Day One: Departure

It's 6am and I am sitting up in bed with a coffee. The wind is howling outside. Good-bye Wellington! I have so much to do before leaving for San Francisco later tonight, the least of which is the pre-course reading. Where to start? I hear a voice in my head...don't forget your passport.

Located between San Francisco and San Jose in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford University is recognized as one of the world's leading research and teaching institutions. The course is bringing together 56 leaders of non-profit organisations from around the world. There are 12 participating countries including  Cambodia, Nigeria, Russia, Bermuda, Mexico, UK, US, Canada, Australia and me! representing new Zealand. And I am proud to do so.

I appear to be the only performing arts organisation. There are a couple for the visual arts but most organisations deal with health, education and welfare with a big emphasis on youth and enironment.

I'm already excited and looking forward to sitting down to dinner with my classmates tomorrow evening and learning what they hope to get out of the course.

Now, where is that passport?