or: Another Example of Great Mauritian Hosting

Saturday night and I found myself at an engagement party in Mauritius where I know the bride’s parents. I’ve been to a concert with them on my last trip and have been at a beach barbecue birthday party with them for a mutual friend.

At a Mauritian engagement party, the father of the groom asks the father of the bride whether or not his sone can marry the daughter. Once consent is given (it’s all done in front of the crowd so I’m guessing there’s been some discussion around this prior to the event!), he slips an engagement ring partly down the future bride’s finger and his sone then slips it the rest of the way.

At this particular party, the guests were mostly family with few friends attending too. The extended families are quite large and this party had about 100 people which definitely wasn’t everyone!

Not surprisingly, there is quite a bit of dancing toward the end of the evening and my suspicion that every Mauritian can dance continues. This is an entirely different group of people so my sample size is growing.

Also not surprisingly, there is gadiak and drinks throughout the evening followed by dinner and then more drinks.

The surprising part was my drink.

I was the only one being served red wine, my glass was never empty and I didn’t need to ask for it.

Most others were drinking rum, whisky or rose.

I asked how I came to be served differently and it turns out, it was the result of the birthday barbecue the bride’s parents and I had attended.

I had been invited to the engagement party prior to this.

At the barbecue, they were seated some distance from me and happened to notice that I was drinking red wine. I was the only one at this time too. They asked some other friends who I catch up with quite regularly what I usually drink. They told them red wine (it suits the weather here at the moment) and sometimes vodka depending on the occasion and how I’m feeling.

With this in mind, they ordered red wine specifically for me for the party.

They are an awesome couple anyway and when I found out they did this, I was even more impressed. Incredibly observant and considerate hosts that they planned what I would be drinking that far in advance knowing that I am not a rum or whisky fan (I am in a definite minority in that regard in Mauritius!)

This is another example of how mindful people have been of my comfort while I’ve been staying here. The Mauritian people have a reputation of being kind-hearted and from my experience, it is justified.

Every event, function, meal that I have attended, I am always well looked after, filled with food until I’m almost overflowing and conversation is translated for me from both Creole and French into English and back again for those that can’t understand me.

Incredible, patient and considerate hosts.

 

* Thanks to Grinderman for the title to this post.