Mauritius internship : Alicia's testimony

Alicia has just finished her internship in Mauritius, at SmartTraveller.
Real globetrotter, she gives us her feelings about her 6 months spent on our little island! 🌴👇🏻

👉 I'm also going for it and I'm doing my internship in Mauritius

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Alicia and I am 25 years old. I am a curious person and I love to travel! Thanks to Erasmus and internships, I already had the chance to live abroad, like in Sweden or Malta. However, I never thought I would be able to do an internship at the end of the world, in Mauritius! Just goes to show, it doesn't just happen to other people to make their dreams come true. 🥰

Why did you choose to do your internship in Mauritius?

I am one of those people who have a bucket list of countries to visit and Mauritius was on top of it. Before Covid, we had planned with my parents and my little sister to come and spend a vacation on the island. Then the pandemic arrived and the project fell through. So, coming to Mauritius for an internship was a revenge on this disappointment! And, it was definitely one of the best decisions I ever made. 😁 It's really a dream place to do 6 months of internship!

Your installation and integration on the island

I was lucky enough to have great roommates throughout my stay! That's why we spent a lot of time together on weekends to discover the island. There are a lot of young people in Mauritius so it's quite easy to meet people when we go out.

What would you advise a newcomer to integrate?

If you are like me, quite introverted, the best thing is to chat with people on expat and youth groups in Mauritius. The group Expats in Mauritius ✅ and the one dedicated to roommates on the island helped me a lot to find an accommodation but also to meet people. Before leaving, I was able to exchange with people who were already on the island and that I found once I arrived.

I join the FaceBook community

One word to describe your arrival in Mauritius

Fascinating. When I arrived and throughout my stay, I was fascinated by everything around me. The mountains, the cane fields, the translucent lagoon, the incredible sunsets. I must have taken thousands of pictures during these 6 months to not forget these moments!

What do you think of life in general in Mauritius? (supermarkets, restaurants, entertainment, activities...)

Life is sweet in Mauritius. I felt a real difference with France or even Europe. I felt out of place while having a feeling of being at home. The French being spoken by the Mauritians, one does not have the impression of being completely lost at the end of the world.

As for the Mauritian gastronomy, you should know that it is incredible! I could taste many local specialities thanks to my colleagues and everything is really very good. You can even get used to the chili pepper, well, in small doses. 😄 To shop, you can also find everything on the island. The best being to consume local. But, when we miss the French specialties, it is easy to find them. After, who says imported products, says high prices!

Having spent 6 months on the island and almost every weekend and holiday to visit, I am far from having seen everything. Mauritius is full of sublime landscapes, hikes, heavenly beaches and water activities of all kinds. There is something for everyone. Unless you need a rest after all these hectic excursions, it is impossible to get bored.

Your experience at SmartTraveller

My experience as a Communication and Copywriting Assistant at SmartTraveller has been truly incredible. During these 6 months, I was able to touch all aspects of communication, train myself, have responsibilities, carry my ideas, evolve. All of this surrounded by a caring, listening and fun team. Working in a start-up such as SmartTraveller has been a wonderful experience, both professionally and personally. I'm leaving with a good set of skills and friends that I hope to see again very soon!