Ties in Mauritius

Name
Ties

How long was your internship?
6.5 weeks / 45 days

Short biography
I’m 20 years old from Heemskerk! I’m into football and fitness, and I work as a ski instructor in winter and as a sports masseur and personal fitness trainer year‑round.

We also built great connections with the local coaches and exchanged many tips and tricks between our team and theirs.

How satisfied were you with the guidance from your home country?
100% satisfied! Ruben was extremely helpful and always reachable. There were sometimes questions about the trip, but Ruben, Darren, or our teacher Ruurd always helped us promptly and clearly.

My Story

On March 22nd, I left the Netherlands with a group of eight students from CIOS Haarlem to go to Mauritius! We had all been really looking forward to this trip, not only to meet the kids and get started at our work placements, but also to explore the island itself.

During the 6.5 weeks, we experienced and learned a lot. The first few weeks were all about settling in and having fun! After those first weeks, everything started to feel more relaxed, and we really began to enjoy the consistent groups of kids, our work placements, the island, the weather, and so on. The kids were all very grateful and respectful toward us, they really enjoyed having us there. We also made a lot of contact with the local coaches and exchanged many tips and tricks, both from our side and theirs. In the last few weeks, we really got into a rhythm and knew exactly what to do!

In the final week, we had time off to explore and relax on the island. In the end, it was an amazing experience with some ups and downs, some avoidable, others just part of the journey. But overall, it was an unforgettable experience!

Cheers, Ties

What advice would you give to future interns/volunteers?

Make sure to communicate clearly with your supervisors and the local organization, and make arrangements in advance! Most importantly: have fun and enjoy every moment.