One morning, on the bus to school, I was fully prepared for my usual routine: sitting quietly in a corner, checking off items on UCLA’s student newspaper Sudoku column, staring out the window occasionally, and mentally debating whether I was awake enough to learn anything that day. Instead, I ended up in one of the most unexpected conversations I’ve ever had—with an elderly woman who somehow turned our short bus ride into a guided tour of southern Africa.

She noticed I was from Africa because of my customized jacket, and she immediately lit up even after learning I was Nigerian, as if she had just run into someone from her travel scrapbook. Before I could even settle into my seat properly, she was already telling me about her trip to Zimbabwe and other parts of southern Africa with her family. She described their safari as if it had just happened—animals nearby, wide-open landscapes, and a peacefulness that felt so different from the rush of daily life. She talked about the locals’ friendliness and hospitality. What really stood out to me, though, was how seriously she spoke about family. She kept returning to the idea that traveling there with her loved ones made the experience more meaningful. She talked about spirituality and authenticity in Africa—not in a touristy way, but like someone who genuinely felt changed by being there. At one point, she even said she couldn’t wait to go back, and she meant it with the excitement of someone planning a reunion rather than just a vacation.

By the time my stop arrived, I realized that what started as a random bus ride had turned into a conversation about connection, memory, and how places stay with us long after we’ve left. I stepped off the bus still thinking about how funny it was that I had expected silence and instead received a heartfelt travel reflection from someone who might return to southern Africa before I even finished my doctoral program. Honestly, I’m still impressed that she turned a regular morning commute into a cultural exchange before I even got to campus.

Guys, here’s your invitation to visit Africa! Don’t just take her word or mine for it—go see for yourself! Peace and shout-out to you, ma’am!