Lovely CiMoon,
Since I don't know what your native language is, I'll just write in English.
I guess it's a childhood dream I'm not quite ready to let go of. A teenaged girl's wish to live among proud and honest people in an environment that strips away anything unnecessary, a wish I've never completely outgrown. Federica de Cesco's books started it, they acquainted me with the tribe in the first place, then I met a girl with the same fascination and we became friends. But I am not naive - times change and so did I as well as the Tuareg and the governments of the countries they live in. This dream will remain being just that, a dream, and I've come to terms with it.
Anyways, thank you for your interest and I'm sorry to hear that you and your SP friend lost contact. Sometimes no conflict is needed to break up a friendship, sometimes it just fades away.
I hope I managed to answer your question but if anything needs clarification, feel free to ask,
Franca