Meet the Founder

Sister and Suitcases Founder,  Host & Experience Designer

Hi,
I am Tamaya. I’m no different than you.

First and foremost, I am a believer and wife, after that – I’m a dreamer, an educator and a world traveler who firmly believes in living life to its fullest. This belief became even stronger 11 years ago when I lost my mother to sudden death (on her break at work) and two years later my father. I was faced with a hard truth: we were not promised any amount of time on this earth.  The time to live is now…or possibly never.

After losing my mother I assumed one of the greatest responsibilities “life changes” could throw me. I became responsible for my then 10 year old brother (who will graduates from college next year). I became his mother, which means making sacrifices. I put getting my Ph.D on hold, job offers, relationships, career moves and yes, there was limit to how much I traveled, which was mostly with close friends and family, be it domestic or international travel.

In 2012 I traveled to Italy because I was in need of a vacation to remove me from the demands of work and life.  Little did I know the experience would change my life.  It was as if I had been sleep walking and I was suddenly awakened to the fact that there is so much more than the world “I” live in.  I was different after each activity, excursion, encounter and conversation that I had day to day and city to city. I could physically feel my horizons broadening and any limitation or confinement (unconsciously placed upon myself) lifted and shattered.

Being a black women who loves to travel (my nickname is roadrunner) it didn’t take long for me to realize that the experience I had was due to my intentions while traveling. I engaged more with the locals, ditch the car service used public transportation, I gave myself permission to be me, I let my guard down, I sat and engaged in meaningful conversation with strangers and women whom I had just meet for the first time which later turned into meaningful friendships. I was curious. I wanted more. I didn’t want to return home the same.  I knew I would return home to work and life stresses but I also I knew I could return different if I did something different. So let tell you what was different.  I sought to find a bigger value of travel, besides the joy of entertainment and shopping (I got both in). 

My quest for adventure brought a greater return and provoked my inner journey. Travel has allowed me to regain control of my everyday life, reconnect with myself and the lifeworld, reconstruct my identity, and allowed me to move forward to the next stage of my life healed with hope and wholeness.
Life events provide us with the test for our willingness to transform our interior, our unconscious mind states.  As soon as things that you relied on in the past are no longer available or their consistency is altered, you are in a position to change your views and examine your attachments.

If you've dreamed of getting away from your busy life to take time out for yourself, relax, let your hair down, reawaken your passion, nourish yourself, expand your awareness, laugh from the pit of your belly, and just have fun in a community of sisterhood Sisters and Suitcases experiences are for you. Join me for an experience of lifetime by registering today.