Namibia might not be known for the world's greatest customer service. In fact, sometimes it might feel as though customer service is an entirely foreign concept. Yet there is something about the people of this country that makes you miss them almost as soon as you leave.
I am speaking generally, of course. Every country has its impatient drivers, its bad days, and its introverts. But when I think of Namibia, I think of the everyday interactions that many of us hardly notice until we travel elsewhere.
Here, it is perfectly normal to greet a complete stranger while passing on a morning walk. A simple "Good morning" exchanged between people who have never met before. It is common to strike up a conversation with the person standing behind you in a supermarket queue or to offer help when someone looks a little lost.
For the longest time, I assumed this was how the world worked. It was only when travelling abroad that I realised how unusual it actually is.
I quickly discovered that greeting strangers, making casual conversation, or even asking for directions can feel surprisingly foreign in many places. Of course, every country has its own culture and way of doing things, but it made me appreciate something I had always taken for granted: Namibians.
There is a warmth to the people here. An openness. A willingness to help. And a sense of humour that seems to appear when you least expect it.
Personally, I think it might have something to do with the sun.
Namibia is a hot country. The sun shines almost year-round and features proudly on our national flag. We take our sunshine seriously. In fact, when a few cloudy days arrive, we welcome them with excitement. But let that grey weather linger for more than three days and you will quickly hear people asking where the sun has disappeared to.
Perhaps that constant sunshine leaves its mark on us.
Maybe it is the reason strangers greet one another. Maybe it is why people stop to help. Maybe it is why conversations start so easily and laughter comes so naturally.
Whatever the reason, it is one of the things I love most about this country.
And while Namibia's landscapes often steal the spotlight, I hope every visitor leaves with something else as well — a little of the warmth that lives in its people.
I hope you leave with a bit of Namibian sunshine too. Not the kind that tans your skin, but the kind that stays with you long after you've gone home.
