Class 55 Only a Sliver October 26, 2026 By Class55 Share: After eight days of new places, people, and experiences, a 14-hour travel day gave Class 55 something we had been short on: time to process. Between Cairo and Marrakech, we journaled, compared observations, and revisited questions that arose during our time in Türkiye and Egypt. Twenty four fellows have shared the same itinerary, and while common themes have risen to the surface, different details have shaped our individual lenses. We had time to peel back layers to peek at what’s brewing underneath, much like the warm tea and treats we have been offered at the end of each meal. A time to share in sweet memories and make sense of the complicated observations and questions steeping in our minds. On our last day in Cairo, our guide, Goda, reminded us that while we had experienced a lot of his country, we had only really seen a sliver. During our travel day conversations, that reminder took on another meaning. Together, we have seen extraordinary places and encountered difficult conditions. We have recognized how much remains outside our experience—and how easily an observation can become a conclusion.Cairo’s traffic was one example. What first appeared to be chaos prompted Logan to consider whether there was a system at work that she simply didn’t recognize. Drivers were navigating in patterns unfamiliar to us, while families collecting and sorting waste relied on networks we were only beginning to understand. She wondered how often we mistake an unfamiliar system for the absence of one.Morgan’s reflections pushed us to widen that view. The differences she noticed between Istanbul and Cairo raised questions about how infrastructure, public services, and everyday life connect. Understanding any one piece would require stepping back to consider the larger system. Natalie found herself considering these questions through her work experience back home, where rules and regulations can be a source of frustration. Here, she began thinking about the services and protections we depend on, and what daily life looks like when they aren’t consistently available.These reflections left us asking: How do we recognize what a system accomplishes, while still questioning whom it serves and where it falls short?We also wondered how readily, if at all, people would share their honest perspectives with a group of Americans. Some of us had grown up hearing narratives about these countries that made stepping into the unknown uncomfortable. If we weren’t already leaning into our stretch zone, we are now. The willingness of local people to speak with us helped us look beyond what we could observe from a bus window. Day after day, our hosts spoke with us about their families, work, beliefs, and experiences. Their openness allowed us to reconsider expectations we hadn’t fully realized we carried. It brought us back to our discussions about the media we consume day to day. How has it shaped our thoughts about people we had never met? The next time we hear an opinion, will we dig deeper into where that message comes from and why it is being shared?Across our reflections, we kept finding familiar expressions of care and generosity. We heard of the generosity between extended family members and neighbors who would take turns paying monthly installments if unexpected expenses arose for an individual. We have seen the generosity of our tour guides giving spare change and an encouraging pat on the shoulder to young children in the communities we visited. We have felt the warmth behind the returned smiles and waves while trekking through mounds of garbage. We were struck by how closely some of our values aligned, especially those rooted in religious beliefs. Even when religious names and customs were unfamiliar or perhaps intimidating at first glance, we found common foundations we could respect and appreciate. As we descended into Casablanca, the view out the plane window was a blaze of colorful agriculture. It felt refreshing to see fields and crops, the sky brighter and the air clearer. It was yet again another 180 degree turn from the land we had just left — its dry, dusty, desert landscape and heavy air thick with pollutants. On the bus ride to the hotel we passed by traditional farming styles, gazing out at olive trees and orange groves, small silos where grain is stored for winter. It was colorful, somewhat familiar, and a refreshing change that uplifted tired spirits. We were treated to a lovely welcome dinner at a beautiful local restaurant which rounded out the long day. Our meal had clear French influences, which our guide mentioned we would see more of in our time here. Taken together, our experiences made us realize how many more questions each of us still carries. We visited extraordinary sites most never expected to see in person — the things we recall seeing on covers of National Geographic magazines. Even with that, we were left with burning questions that were still so simple: What does an ordinary day look like for someone living in this country? What choices were available to them? What might they want us to understand that our itinerary hadn’t shown us?Our responsibility to examine how we arrive at certain conclusions will follow us home. As agricultural leaders, we make decisions that affect employees, families, businesses, and communities. We know what it feels like when someone draws conclusions about our industry without understanding our daily work. This trip asks us to recognize when we might do the same.Halfway through the seminar, we have felt grateful, uncomfortable, inspired, and confused — sometimes in the same day, or even hourly. We are learning to give our reactions time before turning them into judgements. As we begin the next part of our journey, we want to listen longer, ask even better questions, and remain willing to change our minds. With Gratitude,Claire, Jordon, Sadie, and Class 55We’re grateful to our guides Goda and Omar for sharing their time with us and for answering the questions that arise throughout our time with them. We’d like to thank the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation, its sponsors, board of directors, alumni, education team and advisory council for making our fellowship experience possible.