June 3, 2011
We are finally here in Mauritius. After months of meetings and preparation, it seems a little surreal to finally be here. I guess it still hasn’t sunk in that we are literally on the other side of the world. As a group, we are still finding our bearings but one cannot help but be excited at the prospects that lay ahead. For me personally, it seems a little daunting to try and build a successful non-profit organization from scratch in a foreign country, but as an organization we have the intelligence and wherewithal to make it happen. A difficult challenge is worthwhile, and challenges bring out the best in everybody. My high school basketball coach used to say, “If it was easy, everybody would do it.”
Mauritius is absolutely gorgeous. It’s winter and the temperature is in the 70-80 degree range. Poor us. The water is a crisp blue that captivates your breath on first glance. The sugar cane stalks are everywhere, measuring at least 15 feet tall. The mountain picks here are so uniquely shaped that one can’t help but admire it as a piece of art. Never before have I seen such a vast collection of green flora. Mauritius is needless to say a feast for the senses. One minor drawback is the mosquitoes. I have 20 bites already, but I guess I’m just too sweet to resist. Not the first time I’ve heard that one…Until the next time, greetings from Mauritius!