Setting Off to Burkina Faso

First off I want to thank everyone for the well wishes and the wonderful send offs.  I will miss everyone and will try to be thorough about blogging and writing emails when I can get to internet cafes.  

This past week was hectic and I apologize to everyone who I was not able to see, or talk to before I left.  I am all packed and I have left a bundle of goods at home that did not make the cut to come with me to Africa.  

If you do not already know I did cut off about 13 inches of my hair and here is the progression of photos:

 This last photo is a photo of what the finished product looked like.  I am pretty pleased with Jen and Mom's handiwork.  All of my hair was sent to be used for cancer wigs.

Prior to the hair cut I spent about two weeks in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria and it was fabulous.  I saw so much of Berlin and it is a beautiful unexpected city.  I did not want to leave, SMILE.  My top favorite things from the trip:  1) Going to a natural spa by the Swiss/German border with Michael's mom and just relaxing in the baths.  2)  A boat cruise around Berlin on my last day, seeing all the sites from the water.  3) Sitting around the dinner table for hours talking with Michael's dad and an old family friend.   There were a million more. . . 

Presently I have nothing to report yet about my peace corps experience.  Today has been a day of ice breakers and orienting us into becoming Peace Corps trainees.  There are 31 other volunteers divided between Health and Small Enterprise Development.  Tomorrow I begin malaria medicine and get shots and then fly out to Burkina Faso tomorrow night.  I have about a 10 hour lay over in Paris and I get into Ouagadougou Wednesday night around 8pm (4pm eastern time).  Thursday I head out to my training sight and get adopted into my new family on October 19th.  I am happy that I am not the only one not comfortable with speaking French yet, phewwwww!!!

I am now very EXCITED for this next adventure.  I am ready. . . I think, haha.  

Miss you all and please keep me in your thoughts!!

My Address in Burkina Faso:

Gwendolyn Armstrong

Corps de la Paix Americain

01 BP 6031 Ouagadougou 01 

Burkina Faso (West Africa)