How to be a Good Guest

Foreigners have shown massive interest in moving to Mauritius over the last two years. The advent of the Integrated Resort Scheme, and the introduction of the user-friendly Occupation Permit put Mauritius on the Movers' Map.

We now have a crop of Recently Settled Expatriates (RSE's) many of whom have found settling in Mauritius to be quite taxing! Maybe they should have read my blogs because much of the whining and complaining includes getting kids into private schools, housing issues, and bureaucratic frustrations.

When we moved here in 1993, it was also not easy adjusting to all the different things that make Mauritius unique. If we had been able to speak better French or Creole, things may have been easier, but we enjoyed the difference and each time I solved a problem I realised that my future competitors (who as yet had not arrived in Mauritius) would have to jump that hurdle too.

When we moved here, we understood that Mauritius is a different country to the South Africa we had left behind. We embraced the new and strange. We marvelled at how easy it was for those with connections to get things done. The Community of the Connected was what my wife called it.

Now we have the connections. For example, I needed to clear the bush from a property we have near Grand Bay. If I was an RSE I would have asked my landlord who would have referred me to his friend who would have quoted a ridiculously large fee for the service (Rs200 000 or USD5800 in this true life example). Instead, I had a chat to a good friend who works for a construction company and got the use of an earthmover for two days for Rs20 000.

This kind of thing can get the RSE into a state of permanent distrust and alienation. To the point that even when the price of something is reasonable, the RSE will automatically assume it is too high and someone is trying to rip him off.

From here on it is a slippery slide to an RSE vs The Rest of Mauritius state of mind. The side effects are easy to see:

• Anything that goes wrong is blamed on Mauritius.
  
• Everything that is different is now automatically wrong or inferior.
• Hankering for many of the good things left behind in the Other Country become obsessions.
• Frustration at having made 'the mistake' of moving to Mauritius.
• Limiting of friends to include only RSE's. This one is a bit hard not to do as many who are not RSE's cannot abide their negative attitude and choose to avoid them.
  

I remember when Mugabe took over Rhodesia and renamed it Zimbabwe (after the ruins that it became). Many Rhodesians moved to South Africa. No sooner had they settled when they would nostalgically mention things like:

'When we were in Rhodesia, the beer was always colder'
'When we were in Rhodesia, the servants were far more enthusiastic'
'When we were in Rhodesia, the meat was cheaper and tastier'.

We called them Whenwe's.

Even if these comments were true, how quickly did they forget their fenced-in farms, the land mines, the personal tragedies, the lack of opportunities for their children.

RSE's behave like in-laws that come and stay with their children. Enjoying the hospitality but feeling free to complain and criticize at will. This can be very testing for the hosts and the HSE's (Happily Settled Expats).

So you want to leave your current country of residence?

Write down your list of reasons for wanting to leave your home country. Then, when you get to Mauritius or any other place you have picked, stick this list on the inside of your toilet door.

This will keep your focus on the big issues and keep your niggles in perspective.