Location: Mauritius
So heres the thing, today Im skipper (hey!), the students went on an excursion (sounded sick), I stayed back to do some provisioning, but thats not to exciting to talk about so I thought maybe today we could do this a bit differently.
The other day – our first full day here – I left the boat to run a few errands. Nobody really warns you about the overwhelming anxiety-inducing feeling that rushes over you when you step off a boat of 23 people after 14 days and into a city of 2.2 million. From knowing who someone is just by the sound of their voice and footsteps, to random strangers looking at you like some kind of museum artifact.
I got on a bus to head to a grocery store. Ive never been here before, so I really had no idea what this place would be like, or who the people were. A few minutes into the bus ride a lady came up to me and asked for me to pay well shoot. Yup. I didnt have any Mauritian money. I sat there thinking that for sure my next step was going to be getting kicked off the bus to the curb, but no. A sweet girl behind me immediately spoke up and handed the other lady money for my ticket.
When I got to the grocery store, I was swarmed by people who wanted to help me. I kept trying to explain to them that I was going to be there for hours, but they wanted to help and insisted on staying for as long as it took.
One person is weighing and scanning all my produce for me.
Three people started checking out.
One man ordered me 65 kilos of chicken.
The grocery store manager proceeded to bring me a gift just for shopping there.
Eleven grocery store workers helped load a taxi.
Moral of the story. Be kind to people. It doesnt have to be anything crazy. Smile at a stranger. Give someone a compliment. Tell a loved one how much you love them. A little adds up to a lot, and a lot of love is a beautiful thing.
Heres to kindness.
On that note hi family! I miss you and I love you so much.
Emma