8 Golden Months - Part 2

Life in Mauritius was nothing like that back home. Noise, traffic, people; everything was less compared to home but then the amount of peace the country had to offer was a lot and I really mean a lot. Adding to this, the beautiful sunsets and the gifted scenery of the country just amazed me throughout my time there. You know there are countries you live for ages and you don’t feel like you’re at home despite how developed they are and then there are those countries that you feel you belong to regardless of how little time you have spent there. For me, Mombasa is a city that I feel at home and love with all my heart despite my time there which is only a mere 5 months. After Mombasa, Mauritius made me feel that way, and this I got to know when I went back for just 3 days (can you believe that? Only 3 days? If I wasn’t working, I’d stay more for sure) for my graduation. When I was about to land in Mauritius, I felt ‘yes I am back home’. That was a special feeling! I keep wandering away from the main theme but then that is what happens when you just write what your heart is whispering. So back to my time, I took part in the Universiade in October. I was very disappointed to have lost in badminton but very glad to have won 2 bronze medals in table tennis. It was my fault that we did not get the chance to fight for a gold in team events and I hated that back then. Today I see it as a lesson I learnt and also an accomplishment because I came back the next day to play individual events and fought the disappointment of the day before. To have fought it mentally, I feel I did well.

The first semester, as long as it looked, said goodbye and holidays came. All my cousins were travelling to Pakistan for a re-union and I wanted to go too but a couple of reasons held me back. One of them was the cost of course and secondly, their dates of travel were a week before my final semester. I felt very bad of course but that is life and we learn. 3 weeks of holidays to many looked short but to me, they were longggggg. I wanted them to end quickly. During the holidays, we as a group went around the island and just enjoyed and relaxed. The one thing I did in Mauritius and I wish to mention is reading a new author. I have been a Paulo fan from the moment I was given ‘The Alchemist’ to read and I hadn’t changed the author. For the first time, I read another author and fell in love with his writing so much that I read all his 3 books in a row. The author was Khaled Hosseini and the book I read first, and the book that became my favorite book was ‘The Kite Runner’. No book has touched my heart and soul like this one did.

On Valentine’s Day, I sang a song at Jumbo during a karaoke session. This was the second time I sang and I feel this was one of the things I am very happy about (I can’t say proud because pride is not a good word in Islam but that is what I wish to convey here). The first time I sang was when we had begun going Jumbo. In fact I remember the day so well because it was the first time we met Timothy and he had arrived in the country that very day. 2 Kenyans and 2 Ugandans was what our group was made of that day. Of course today, it has one of my most special buddies made in Mauritius who is a Nigerian and the dude who got me addicted to selfies. He is a brother from another mother. Very few of us are privileged enough to meet people who are truly true and good to us. He is one of those for me. Jerome!

I took part in several university events and mostly as a photographer. I was privileged to be the official photographer for the second annual MISAM awards, the MDX Mauritius sports week, karaoke night and the mooting competition. I sincerely hope from the core of my heart that people liked the photos and they will remember me whenever they take a look at them. One of my photos came in the newspaper taken at AIESEC’s global village; a certain accomplishment moment for me. I was also part of MISAM’s inaugural newsletter and it doesn’t surprise me to have written the features section. I am an explorer and a traveler and the section seems to have been made for me or let me exaggerate and say named after me :p. I truly feel very blessed for all this. Everything I accomplished is just due to the mercy of the Al-mighty on me and the prayers and love of my parents. I am so thankful and I feel gratitude.

So I will stop here for now. The next post, I will talk about badminton & table tennis, my professors and class mates, my leadership thesis and exams. A lot more to come.

Thank you for your time.

Cheers!
Peace!
Champ!