Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Lise, I am 31 years old and I am the mother of a little girl called Noor, who is now 3 months old. I am French and before moving to the Indian Ocean, I lived and worked in Marseille as a Youth Judicial Protection Educator.
At the end of 2019, my partner had a professional opportunity in Rodrigues and we decided to accept. So I left my job, a city that I love a lot, in order to live a new adventure at almost 3 because I was 3 months pregnant!
With the health crisis, we struggled to arrive on Mauritian soil, but we did so in September 2020.
You live today between Mauritius and Rodrigues Island, how are they different?
It is true that the Rodriguaise way of life is different from the Mauritian one. The pace of life is different, Rodrigues is like "out of time".
Indeed, in Rodrigues, we have time and we take the time. No stress, no car traffic, deserted beach, shops that close around 4 p.m. It really changes from the active life of Mauritius and its access to consumption.
In Rodrigues, we are reviewing our relationship with consumption. We lack nothing, but shopping is nothing like in Mauritius. I love it though, we take the time and think about what we really need.
What do you like the most about Rodrigues Island?
I think what I like most about Rodrigues is its quality of life in the broad sense. The great outdoors and learning to appreciate what we have instead of wanting more. In a more concrete way, too, there are the Rodriguan beaches which are a bliss, I have never seen this kind of beauty.
What activities are a must for someone visiting Rodrigues?
In terms of activities, there is quite a bit to discover. It seems essential to me to visit the Françoise Leguat reserve with its turtles, the Caverne Patate, for those who like a bit of adrenaline there is the crossing of the Nepalese bridge, the Tyrodrig ziplines, but also kitesurfing on the beach of Mourouk.
The Rodrigues friendly, located in Port Mathurin, offers delicious meals, and also organizes excursions to visit the island. My partner and I did snorkelling at Rivière Banane with them.
All the beaches are magnificent, but I have a particular weakness for Saint-François. I also loved going by boat and spending the day on Coconut Island and Cat Island!
The bazaar of Port Mathurin is also a must-see, where it is very pleasant to do your market, but if you want to get a selection of items, you have to get up early!
There are also places where we eat really well, we discovered in Gravier, by chance, a restaurant on the beach "Chez Tonio". A delicious crab soup, barbecued lobsters… .. There is also “Solange et Robert” which offers barbecued fish in Saint-François. In another style there is also the Tekoma hotel, beyond the splendid hotel, the restaurant is very good, ourite is very well cooked.
Obviously I didn't do everything, but I can't wait to be able to go back there to continue my discovery!
There are also beautiful associations such as Careco which allows disabled people to work by selling typical and very pretty decorative objects in Port Mathurin. And before the border closed, I had the chance to do volunteer work with the association of the Rémi brothers at Camp du Roi. I offered young people educational interviews, to allow them a space to speak, but also to support them in their professional integration.
This is also a place that you can visit during your stay in Rodrigues, the director will be happy to welcome you and the young people will show you around. This school allows young people who have left the school system to be trained in agricultural work. The director uses all the means at their disposal (too few) to support her forgotten and stigmatize young people.
If you had to choose between Mauritius and Rodrigues...
I think I would have a hard time choosing between the two.
Indeed, today we are lucky to live in both islands, but now that I am looking for a job, for me it would be difficult in Rodrigues. Indeed, I would like to find a job and I think there will be more opportunities in Mauritius.
When I arrived in Rodrigues, I had started working with the government on the issue of supporting minors committing delinquent acts in Rodrigues. Unfortunately, we were unable to continue working together with the government, although they were curious about my skills and happy with our collaboration.
To conclude, I'm having a hard time making up my mind and I don't intend to make a choice, I love the idea of living in these two places, and I can't wait for my daughter to discover Rodrigues.
And for your baby, are there any facilities that you don't have in one of the two islands?
When we arrived in Rodrigues, we wondered where I was going to give birth. So to get an idea and not listen to everyone's preconceptions, I started prenatal care in Rodrigues. But very quickly, I saw some limits. Indeed, in terms of infrastructure, the Rodriguan hospitals are a bit dilapidated, renovations were announced a few years ago, but they have still not been carried out. I think the people are impatiently awaiting its work. For the maternity part, in addition to the dilapidation, you should know that we cannot know when we will be able to do an ultrasound, for example, the gynecologist not being present at each appointment. Caregivers do what they can with limited resources. I am not speaking only as myself, an expatriate European woman, but quite simply as a woman. I was able to talk to some Rodriguan women who do not appreciate the lack of consideration and the conditions under which their request to give birth, but they have no choice, they undergo that and frankly, she deserves better. seems that it would be a good omen to be interested in the goods beings of his wives, of his parents.
It is true that the medical side with a baby does not give me complete confidence. It is true that also in terms of childcare, it is difficult to equip oneself in Rodrigues. And the population is in demand.
It is true that in Mauritius and with access to private health systems and access to childcare materials, it is easier
However, beyond my questions about the health system, as it is currently proposed, I have no fear and I can't wait for my daughter to flourish and discover Rodrigues and its culture.
