We made it! The official start to the 2025 Field Course began at the San Diego International Airport where the students assembled and boarded for the long flights to Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. This airport is Ethiopian Airlines' major hub connecting Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and each of their jets is inscribed with "Land of Origins." Thankfully, their trip to Addis Ababa went smoothly and all arrived in good spirits. Pascal, Jesse, and Fiona Stewart (Field Course Co-Faculty from University College London and Principal Investigator at the Greater Mahale Ecosystem Research Conservation) were already in Addis and greeted the students upon their arrival.