Lovee: Hi Jana, Thank you for agreeing to share your Masaai experience with me and my readers. I know that you are an extremely private person, so I am very grateful for you agreeing to share with us.

Jana: The gratitude’s all to you my dear Lovely, thank you for the platform to share.

Lovee: I was really inspired while viewing your beautiful pictures from your African vacation, including your Masaai experience. Based upon what I saw, you seemed to have gone solo, is that correct?

Jana: Yes I did…

Jana Auguste with a Masaai woman

Lovee: WOW! I am very impressed (Smiling). Quite a journey to pursue solo, speaks a lot about your courage. Are you an avid traveller? What inspired this journey?

Jana: I really enjoy travelling; I wish I could do much more of it though, like you (Smiling). This journey was inspired by a few things; my long-held interest in the masaai people, an extremely challenging previous year during which I was unable to travel and lastly as a personal reward upon completing my Master’s degree.

Lovee: Well deserved then. Congratulations on attaining your Master’s degree. Beautiful, intelligent, accomplished and well-travelled (smiling). What were some of your fears before embarking on this journey?

Jana: Fear is not an emotion I allow myself to entertain when embarking on a new journey. I’m usually waaaay too excited about the possibilities to be scared. (laughing out loud)

Masaai people and culture

Lovee: I love that! (Smiling) You brave woman. What were your first impressions of Kenya and its people?

Jana: Kenya, WOW! Love it! Love the people! Despite apparent economic disparities Kenya is teeming with spirit and potential. I cannot express enough how simply lovely the people are. I felt such a sense of belonging, which has been true for me every time I journey to Africa.

Lovee: It does feel like going home, doesn’t it? Tell us a little bit about your journey to the Masaai village? Were there any low moments?

Jana: If I were to point out a low point of my journey to the masaai mara it would have to be the physical journey there. The roads are “HORRIBLE” no comparison to Caribbean potholes (laughing out loud). I really thought the wheels would have been off the vehicle before we made it there. I chose to travel by land to see the many villages teeming with life, coffee, tea, corn and barley fields along the way but I probably would fly in next time (There are several air strips around if you’re up to flying in a tiny airplane. The journey is long and arid and the roads are terrible but once you’re there, there is nothing like it! (Smiling)

Masaai people and culture

Lovee: I can only imagine. When people see the lovely, smiling pictures on vacation, they usually have no idea the long arduous journey it usually takes to get to a particular destination. Boy do I have some stories, but that’s another book by itself. (laughing out loud). When you arrived, described the experience. How did the people respond to you?

Jana: The moment I arrived I felt right at home. The driver made me feel very welcome and even gave me a tribal name. Throughout my journey people were overly accommodating; they went the extra mile and just made me feel so valued in a very authentic kind of way. I also think it was because they do not normally experience a young black woman travelling on her own, but I also tend not to fit into the normal tourist mold as I enjoy commiserating, conversing and even eating with the locals and just people in general. I tend to shake loose that city armor I carry around in New York and become quite sociable.

Lovee: And that’s the best way to have that complete experience, by immersing oneself in the culture 100%. At any point on the journey, were you scared?

Jana: Not at all…

Jana Auguste with a local masaai man

Lovee: I guess you really did feel at home (Smiling). With all the propaganda that goes around about visiting African countries, I admire your courage and sense of optimism. What was your biggest culture shock?

Jana: The masaai have an incredible attachment to their cattle, they even round them up at sunset and let them sleep inside the village grounds. Masaai’s don’t eat vegetables. Their diet consists mainly of meat, milk and blood.

Lovee: Did you say Blood?

Jana: Yes! The Maasai drink blood ritually and for refreshment in its pure form directly from the jugular of the cow which they open with a blunt arrow and seal with a blob of manure. They drink it mixed with milk or fresh or curdled. It is used traditionally during rituals for childbirth, circumcision and warrior rites of passage. It is also given to women mixed with milk following childbirth.

Masaai people and culture

Lovee: I must ask, did you try it?

Jana: No! Pas mwen (not me). (laughing out loud)

Lovee: Sigh…pwehhhh…good to know. I like to try everything at least once but this right there is stretching it. (Laughing out Loud) I can imagine that such an experience taps into your spiritual realm. Was this a spiritual journey for you also?

Jana: I will tell you Lovee, travelling to Africa is always a spiritual experience for me…being out in the wilderness, witnessing the animals in their own habitat, the incredible conditions of the Mara sky, the complete silence, stillness, the misty mornings… WOW-it’s like truly experiencing GOD! Amazing for me!

Lovee: God is everywhere! ( Smiling) I now want to pack my bags and go after this description! (Laughing out loud). Can you name a few valuable lessons you took with you from this journey/experience?

