, as they may be stolen when traveling in a city. Money and Banking The currency is the Mauritian Rupee. Notes come in 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, and 2000 Rupees, and coins are R1, R5, and R10 and 2, 10, 20, and 50 cents. There are 100 cents in a rupee. There is no restriction on the amount of money you can bring into the country. While staying with your host family you will not need to spend a lot of money as they provide your accommodation and all meals, so you will not need much money. Also, exchange rates in Mauritius greatly favor the US and UK, so prices will be much lower than you are used to. • • Alert your bank(s) that you will be traveling because some banks put a hold on accounts when cards are used abroad. Do not bring travelers checks. They are hard to cash, especially if you are outside of major metropolitan areas, and most places will charge you exorbitant fees to cash them. • • • The best way to get local currency is through ATMs. You may be charged a fee of $1-5 per transaction, but the exchange rate is much better than what you would get from a currency exchange booth. It is a good idea to exchange some cash for Mauritian rupees right after landing in Mauritius. You should try to get around 2000 rupees and some in smaller bills to use for orientation. You can get more money out of an ATM in Flic en Flac later on if you need. You should also carry at least 500 rupees on you at all times just in case. Plan to spend at least $200 at orientation: $150 on lodging, materials, and transportation, and about $50 more for food and fun. This price may increase or decrease depending on our arrangements and prices during the season, as we get closer to orientation. See the budget sheet on the LE website for an itemized copy of estimated expenses. In case of an emergency, have an extra $500-$1000 available to you in a checking account. If you don’t have this kind of money, we encourage you to get a credit card for emergencies only. If you are caught in an emergency, it is better to have a means to buy a ticket out and deal with the costs when you get home than be stuck in-country. Better safe than sorry! e. Additional Information I encourage all volunteers and prospective volunteers to gain a better understanding of Mauritius by reading on its history, culture, and politics. Knowing about the country is vital to being a good and well-informed volunteer, and Mauritius is really interesting!!
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