When you speak to Christine over the phone, you don’t really know what to expect. She is equally fluent in French and English and her accent gives nothing away. But the one thing you retain is her simplicity. Uncomplicated. And nice…

Her name doesn’t even give her away. It sounds, well, sounds so Mauritian! Christine Faugoo. So, I had to ask the question. I don’t suppose you could guess how surprised I was when she told me she was French. I mean, after all, she is the Country director and Isles administrator of IDP Education Australia! And her accent is most certainly not French! Do you know what she said when I told her that? I’ll quote her: “That’s not it. I also speak Creole, Hindi and Bhojpuri!”

Christine has been living in Mauritius since 1996. I suppose you could say it’s the typical story of a man and woman meeting and falling in love. But that would be telling that beautiful relationship that makes Christine radiate, short! The woman positively sparkles. She speaks of that “most special man” and her voice changes. You are not surprised? OK, how about if I tell you they met in 1988?

Christine’s experience in Mauritius has been enriching. She still remembers her first visit in 1990. “I was running to the beach, I couldn’t wait, I thought this is paradise!” That’s an awful lot of expectations - has Mauritius disappointed her? Christine is most certainly not disappointed; she goes through life with a smile on her face. “Life is what you make of it. People should relax more and not worry about pointless things,” says Christine on a serious note.

Think positive, act positive, and be positive. This is Christine Faugoo. And the secret to her smiling eyes. And her aura.

What does Christine like about Mauritius? “The gentleness of people”, she says straight away. What does she not like? That answer took a bit longer to come. “The fact that, as a whole, Mauritians don’t act as one people,” answers Christine after careful thought.

Mauritius means so much to this woman. “It is my second home,” she says affectionately. Oh, where’s the first one? Difficult question, says Christine. Her parents live in France. Her most beautiful memories are in London (where she met her prince charming and gave birth to her daughter). So, Christine is not too sure. But you know what is the best thing? It’s ok not to know. It doesn’t have to be one at the expense of the other - Christine’s heart is big enough.