Well I know people may not enjoy viewing the care packages that I receive but I cannot help but post photos in a form of a THANK YOU!!!! These care packages really mean so much to me and I do eat better during the week after I receive a package. Thank you all again and please keep sending me packages with food and entertainment (DVDs, Books, Magazines)!!! BIG SMILE
When I came back from IST I had this waiting for me at the post!! I had been gone a month and it was great to get all of these packages for Easter!!
From my family
Jen sadly the reeses peanut butter ships did not make the journey. My kids did enjoy have chuncks of the stuff!!
From my family. The grand War and Peace which I then finished in 2 weeks!!
From my family again, they really do love me!
This is a glorious package that I shared with all my neighbor kids from my RPCV friend Rab and his co-worker Patty. The girls loved all their hair ties and wore them on Easter!
My good friend Fang send this package over with tons of goodies the I scarfed down within a week. The kids thought the peeps were very interesting.
This is from a future Burkina Faso Volunteer coming this June, Emma P. So kind and I have never even met her before. Some people are so kind and amazing.
Tons of fun goodies from my family. That Nacho cheese sauce is FANTASTIC!
It took me about 2 weeks to finish all those care packages. Man I ate like a queen.
This care package is from my longtime friend Rebes (Forbes Hall, hollar). She is a RPCV from Benin and knows her stuff about African heat. That Dr. Brommers pepperment soap is AMAZING!!! Go out and get some ASAP. I shower with it every night before I go to bed and it cools me off RIGHT AWAY, so tingely!
Goodies galore from my family. They are SOOOO GOOD TO ME. I had been craving that cereal since the thief stole it in January. I have already used up all of that Franks Red Hot sauce. In this package I also got letters from the 7th grade Silver Knights that I write to in the USA. My neighbor kids LOVED the French singing card. Ohhh Marshmellows and a a NEW BOX OF CRAYONS
My sister Ann has been working on making Family movies of things while I am away. She then sends me over DVDs of the Movies. These entertain me for hours and help with the homesickness. That is my bro in the top right hand corner saying hello with his ladyfriend. The ones with my Dad are the FUNNIEST!!
Jen has become a MASTER at packing me care packages. This one was packed to the hilt with goodies and Worchester sauce. I was amazed by how much I loved the applesauce. It is great when I cannot get any fruit for weeks at a time.
My last care package which took only 15 days to get to me. It was my last package before heading to the UK on holiday. It was all gone in a week. The magazines kept me busy for a day or two. This one was from my family. THANK YOU!!!
Gwendolyn Armstrong
BP 21 Diebougou
Region de Bougouriba
Burkina Faso, WEST AFRICA
A women carrying a canery of Dolo on top of her head. Yes that is filled with liquid.
My counterpart Lagou and his wife Mary out at dinner eating chicken out of a bag.
As a Peace Corps volunteer we get all of the medicine we could EVER WANT. Everything is for FREE and when we run out of something we just ask for more. Therefore please do not send me anymore Pepto bismal. :)
Lagou in my courtyard preparing a plot for my moringa trees. Yes he is wearing NO SHOES. Burkinabe do not wear shoes when farming and sometimes never at all.
I put Jen and Matthew to work planting moringa seeds. Matthew and Jen are my closest PCV neighbors. 
We all get out hads dirty. The moringa trees were planted on April 17th and in later photos you will see how fast they grow. 
Local Millet Beer called Dolo. Yum warm beer. 
A women serving the dolo prepares it for the men beside me. She first uses a leaf to spoon off the foam. 
She then pours it into a calabash and hands it to the man beside me. 
Dolo. I try not to drink dolo due to the unfiltered water they use and I am not sure about how sanitary it is.
Pouring of the Dolo. 
My OLD courtyard door. You can see how safe I felt. Anyone could come in whenever they wanted. I had NO PRIVACY. Sorry I forgot to take a photo of my new door will do that soon. 
Abdul and Marque put dirt into water sasays getting ready to plant their own moringa. 
I told them I would water their trees for two months and they when they have grown they could take them and put them in their family's courtyard. 
This is right before a storm hits my village. It gets Crazy windy and I have to hide inside my house.
The road that I live on right before it rains.
My counterpart Lagou teaching a class on basic agriculture skills. This is what a traditional classroom looks like in Burkina Faso. 
The only breeze and light come from open windors. Desks are raised benches.
Women pilling shea nuts in what looks like to be a tree trunk. This will then be boiled to make shea butter. Look at their arms, muscles. 
In the action. They do this for hours in the heat. This is taken in the village of Navielgane en brousse. 
Gwen with her Moringa trees, 3 weeks after planting them. 
Moringa sasays which I can then give away to my neighbors. 
Moringa cuttings. I will dry the leaves and then give them to my neighbors for them to use in their sauces. Tons of vitamins. 
Diane and Arme help me pull the leave off the moringa and put them into tamis to dry. 
