Slightly 'Kidnapped'

So, today I had an interesting experience:

I helped my guard Ifastane move to another concession. The first load was the hut of an older woman in his charge - he calls her 'la vielle' (the old one). I am not exactly sure of their relation, but I believe she might be his aunt.

We left her in the new concession while I made a few more trips with household belongings. On my last trip, I took the family over while my guard walked his sheep to the new home. One of the few Tamasheq greetings I can pull off is the 'see you later' when you leave. So I said good bye to Ifastane's wife and children and then walked over to 'la vielle' and say goodbye. She held my hand and prattled off in Tamasheq - she thanked me for helping with the move and blessed me. And then told me she wanted to show me something (that was hesitantly translated to French by one of his children who can speak a few words).

'La vielle' then led me by the hand out of her concession and into the neighbouring concession. I guess while we were moving their huts and household, she was making friends with her new neighbours - whom she apparently wanted me to meet as well!!

So, I sat in this concession smiling at these three Touaregs - none of whom could speak French. Our conversation came to a halt after the 2 greetings I know . . . but this did not stop them! They kept talking with me and I kept smiling. After a few minutes, 'la vielle' disappeared and left me with the strangers!! Strangers who seemed perfectly content to entertain a white lady they did not know!

They offered me tea - I do love the Tamasheq tea, which is always a sweet treat. As it was brewing, one of the ladies made milk (powder and water) and passed me the cup. So, I learned the commmand word in Tamasheq for 'drink': eshwa.

Eventually a young girl, who speaks French, from the family showed up and translated a bit. After I few minutes, I mentioned that I had to get to work and hauled out my 'good-bye' in Tamasheq.