I’m not someone who likes surprises very much, but last weekend was a time I’ll never forget. On Friday night we were told to pack our bags for the next day because we would be going on an overnight trip and wouldn't be back until Sunday afternoon. Everyone was itching with questions but we weren't told where we were going. To our surprise, we arrived at a Maasai camp, where real Maasai greeted us with a traditional welcome dance. They gave us a tour of what they call home while also giving us a taste of their culture and life style.

The stay was by far one of the most surreal things I've ever experienced. Being there was like a real life documentary; something you’d watch on T.V. back home and think “oh, that’s cool!”, and then forget about it the next day. They cooked for us, sang and danced for us, and took us on a tree search, where we learned about different trees and how they can be used for medicine and even as toothbrushes! A Maasai warrior even taught us how to throw spears. We also had the honor of meeting a 97 year old woman who we addressed as “Coco”, which means Grandmother in Maa, the language of the Maasai. She was very welcoming and open to everything we asked her. I was surprised by the way she took in complete strangers while being so unfamiliar with us and our way of life. She has never been in a car and has never used a phone. That alone to me is unbelievable. Everything about Coco made me feel an immense amount of respect for her. Meeting her and getting to speak with her was definitely a highlight of the trip.

The way the Maasai have preserved their culture and simplistic lifestyle came as a shock to me. They live off the land; no cars, no electricity, no running water. Everything we take for granted, they can live without. Witnessing and learning how they go about their everyday lives was unlike anything I've ever done and I’m very thankful for that opportunity. It opened my eyes and made me reflect upon the things that are truly essential in life.