Peru Expeditions

I have just returned from visiting Peru and I am trying to slide back into my usual life without too much fuss. It was a more difficult trip than ones in the past. For those who don't know me well, I have helped organize a humanitarian effort to provide free medical education to native Peruvian physicians and nurses. We hold a two day conference on trauma in Cuzco, Peru, a mod large city in the Andes Mountains that is the starting place for the famous Inca Trail. I have gone every year for the past 4 years in this effort. This year was more difficult than usual as I struggled to get enough participants to make the trip possible. I have been working much more than usual at both my jobs while negotiating new contracts, juggling other volunteer work, other work responsibilities and various other projects. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and ready to throw in the towel but it turned out ok and now that I am back, I can "objectively" look back and wonder at all that I learned. Here are the highlights of some of the pearls I gleaned in Peru.

1. Misery doesn't always love company.

2. South American time is 10 minutes slower than Mormon time.
3. Airports/Airlines/Layovers/Delays SUCK (except when a close bathroom is an essential need)!
4. Always check your Soles to ensure they are not counterfeit.
5. South American Church meetings are as boring as North American Church meetings.
6. Always be careful when talking about bladders in Spanish.
7. Ambien can make you feel fague in the mornings.
8. Lazy overweight out of shape doctors should never try to climb Huianu Piccu no matter how much peer pressure.

9. Nothing feels better than your own bed
10. If you are emotionally challenged, to remain safe, stay away from religious and personal discussions.

11. God and Heaven is in the Andes Mountains

 
                    

Slacker poster

Well, its been awhile since I posted anything. Shame on me! The Vicker is chastising me and calling me to repentance. 2 Our Fathers and 3 Hail Marys should do it! Whoops, maybe a little blasphemous....

So, my problem is that I have no life to post about. I am either working, working, or occasionally sleeping and that is just not exciting blog fare. I was sick for the past two weeks, I guess that counts. I have to admit I am not good at being sick. As a matter of fact, I really suck at it! I am an ornery wench and wallow in self pity. The only problem is there was no one around to hear my wallowing and whining! And, what do you do when your a doctor? I think most people go to the doctor so that someone will listen to there whining but they have to pay for it. I just end up talking to myself and I will tell you, I am not very sympathetic. I usually just end up telling myself to suck it up and take a couple of aspirin and call...well you know. Today someone asked me what I did to take care of myself? I said I took a couple of ibuprofen and then went drug seeking to the local ER. (OK, not true but I was tempted).