The hotel has a different vibe today since the majority of my coworkers left the day before. The resort is serene and many European families with young children have checked in. It’s so quiet – no sound of waves crashing or music or planes or people. Just quiet.

Today a boat took us further south and further into the Indian Ocean so we could snorkel among the coral reefs where the water was 3-5 meters deep. We saw hundreds of fish – such an amazing experience. The fish didn’t seem bothered by us swimming so close to them. I went off the boat, into the water, with my mask on, and immediately shrieked under water since the fish were right in front of my eye mask.

The boat also stopped in an area where dolphins are known the gather and we saw 7 of them swimming right by the boat. Paul and two others immediately threw on their snorkeling gear and swam along with the dolphins for a few minutes.

En route to the airport we had the driver stop at a stand at the side of the road for some chicken roti with chili paste. So good and only $1.75 for two!

Everyone has been so friendly on the trip. Yes my coworkers and their spouses are great, but the Mauritian people have been so nice. They all speak so many languages – French, Creole, English, Hindu – and we’ve heard several speaking Italian as well. Mauritius is a true melting pot.

Outside the Indian temple we saw yesterday, there was a sign that summarized how the Mauritians live:
“One island. Many people. All Mauritians.”

Archbishop Desmond Tutu takes this thought a bit further. The other day he spoke about the impact everyone has on each other. “We live in a world dominated by greed and we continue to allow prosperity to dominate our interests…..The path to uplift society is in our hands….I am who I am because of you. I am who I am because of others….We are all members of one family. And you are all Africans.”

We are all Africans, and I can’t wait to return to explore more of this continent.