<B>Annie André, former educational advisor</B>

?Before arriving in Mauritius, I had often heard talking about the specificity of the population of this island: harmonious cohabitation of ethnicities with different cultural habits not mixed but still of different communities, communalism (locally speaking) kept by the politicians to attain power. This was just because I did not know enough how people were here. In Mauritius, the encountering is easy and inevitable. The links that weave are simple, real and deep. With time, after conversations and observations that I have made, some common aspects of my knowledge emerge.

In fact, those common aspects have, without a single doubt, been generated by the history itself and by the genesis of this country. Whether they have come from their own initiative or against their will, with a conquering spirit in their mind or even because of economic difficulties (I am referring to settlers, slaves etc), they have had to deal with this new area, this new climate, this new reality of a land surrounded by sea all over the place (Mauritius).

Whatever the Mauritian of today does, is moulded into the story of the island and not merely to the story of his community. Most of my knowledge that locates within the layer of the Mauritian society has a huge intellectual curiosity and undeniable appetite to know, learn and understand more.

The deepness of Mauritian people?s thoughts is incredible, as well as their critical sense, which is really meticulous. Their flexibility and the way they adapt so easily in different environments is so marvellous. I have a lot of respect and am full of admiration for all the young people who go and study abroad in difficult conditions. Solidarity, hospitality, respect for the other, mood of partying, I could have developed these other qualities, which are theirs, but which can be summarized in only word: ?humanity!?

When I think about it, I tend to think that what the Mauritian perceives in his neigbour is simply the other side of himself. According to me, the richness of Mauritius is within the humanity of its inhabitants much more than within the sublime physical aspect of the island with all its countryside. I find it a pity that most of the tourists see Mauritius only through the beauty of its hotels, seaside and so on. As a result, they are not able to see an enriching human reality in some respects.?