With Open Arms and Kind Hearts

by Tray Heard

Before coming to Namibia, we all knew we would constantly be traveling, and that’s what made this opportunity so exciting. Moving often allows us to meet many people from different backgrounds and experience multiple regions around the country.

What we didn’t realize is how hard it would be to say goodbye and move to the next destination.

Leaving the Neudamm campus of The University of Namibia was a difficult task, for we had made it our home for a week and the people there were amazing surrogate parents for us. Amanda, Maggie, Imms and the entire staff made us feel incredibly welcomed while providing us with everything we could ask for.

Martin and Gabi Schneider also made a huge impression on our entire group; they welcomed us in to their home and prepared an amazing meal that we enjoyed as we watched the sun set over Windhoek.

Their cousin Bernd served as our incredible tour guide around the city after the original tour plans fell apart. We can now all understand why ALEC’s department head, Dr. Elliott, continues to come back to Namibia to spend time with their wonderful family.

As we settled in at Gobabeb, we all probably had thought that we wouldn’t be able to find wonderful people like those we had met in our first week. Of course, we were mistaken.

After being able to celebrate a birthday for our bus driver, Ephriam, and meeting the entire staff at Gobabeb, we have all come to the realization that every new person we meet in Namibia will be just as kind as the one that came before.

This is a country filled with amazing people who welcome each of us with open arms everywhere we go.

They have done whatever they can to make our experience here as carefree as possible. With each new relationship we make, we know it will continue to be hard to say goodbye.

Although we may feel a little down as we drive on to a new destination, we will never complain about having too many people care about us.