I took these pictures while walking to the Shop Rite to buy groceries.  It is in our neighborhood, an area of Quatre Bornes called Sodnac.  Sodnac is one of the 'nicer' areas of Quatre Bornes, and is considered upscale.  In Mauritius it is fairly common for entire family units to live together, and often construction is occurring because a newly married son or daughter is moving in, or because a son or daughter is returning home to Mauritius from their overseas education.  The house in the center of this picture has been under construction for some time, another commmon sight.  Construction is a lesiurely process, with it happening when there is money and time.  Places may sit half or part finished for months.  The picture at the top is also a common sight, as people live in bottom floors while they add on to the top.  Two doors down my neighbor is doing exactly that, with one brother adding a second floor to the family home.

Will and Sam needed haircuts, and Mela (my landlords wife) had recommended a guy named Vijay on Saint Jean road.  So, after our morning at the market off we went to see Vijay.  He gave them GREAT haircuts, and they got the full Mauritiam treatment, with hair gel to create the spikes in their hair.  This is the exact look that all my students sport.  Will and Sam were not so sure, but Sam grew to like his quite a lot.  The cost for two haircuts was 200 Ru, or about $8.00 US.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but Wills' hair fascinates people.  Not Sams', which is darker - but Wills'.  Many many people reach out and touch it, and he gets patted on the head at least a few times a day.  It is always in the nicest way, and people are so very nice and friendly when they do it.  I think it is just the color - it is so very unusual here.  They only other redheads I've senn the entire time we've been here are two children who attend Clavis with Will and Sam.

Here is Will enjoying his Coke at our corner store.  This small shop is one block from our house, and it sells Cokes, sundries, the paper and other small items.  It is a very handy place, and I'm glad we found it last week.