Months of tension have ended in this rat-race for many Form VI students. Relieved they now look forward with optimism and pride to their future. The result-slip obtained will spell celebrations for those who achieve the grades required for a university seat. But this euphoria soon leads to sleepless nights. It is now a relentless race against time, searching frantically for a much-coveted seat in a prestigious university.

Those born with silver spoons are assured to embark on this great odyssey while the less fortunate have to knock from door to door to secure a scholarship or study-loan. Enormous sacrifices lie ahead for middle-class families. Parents have to tighten their belts to meet their siblings? expenses and some even mortgage their house. Nowadays studies abroad cost a fortune with the depreciation of our rupee. Despite such hardships, some unhesitatingly rise to the challenge.

Taking Oxford or Cambridge by storm is the legitimate dream of every brilliant school leaver Breaking away from the family cocoon is the wish of every adventurous youngster. Life on a university campus is a unique experience not found in books. They must struggle for survival while managing their time and budget. Far away from home, they become masters of their destinies. But irresponsible ones may ruin their lives through bad companions and return home as human wrecks.

For prospective students, studying abroad conjures up visions of independence and adventure. But reality is far from what we believe it to be. All illusions are shattered on the day the plane lands. Hardly have they recovered from jet-lag that they are ushered to a cold room with basic furniture. Everything seems queer: people, environment, language, food, etc. They are lost in this huge crowd. Their next-door neighbours in the hostel are from different climes, countries unheard of. All the thoughts of their tiny island appear so distant. Loneliness grips them and between the four walls of the room they dry their tears. Those who have been cocooned are the greatest victims. I know many who do not even know how to make tea. They rely on junk food throughout their stay at university consoling themselves with e-mails that bring news from home. Here we cannot refrain from thinking of first-generation students of the 40s or 50s who went abroad by ship via the Suez Canal and who tremendously suffered from loneliness and parting. Nowadays the separation is more endurable as the world has become a global village.

It takes time to adapt. Climatic conditions make life tougher. The change in eating habits constitutes a major problem. Cultural barriers and religious beliefs are all put into their pockets. With the years spent abroad, a great metamorphosis will take place in them. Values will no longer be the same. Their horizons and outlook on life will be widened. They will rid themselves of prejudices and insularity. Many after these glorious years abroad will not return home despite all pious promises. The grass is definitely greener elsewhere. But many parents encourage their children to work for a while abroad as a short-cut to a visa. We thus suffer the fate of every third world country: brain drain. Their new Alma Mater will play a determinant role in moulding their personalities and providing them with lenses for life. They will turn into full-fledged citizens of the world. The absence of meritocracy deters many young brains from returning to serve the country. Who is to be blamed? To invest in pounds sterling or euro-dollars and reap in Mauritian rupees has become another of life?s challenges.

<B>Philip Li Ching Hum</B>