Email journal: July 18, 2005, Windhoek, Namibia Well my time has nearly come to an end. I leave at the end of the week and I wish I could say I was ready to go. Since my last email, I have been furiously working to gather some research and a broader perspective on access to education and the challenges of staying in school. It has been very interesting to speak with leaders and other stakeholders in the education field to learn more about the issues facing education in Namibia. It seems that the more I uncover, the more mammoth it becomes. It is a difficult task to work with children who are out of school and financially vulnerable as there are very few mechanisms or systems to get them into school. In general, the education system in Namibia is overwhelmed and it will take a long time for the system to catch up to the needs and demands of the people. But all in all, I have been keeping very busy conducting interviews and site visits to area schools. I tell myself that I should have started my research earlier, but then I would have no idea what I needed to look at. It is challenging to start my work and research and leave when there is so much left to be completed. I am working on creating my final report for the organization I have been assisting. It is a nice feeling to know that when I return I will be continuing my research on issues that I learned first hand here. So my last few minutes are packed full with meetings and departure activities. I have had to remind myself that even though I am busy I still need to acknowledge that I am here in Namibia and that I should not loose sight of the bigger picture. I am ready to come home since I have been working myself ragged, but it will certainly be difficult to leave. I tell them here that I do not know when I will be coming back, but I am sure I will be back one day. For now, that is it from Namibia and my next installment will be coming from the US. -Evan