Flying with a Maasai

We have chartered a small plane. We are with a member of Parliament, and elected officials looking at a vast area of land, in a remote location. We land for lunch. We eat in a small school, 150 students. The kids are in their green uniforms and excited about these guest that have landed from the air.  Once they get the courage up they yell “How are you?” “How are you?” “I am fine.” I hear it all the time and each time I find it adorable. I yell back “I am fine, how are you?!”

We meet and talk with landowners, and then we are to return south. A local Maasai who serves as a community liaison officer for conservation and community initiatives joins us in the plane. He is to be our guide as he knows the land better than the back of his hand. As we start taking off, I say to him “Please, just interrupt us anytime to point things out.” As I speak I notice he is bracing the chair. He is visibly shaking. We learn that he has never been in a plane before, let alone a small plane (10 seater.) He is absolutely terrified.

The woman next to me keeps saying to him “Poa,” which is slang for “Its all good.” This is in the language sheng, which is basically taking over Kenya, a slang that many adults cannot understand—strategic on behalf of the youth, but a concern of teachers. But back to the poor Maasai. Every time the plane dips or rises he lets out a little “ay.” He is breathing in and out like he is having a baby. Given that we are looking at particular parcels of land, we are banking steep turns, turning around and resurveying the area. Every time we dip left or right the “ay” gets louder, breathing faster. When the Maasai sing and talk they have a series of yelps, cries and short phrases such as “ay.” This poor man is using all of these expressions.

Long story short, we made it to the landing strip. He safely put his feet on the ground, and insisted that is it not normal to defy gravity and he will surely take the road next time.