Oualid… a self described eccentric!

On New Year’s Day I picked up a passenger whose name itself felt like a story waiting to be told. Oualid—pronounced Wah-leed—was visiting from Portland, Maine. He was here to escape the cold and get his “sun fix” here in the sunshine state! As you might expect, his name immediately caught my attention. I had no idea how it would be pronounced. Though unfamiliar to my ears, it is apparently a more common name in Muslim cultures but is often spelled “Walid”.

Oualid was born and raised in France, in a town near the Italian border and not far from Nice, a place where cultures overlap and they enjoy a warm Mediterranean climate with mild winters but hot humid summers.

Raised in that corner of Europe and of Algerian decent, Oualid developed a curiosity about people and cultures, which eventually led him across the Atlantic. In the United States, he earned degrees in anthropology and linguistic studies, a fitting path for someone so observant and thoughtful. He settled in Portland, Maine, where he found both purpose and community.

Oualid works for a co-op dedicated to developing small-scale solar farms, helping communities move toward cleaner, more sustainable energy. The work suits him—quietly impactful, forward-looking, and rooted in care for people and the planet. He also serves on the board of a local non-profit organization.

Embracing his surroundings, he adapted to the brisk, cold climate of Maine and took up snowboarding. He actually enjoys the cooler weather, discovering joy in gliding over frozen slopes. He described himself as a bit eccentric, but it came across as charm rather than oddity.

With Arabic origins, the name Oualid means newborn, a word that signifies potential, renewal, and new beginnings. It felt especially fitting on New Year’s Day—a man shaped by many places, committed to building a better future, and still open to developing relationships and even joyfully chatting me, just your average, everyday, Uber driver! Meeting Oualid was a reminder that some people carry their meaning with them, quietly living out the promise written into their very name.

Unlike other passengers, Oualid offered to write a personal excerpt that could be utilized in sharing a more personal glimpse of his heart and character. This is what he wrote…

“If there’s one thing my life has taught me, it’s that I don’t get to control how people show up but I do get to choose how I respond. I come from a Mediterranean culture where warmth, dignity, and community are everything, and that upbringing taught me to keep my door open even when things get hard.

I’ve been tested in ways that pushed me to grow roots instead of walls, to keep loving my community even when it wasn’t easy, and to stay grounded when the noise got loud. Resilience, to me, isn’t about winning a game you weren't even invited to play, it’s about continuing to show up for others with honesty, generosity, and care. That’s where my peace lives.”

It was my pleasure meeting and getting to know this young man. Please welcome Oualid to the Ubernamez family!