Nick Harwood must be one of the very few westerners on our island who think Mauritius is… big! Well, he does come from Guernsey (Channel Islands), 25 square miles and a population of 60,000. No wonder he feels 1,3 million people is a lot? Meet Nick Harwood, the guy who is always treading on eggshells because he does “not want to put his foot in it…”

Fifteen minutes into our conversation, I looked at Nick and told him I had the impression I was talking to a politician. He laughed. Of course, he knew what I was talking about. Nick is ever so politically correct. He doesn’t like offending people you see and he is a guest in a foreign country. So he has to see to it that he doesn’t offend his hosts. But, over and above all this, Nick Harwood is a nice guy. And polite. And easy going. So, everything is “great” and “really nice.”

I’ll give you an example; trying to bait Nick, I complained about how people like minding other people’s business and gossiping in Mauritius. What was Nick’s reaction? “Well, you know, I come from an even smaller island and I’m used to this. So, it’s all right, I don’t mind”, he finished with a knowing smile. “Ok, give me something here, tell me what you don’t like.” I insisted.

Nick Harwood, head of fiduciary services at the Deutsche Bank Offshore started to say there wasn’t much… but then, his exasperation with his morning drive to Port-Louis got the better of him. “Ah the driving drives me mad!” Nick admitted impulsively. “But…” I said. He smiles and adds (as expected). “What can you do, I suppose this is the way people drive in Mauritius and I have to get used to it…” You see? Nick really doesn’t want to put his foot in it!

I decided to trap him. I asked Nick in what way the driving in Guernsey was different. “I suppose people are friendlier and more civil towards other people; they would never rush in, they would let other people go first and wait for their turn.” It worked! So, you see why Nick doesn’t like the Mauritian way of driving!

As he sees me writing furiously away, Nick laughs, “My god, I’ve given you ammunition!”

Nick Harwood has only been with us for a year. Prior to that, he was posted in Singapore. Nick does not speak Creole, his French is “not very good” and he reads it better than he speaks it. “I suppose it is the British laziness that makes you think you don’t have to learn another language because people speak English anyway.” The man is clearly happy here, he has settled well. He enjoys his work here, the more so because he has a small group of people working with him. “60 compared to 2,000 in Singapore. At least here, I get to know each and everyone of them personally.”

What did I tell you? Nice… is the only word. Cross my heart.