I literally do not know where to start and this entry will not do he last few days justice but it has been so cute. Have had so many Africa moments that I couldnt have imagined. I love it here and I wish everybody could see it because it is such a great place. Of curse you do get days where you hate everything but thats the same as everywhere and the majority are amazing.

I am so lucky to have some really good friends here who already I feel like Ive known forever.

But ill get on to the main thing that has happened. I think I have mentioned before that theres a little boy in my class who was a talibe but ran away from his marabout because he was so corrupt and the little kid had a hideous life. He ended up here and got taken in by the talibe centre, which despite definitely being an amazing idea and it does give breakfast to the talibes every day, is a horrible place. Its so dirty and none of the boys get the attention or love they need. Muhammad; the little boy in my class; has lived there for ages; and another volunteers who has now left; managed to get him a place in school and bought him loads of clothes and medication; so he finally had something.

After that volunteer left; Muhammad continued to go to school but it heartbreaking to see him there because none of he kids talk to him, he cant afford a uniform and he never has any break to eat, whilst all he other kids have loads of biscuits etc. So he was ill for a few days last week and then he came back to school looking so depressed. I saw him at he breakfast too and he was crying. Me and Lucy went and bought him some boscuits for break and he started cuddling them because he never ezver got anything like that.

The next day he didnt look any happier so Lucy and I went to ask his guardian at the centre if we could take him to the beach on Saturday. She was very happyfor us to do that. Halfie is quite a stern woman but it is clear she really does care for Muhammad but as she told us, she just doesnt have the means to care for him as he needs it because shes a mum to so many kids who also need her. Saturday came and we went to pick Muhammad up and he was all ready to go with a big smile on his face. Halfie was also so pleased and thanked us continuously, though for us it was a privilege to be able to help with something as small as taking him to the beach.

Anyway we had a really cute day on the beach and Muhammad loved all his biscuits and cakes, etc, though he almost vommed which was gross, but the situation was thankfully saved by a quick drink of water. He was so scared of the sea but eventually we got him in there and he was splashing about in the waves and making loads of new friends - the beach vendors - who loved him.

After the beach we went for pizza which was particularly funny. Muhammad couldnt quite grasp that the pizza was for him and him alone so he seemed almost scared to eat it, but as themeal progressed and he got more confident, he was adament he wanted to try the chili sauce. I said no at firs, but in the end we decided this was his day and after all he is African and they do eat a lot of hot food so maybe he was used to it. So I thought I was doing a good deed when I proceeded to drown his pizza in the stuff. One bite later and I though his eyes might actually fall out they were watering so much and every two seconds hes get a wave of chili and start panting - kind of sad for him that he ruined his meal but bloody funny for us nonetheless.

On the way home we stopped in at the toy shop an bought a top plane and a ball which he seemed chuffed about and then we made our way to the taxi. I'd like to stress at this point that I had asked Muhammad if he needed the toilet about twenty times during the day, knowing that he probably wouldnt offer the information himself and he had firmly answered "non" each time. Well you can imagine my surprise when I turn round from hailing a taxi and hes whipped it out and is peeing all over the street, and I mean ALL over. He must not have gone for about 6 days before that because it was a long, red faced, ten minute wait, with a growing crowd of laughing spectators. Even the taxi driver was wetting himself and all the time it was going on, Muhammed just stood there, oblivious to everyone, with the hugest grin on his face.

We returned Muhammed safely home and Halfie thanked us again, but it was only when we got home that we realised we still had his beach towel. We decided to go and deliver it the next day and didnt really think much else of it. The next day came and at about 5pm we called Maddy, who works at the centre where Muhammed lives and told her we were going to drop off the towel and would it still be open. It was then that she told us Muhammed wouldnt be there when we got there. Momentary panic set in as I feared the chili sauce really HAD taken its toll but the real story quickly unfolded and it was the best ending that anyone could have asked for...

It transpired that Muhammeds Dad had got wind of the fact that the little boy had run away from the Marabout and had spent months searching for him in all the towns and villages and that evening, he finally tracked him down through another Talibe who said he had seen him at the centre. The other Talibe almost reported back to the dad that Muhammed was not his son, as the description the dad had given differed a little, but when the Dad himself saw his photo, he identified him as his son.

Luckily Lucy and I managed to make it to the centre before Muhammed had left and in fact, his Dad decided to come up the next morning from his village near Dakar so we had a chance to say goodbye and he also came in to school to say goodbye to Tata Adama and the children (who didnt bat an eyelid - heartless sods) the next day. It was really sad to say goodbye, despite only knowing him five weeks but what made us cry was the fact that he would finally have the life a five year old should have and he is one less kid that will have to queue up for an hour for a piece of bread in the morning.

Halfie is definitely going to find it hard without him, as he was like an extra son, but like she said, this is the only way it should be and he'll no longer just long for his parents, he finally has them. This is one part of my Africa experience that I will definitely never forget...