Food, food, food !
You probably know it by now: Good food is essential to Mauritians and there are dishes for every occasion. And while they are not able to venture outside, to get their minn bwi from their favorite place, Mauritians turn into Cordon Bleus themselves. These days, everyday is a celebration at dinner. Dholl puri, rotis, chicken curry, gato pima, bread, dumplings, macaroons…
And if you what a better way, during this lockdown, to immerse yourself in Mauritian culture than to try yourself at the cuisine. Here are a few recipes that might interest you.
Dholl Puri
Alouda
Banana Tart
Board games
Mauritians are fond of card games and dominos. They're part of folklore. They are even traditionally played at certain funerals. And the lockdown has meant going back to the basics for many Mauritian families. If you do not own a deck of cards or a pack of dominos, do ask your nearest supermarket if they stock them. What are some games that Mauritians love? With a deck of cards, you will often find Mauritians playing Rummy or War. You will find below how to play both those games.
Rummy
War
Make music!
Mauritians love music! Mauritians listen to the radio non stop, they sing, they play instruments. So if you are into music, why not make the most of this lockdown to learn a couple of Mauritian classics? Find out about Mauritius' most famous artists, check them out, and decide on a couple of songs you'd like to learn. Maybe one of the most famous Mauritian songs to be played on the guitar, is Sant Lamour (NdlR: Sing love) by the popular seggaeman Kaya. You will find the chords to this and many more songs online either for piano, guitar or other instruments.
Learn Mauritian creole
If you have not done so yet, the lockdown might be a perfect time to learn the local language, the Mauritian creole. The Mauritian creole could be useful to you in many settings, whether at the local market or to blend in more easily at parties. And, good news! There are some great (free) resources online to learn the creole. This free PDF by photographer Paul Choy is the perfect beginner's tool to learn to speak creole.
You will also find a plethora of videos on Youtube on Mauritian phrases, expressions and idioms. The video below sums up a 100 words every beginner should know.
