Here is the first leg of our itinerary! We arrive tonight.

 It’s “subject to change” but for now this is the plan.  

Tuesday October 5 - Arrive in Johannesburg in the evening (remember, local time is 7 hours later than Minnesota) and travel 20 minutes to the Southern Sun Grayston hotel.  Dinner with a local guide who will discuss logistics for tomorrow, “specifically gifts for the afternoon professional meeting.” We will be eager to test our connectivity (internet).

Wednesday October 6 – Johannesburg! After orientation and cultural briefing on S. Africa, we will hear from Mary Clasquin-Johnson, a local education professional who will provide delegates with an overview of early childhood education in South Africa.

After lunch we will depart for Soweto, the massive SOuth WEstern TOwnship of Johannesburg, a city of stark contrasts, home to two Nobel Prize winners (Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu).

Thursday, October 7 – Professional program on early childhood development work being done in Soweto and impact of social and political contexts on children’s development and education. Visits to a preK and grade school classroom and program on early childhood teacher training programs and healthy, safety and education.

Afternoon exploration of Pretoria, which has a stunning architectural and cultural history .  Evening welcome from the people of Lesadi Cultural Village and African feast!

Friday, October 8 – Farewell to Johannesburg and Hello Cape Town!

We end our Johannesburg stay with an exploration of the darkest years in South African history, and the world’s only negotiated revolution, at the Apartheid Museum. Likened to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., this impressive museum takes you into the beating heart of the Freedom Struggle, the grip of the National Party’s regime during the apartheid era, and the giddy days of liberation.

Fly to the southern  city of Cape Town in the afternoon and progresss to the Southern Sun Cape Sun hotel.