Day 1- Off We Go!

As the sun rose over the City of Angels, Class 54 gathered at LAX, still shaking off sleep but alive with energy and purpose. The familiar chaos of the United Terminal became our first classroom—an exercise in patience, logistics, and shared anticipation. Our class moved with practiced precision, steady and calm, while laughter and conversation filled the air like a low hum of possibility.

Coffee in hand, we traded stories and reflections—why we came, what we hoped to see, what we were ready (and not ready) to learn. Beneath it all, a common current ran through the group: we weren’t just traveling to Africa. We were crossing a threshold into the unknown, ready to be stretched, humbled, and changed. By the time we reached Newark, the pace slowed. The layover stretched for nearly four hours, offering glimpses of the New York skyline and quiet moments to think, eat, and plan for the long flight ahead. Some discussed sleep strategies; others talked about what they most hoped to understand from this journey. There was a shared curiosity—about culture, leadership, and the ways people everywhere wrestle with growth and resilience.

When boarding was finally called for Johannesburg, the chatter quieted. Fifteen hours of sky lay between us and a continent that, for many, lived only in imagination until now. The mood was a mix of calm and electricity, like the edge of a storm—anticipation thick in the air. We took our seats not as tourists, but as learners. Each of us carried unspoken questions: How will this journey shape our view of leadership? What will it teach us about history, humility, and hope? What will it ask of us in return? As the plane lifted off the runway, the lights of the East Coast fell away behind us. Ahead waited new rhythms, new voices, and the kind of perspective that only comes from standing somewhere entirely new. Somewhere over the Atlantic, Class 54 began to understand that the adventure wasn’t just about arriving—it was about awakening.

We stepped off the plane in Johannesburg, in a special state of awareness given the +9 hour time change and intermittent sleep on the flight. Our gracious tour guide, Manuela, was ready to scoop us up and shepherd us to our hotel. From the start Manuela embraced us with hospitality and South African charm, as well as her own brand of self-deprecating humor. We quickly learned some customs from this continent’s epicenter of infrastructure and economic output. We arrived at our hotel and grabbed a bite to eat before settling down for the night, as tomorrow’s adventures begin at 5:30am when we board the bus to Boermark Market.  

Some key curiosities that will guide us as we move through our international seminar:

1. What can we learn about community, resilience, and leadership from the people we meet here?
2. How might the history of this region shape our understanding of progress?
3. What does sustainability look like through the lens of African agriculture and innovation?
4. How do generosity and hospitality show up differently here—and what can that teach us about our own ways of leading?
5. In what ways might this experience stretch our definition of “impact” or “success”?
6. How can we stay open to being changed—not just informed—by what we encounter?
7. What will we notice about ourselves when we are far from home and immersed in a new culture?

With gratitude,

Hillary, Patty, Andrew, and Class 54