Beatrice

@Beatrice01

Member

Mauritian expat in South Africa

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Mauritian

Lives in Cape Town

Speaks French, English, Creole, German (int.) and Afrikaans (beg.)

Registration: 10 March 2010

About Activity

A nomad since 2002 and not planning to stop! I have since started a blog where I share my travel stories and life abroad adventures. I now write full-time and help other people navigate the different phases of life abroad or digital nomad lifestyle. I blog at www.mademoisellenomad.com

Interests: art, , reading, crafts

I am Employed.

2013 - 2017

Cape Town, South Africa

Writer, blogger, and founder of a social media management company. Was living solo, on my own, with no family support.
Writer
Creative scene. Cosmopolitan city. Many expats. Friendly population. Lots of cool things to do ranging from cultural activities, social to sporting events. Low cost of living versus high quality of life. Affordable to eat out at premium restaurants. Easy to get around even though I don't drive (using Uber and MyCiti buses). Diversity in people, in food, and even in scenery. Proximity of different scenery (vineyards, beaches, city, mountains, forests, all within 30 mins' drive). Climate is amazing year round, no extreme temperatures except for the occasional heatwave week in Feb or March.
Lots of tourists in the summer which can make your usual hangouts crowded. Traffic is terrible as it's a small city. I also got mugged once and my apartment broken into twice.

Feb 2017 - Apr 2017

Valencia, Spain

Travel blogging my way through various towns and cities in Spain - Barcelona, Sitges, Cordoba, Valencia, Madrid, Sevilla.
Travel blogger and digital nomad in Spain
Amazing food, relaxed lifestyle, staying up late and siesta in the afternoons. Tapas time, fiestas in the streets, dancing, lively atmosphere, and charming Spanish people. Low cost of living and great quality of life.
It was not easy to understand the opening hours if I needed to buy something. Dinner time is late, too late for me ZZZZzzz

2012 - 2013

Zurich, Switzerland

I was writing and blogging about life as an expat in Switzerland. I also learned German at a school during my stay.
Writer, expat & travel blogger
The snow-capped mountains on the horizon, the beautiful landscape and epic scenery, the abundance of lakes, the snow, the beautiful cobblestoned walkways. The food: chocolate, cervelat, raclette, fondue, cheese, bread, pastries, charcuterie, hot chocolate, typical Swiss specialties. Christmas outdoor night market. The yodeling (haha). Cows. The people. So friendly and charming. Abiding by the law citizens. Safety. The Kunsthaus.
Winter is long. Very long. Everything too structured and punctual (I was missing all my trains because I'm never on time!) Found a lack of individuality and creativity where I stayed Shops are closed on Sundays

2006 - 2008

Limpopo, South Africa

Training staff and working in various departments of a hotel. I lived in a rural area, on a conservancy area.
Hotelier and blogger
The peace and quiet, nature, animals (lions, zebras, etc). The fact that I had domestic help - gardener, maids, doing everything for me. So all I needed to do was work, save money, everything was catered for. It was great!
Not much to do besides fishing, a braai, and farm-like activities. Dangerous to go out as a single woman alone. Plus there's also nowhere to go (no bars, no pubs, no art gallerys or other facilities you find in a city for instance). No transportation facilities to get around Felt odd being the only non-white and non-black person living there.

2002 - 2005

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

I was working in a luxury resort in the stylish Jumeirah coast.
Hotelier
Feeling safe at all times, especially as a woman living on her own. The independence and complete freedom. The respect from the locals towards women. The amazing shopping sales on designer items. The delicious food diversity Some places reserved for women only - such privacy, such bliss. Diversity in the nationalities that live there as expats - super easy to make friends!
Construction all the time. It doesn't seem to stop. Traffic is insane. Too many people - busy, noisy shopping malls. Sandstorm. Sand everywhere when that happens!