I gave my Diarah the two books I'd brought for her, the large 3-in-1 Jeremy Stilton book, about dinosaurs, the Middle Ages and Ancient Egypt, and 101 Dalmatians, and I gave her friend the little toy beanie-baby horse and some stickers. I also gave my Diarah stickers and a pen set for school, and I gave both girls individual pens. I signed the big book for Diarah, with her new pen. Then it was their turn. First, they brought out a huge bowl of mangoes, then two bowls of fresh milk. Then they gave me a huge wooden ladle, for the milk, I guess! Then a bag of guinea fowl eggs. Then Diarah presented me with a bowl, newly inscribed 'L'amitie de la ville de Heramokono' and the date. The coup de grace was when Diarah's father presented me with three live chickens! There were more photos taken, and then we ate, from a huge communal bowl of rice and chicken (yes, I know, but I tried to eat only the rice, I couldn't refuse, it would have been too rude after all the effort they put in).
After many goodbyes, and handshakes and waves, it was finally time to go. The drive back to town was a bit of an anticlimax, but it gave me time to wind down. And before you ask, I gave Mr Coulibaly the three chickens, the milk and the guinea fowl eggs to distribute to the Save the Children staff, and I just kept the mangoes, oranges and ground nuts (I forgot to mention those).
After many goodbyes, and handshakes and waves, it was finally time to go. The drive back to town was a bit of an anticlimax, but it gave me time to wind down. And before you ask, I gave Mr Coulibaly the three chickens, the milk and the guinea fowl eggs to distribute to the Save the Children staff, and I just kept the mangoes, oranges and ground nuts (I forgot to mention those).
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