<B>Meeline LI KIM KHIOOK</B>

“I am not ready at all,” says Meeline. And she is leaving next Tuesday. She actually obtained her visa only this week and this has been enough to take all her time. Hence, she has just started packing to go and start her bachelor degree in Finance (Quantitative). This former student of the Queen Elizabeth College has some relatives in Australia and she relies on what her mother has told her about the country to say that she’ll probably love it. “I am going on the same day as Warren, who has also obtained a scholarship at the University of Adelaide.” For the moment, she does not know if she will come back to work here after her studies. “It will depend on the opportunities I have here and there.”

<B>Ravi SOORKEA </B>

In less than a month, Ravi will fly to Australia. He is among the five Mauritian students chosen by Macquarie University in Sydney where he will be studying for a degree in Commerce (Accounting). Although he has never been to Australia, he is “very excited to go for this new adventure”. He was quite optimistic to obtain this scholarship because: “I knew that Macquarie and Adelaide universities are used to giving such facilities every year”. After his studies, he intends to come back to his native country to work.

<B>Warren LI YUNG LUNG</B>

Warren is leaving on Tuesday but admits he has not fully realised that he would soon be in a totally different country soon. “I do not feel really ready for the moment. But I am sure everything will be fine,” he hurries to add. The former student of the St Esprit College never thought he would obtain this scholarship. “My first idea was to go to Singapore but then, I learnt that I had obtained the scholarship and I made my final decision two weeks ago.” He is going to study mechanical engineering at the University of Adelaide and hopes to come back after gaining some work experience there.

<B>Jibraan MAMDALLY</B>

“This scholarship is a great relief, especially for my parents,” says Jibraan straight away. In two weeks, he will join Macquarie University to start his bachelor degree in Commerce (Accounting). He is really excited to go and discover this new country with its culture and all the experiences related to his new life there. But he is nevertheless adamant that he will come back after his studies because he really loves his country.

<B>Landry MUNGLY</B>

Only one weekend left in Mauritius for Landry. He looks quite anxious to leave his family and friends but he knows that he is going to build his career and future there. What makes him particularly happy about obtaining this scholarship for Monash University in Melbourne is that it will relieve his parents a lot. Moreover, he does not intend to come back after his studies in engineering. “I know that most of those I know there do not come back afterwards. In view of the economic situation there, I may not come back either, especially because I know Mauritius will not be able to compete with salaries there.” “When I retire, I may come back.” He is in a good position to say so, as he has already been to Australia twice to see his sister who used to study there and has already enjoyed the “kindness of people and the climate which is not so different from Mauritius”.

<B>Jashwinee SUMMAH</B>

This former student of Queen Elizabeth College had never really thought of going to Australia when she was at school. “One of my friends had applied for a university there and she was insisting that I submit my application. So I did it just to please her in the beginning. Then I realised that Australian universities were offering scholarships unlike Great Britain and this is when I started to rely on this country.” Jashwinee is leaving in two weeks’ time to study Business Administrations at Macquarie University and looks forward to live this new enriching experience. Although she has never visited Australia, she already has friends and relatives there and is sure she will get through it. “Everyone does get through it, don’t they?”

Eric LEUNG KAI YUEN</B>