Tell us about yourself
I’m Victoria, a 33 years old Black woman from the United States. I’m originally from NY but have spent significant time in FL and DC as well. I am only fluent in English but I would currently consider Spanish my second strongest language. I have lived in a lot of places so I know simple conversations in Thai, Egyptian Arabic and a tiny bit of French but I can probably only use them at this point in an emergency 😂 Bye-Lingual and all that. I am a teacher which is how I move from place to place.
Moving to Mauritania
When and why did you move to Mauritania?
I moved in August 2021. The why is complicated but in reality I didn’t know anything about the country before going. In my interview I thought the job was for Mauritius until the interviewer said West Africa 😂
How did you get set up?
If you are on a good quality teaching contract they should cover everything (medical insurance etc) and they did.
What surprised you about living in Mauritania?
life is very slow compared to other faster paced westernized places.
What should you consider before moving to Mauritania?
While there are some things to do I think it is a difficult culture shock/transition for people with small children who are used to many options for keeping them active.
Living in Mauritania
Do you need to speak Arabic to live in Mauritania?
The dialect of Arabic is called Hasseniyah. Not everyone speaks it. French is usually taught in school and while knowing either was extremely helpful I didn’t feel completely helpless as some people knew a bit of English.
What are your favorite parts of Mauritania?
My favorite city in Mauritania is Terjit. It is an oasis in the desert. The stars at night are unreal if you decide to camp but it isn’t the easiest route to get to it. When I was there they were building a road. I am unsure if it was completed.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Mauritania?
Since my school paid the rent I didn’t have to cover a lot out of my own pockets. I had a maid that came 5 days a week which was included in the apartment. A driver for 5 days a week for $84 per month.
A cook who cooked 5 days a week and went grocery shopping daily for a little more than $200 a month. Aside from rent I was spending around $600-$800USD a month for everything (phone, food, extra curriculars)…
A cook who cooked 5 days a week and went grocery shopping daily for a little more than $200 a month. Aside from rent I was spending around $600-$800USD a month for everything (phone, food, extra curriculars)…
Final Thoughts
What are the inconvenients to moving to Mauritania?
I think to move to Mauritania vs visiting you need to be prepared for a slower, less technologically advanced location depending on where you’re from. You will not be able to rely on eating the food from your home country unless you make it although ingredients might be difficult to source without connections from the embassy. This could cause homesickness to be greater because your diet might have to change.
What is Mauritania famous for?
Iron Ore Train is the reason most people visit Mauritania.
Was it easy making friends?
While I had a few friends there I wouldn’t say it’s easy to make friends. I was lucky to be attached to the American embassy so there were some other people to connect with but I wouldn’t say it’s easy especially if you do not speak French.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? ARE YOU WORKING ON ANYTHING PARTICULAR?
I currently live in Bahrain.
I have a website. I also have a moving abroad guide to help people move abroad https://qweenvic.com/checklistformovingabroad/
I have a website. I also have a moving abroad guide to help people move abroad https://qweenvic.com/checklistformovingabroad/
Thank you Victoria for sharing your experience moving to Mauritania! It’s quite a unique experience to have, and so rewarding! I wish you the best in your new life chapter 🙂
