Out & About is a column where we talk to people who are currently living abroad, or who lived and worked abroad. This week we talk to Voné Jonker in Mauritius.
Where do you live and why there specifically?
We currently live in the northern area of Mauritius. There really was not any specific reason why it had to be Mauritius. It was purely coincidental and the right opportunity crossed our path at the right time.
Was it a huge adjustment?
Yes! And it still is after more than four years. We still get homesick when we think of all our friends and family in our beautiful South Africa. The biggest adjustment was that not one of us could speak a word of French. It is quite funny to use Google Translate to do shopping. All appointments and services take time. We think of everyone that says “I will come at noon”, and then we giggle, because everything happens ‘at noon’ but nothing happens then! Everything can indeed be overcome and you learn as time goes by.
Do you still speak Afrikaans?
Yes definitely. We still speak Afrikaans fluently. Sometimes we battle to find the right Afrikaans word for something, but in the end we continue to speak Afrikaans in our home and our circle of friends.
Are there any Afrikaans enterprises in Mauritius?
Yes, quite a few business here are owned by South Africans. Our biggest ‘asset’ is definitely Biltong.mu that keep our largest supply of South African products including good meat. You see one cannot be without a nice Mrs H.S. Ball’s Chutney, Cream Soda, NikNaks and Bar One. Oh yes and do not forget the white onion soup powder…small things that we need to find replacements for, but nothing comes close to the real McCoy!
What do you enjoy the most about the island life?
The fact is, in addition to everything we can do for recreation and the peaceful pace, we definitely enjoy feeling safe.
What do you do for recreation over the weekend in Mauritius?
There are plenty of activities to do around the island. One of our top favourites is obviously the pleasure cruise on a catamaran where you go out on sea for the whole day. You can get off, swim, snorkel at the surrounding little islands and just eat delicious food like chicken, prawns and fish braaied on the beach with tasty side dishes. And of course just to drive anywhere and stop and you are on the most beautiful beaches with the bluest see, is surely our odds-on favourite thing to do.
What do you miss the most?
Family, friends, Woolworths Food, Mr Price Home, Flings, Ghost Pops, salt and vinegar chips, affordable South African wine, Albany bread and good biltong with yellow fat! Oh yes and do not forget Dischem.
Is it expensive to live there?
In the beginning we converted from Mauritius rupee to rand quite a lot, but then you get used to it and you do not realise how much things cost. Yes, it is expensive in general for the man in the street that earn a salary in the local currency, seeing that most products are imported from South Africa and Europe.
What is your favourite dish that you learned to make in Mauritius?
Gosh! I am not going to lie by saying that I learnt to make it because I will never in my life be able to make it as nice as the street vendors that sell it from a glass box on the back of their motorcycles. Our very favourite food is definitely the piping hot rotis that are made in the morning with a white bean curry, tomato-like chutney and a delicious tasty chilli and coconut mixture and for an extra runny nose you can add more chilli. Absolutely fabulous and very addictive!
From where in South Africa are you and why did you decide to go and live abroad?
We are originally from Pretoria. We received the opportunity and after a lot of deliberation, a seesaw of emotions and a lot of excitement we decided we are young, let’s do it! We packed our bags and our dogs and off we went.
