The area was typical of many cities areas in Mali, perhaps in Africa.......very dirty, small shacks built out of sticks and debris were all around us. People were selling oranges, bananas, peanuts, meat, plastic containers. Vendors were walking around with many items on their heads, trying to sell cigarettes, cards for cellphone credit, shoes, underwear, sunglasses, BIC pens, calculators, and tissues. People were trying to make a living.
Many people cannot 'earn' a living. They beg. Every time we stop the vehicle, beggars of various types approach us. We are white people in a car that is not falling apart. Beggars come to us as single women carrying malnourished and dirty babies, very old women, blind men being guided by children, and groups of children carrying tin cans to receive their handouts.
I saw a boy about 10 years old approach the vehicle from the front. He was on the shoulder. He wore dirty and ripped shorts and teeshirt, as do so many other children. He was dirty. When he was about 20 feet in front of the SUV, he made a small jump, then went right into a perfect cartwheel. He continued walking towards me. No tin can in hand. When he was just outside my side window, on the right side, he flashed a magnificently friendly smile, and waved at me. I waved back. He proceeded on.