Masaai people and culture

Lovee: Less is more indeed. I learned that while living in Japan. The entire experience was life changing. What are some of the similarities/differences which you discovered from Saint Lucian/American culture to the African culture?

Jana: There is intangible common warmth of spirit that I recognize/feel whenever I’m in Africa. It is a commonality between the Caribbean and African cultures that feels familiar but very difficult to capture into words. It is just this welcoming, ‘Akuna Matatta’ kinda vibe, although these days it is quickly being lost within the Caribbean life as we continue to lose ourselves in the illusions that our ways are inferior. It makes me so pound to be from such a resilient bloodline and abundant culture. However this also reminds me of how much I don’t know and will never know about my African ancestors, can’t help but to feel that sense of loss but you make peace with it and move forward.

Lovee: I share your sentiments. When I visited South Africa, I felt that same warmth, but felt a sense of sadness for having more questions than answers. What was your most memorable moment on this journey?

Masaai people and culture

Jana: Sorry Lovee, I really can’t answer that one. (Laughing out Loud)

Lovee: (Laughing out Loud) …Touche! Now my mind just went all over the place…can you at least give a small hint? (Smiling)

Jana: No sorry. (laughing out loud)

Lovee: Not fair! But we shall revisit this conversation privately… (smiling) The fascinating thing about travelling is what we discover about ourselves on the journey. What did you discover about yourself on this journey?

Jana: This trip reiterated that I CAN make a difference no matter how much I doubt that or at least contribute to making a bit of difference.

Lovee: Oh yes you can! And don’t ever doubt that. (smiling) What did you learn the most from the masaai culture?

Jana: The masaai are a resilient and tenacious people, so connected to the earth, true to their spirit and culture.

Masaai people and culture

Lovee: Their way of life is truly a symbol of that. How has travelling and immersion in other cultures changed your perspective on others and the world?

Jana: I am not sure that my perspective has changed so much, as I have always held a global view, and held a keen interest in the collective; after all, we all share the oneness that is God, created in the image and likeness. (I digress…sorry) It has however substantiated my long held belief that we are all fundamentally the same and want the same basic things on this journey of life.

Lovee: Well said. You are blessed for knowing and embracing that belief. I know that you also visited South Africa, how was that experience?

Jana: Unfortunately my SA trip was quite brief, stopped for a couple of days to visit a friend so was only able to see Johannesburg and Soweto, would definitely return for an extended visit. Johannesburg is quite a cosmopolitan city and the Soweto we know from western journalism has certainly evolved and continues along that path as the Government maintains low income housing construction. I also visited a couple of economically depressed areas where it’s obvious that the people treasure communal living despite their circumstances.

Lovee: I am always inspired by the smiles and optimism of the people, despite their economic situation. Would you visit again and recommend to others?

Jana: Absolutely!! Can’t wait!

Lovee: Who knows, maybe next time I will tag along. I know you’ve recently started your own non-profit organization. Tell us a little more about that.

Jana: I haven’t officially started but I am starting (Smiling). I am currently learning to build a webpage, quite a task, as I am severely technically challenged so, it is interesting to say the least. This idea has been percolating and sitting on the back burner for years now, conceived it years ago on one of my trips home.
I visited my old primary school and realized that it was still quite lacking in resources so I thought perhaps I can do something to help. I then developed an idea for an NGO called “ToolsinSchools”. Of course, life got in the way among others things and it remained just a stagnant idea.
On my recent visit to Africa I brought with me some school supplies to donate to the masaai schools, which they were incredibly grateful for. Further, in South Africa, I visited 2 kindergartens in the slums which were certainly in need of everything, it sadden me that I had nothing to give. This made it clear to me that I needed to continue developing my NGO and get some work done because there is so much to do.

Jana Auguste reading author Loverly Sheridan’s book – A Girl Like Me

Lovee: Kudos to you! Here is just one example of the difference you’re making in your own way! Keep going, and don’t ever give up! “To know that one life breathed easier because you have lived is to have succeeded.” (Smiling)

Jana: That’s very true lovely whether known or unknown.

Lovee: So, Ms Globe trotter, where to next? (Smiling)

Jana: (Smiling) European road trip with Lovee!? (laughing out Loud)

Lovee: (Smiling) I look forward to it. The world is indeed our oyster. Thank you again for sharing your unique experience with me and my readers, and giving us a small glimpse of the masaai culture! Keep trekking! (Smiling)

Jana: Thank you soooo very much Lovee for the positivity you constantly exude. Thank you for giving voice to my experience. Love always.

Lovee: Love and light always.