Dr. Tupperware

I was told one day early after our arrival that I would have to have a medical in order to obtain a residence permit. After going with Chris to get his done, I wasn't too enamored with the idea of going back to the hospital (I would not use the words "state-of-the-art" to describe the place, nor would I use the word "clean"). Anyway, off I went through the manic traffic and upon arriving I parked in one of the 4 spaces reserved for patients. I bumbled upstairs to begin the waiting game and watch a hoard of locals go ahead of me.

Actually it wasn't so bad, I suppose I was only in there for an hour the first time and an hour on the second follow-up trip (they had to wait for blood work to go through). It was my return trip that was the most interesting. My doctor came in about 30 minutes after I arrived, fully clad in a burqa and glasses, so my first impression was a mysterious and serious woman, who had definitely worked her way up in a man's world. Toward the end of the checkup she was writing down my info and I saw she had a pen covered in soccer balls. Fresh off my trip to the World Cup, I decided to ask her about it. "Oh I sell Tupperware and this was my gift for being 3rd in the region!" What? 2 Things wrong here. A PEN is the reward for 3rd in your region for selling plastic cases that are now cheap and abundant in grocery stores? And, more importantly, why in God's name is a DOCTOR selling Tupperware?? Surely her salary is more than adequate and SURELY she doesn't have the time?! It seemed that she just loved it, and I soon realized it must be just hobby she was truly passionate about. After taking her card and blubbering a series of "no I can't make your next showing" and "yes, if I want to host a Tupperware party I'll call you", I was able to duck out. You never know who you're going to meet in Mauritius.