Back in Trujillo

Well I am back here in Peru after spending Christmas at home visiting family and friends. I want to thank everyone who helped the Clinic with their donations...I got everything through customs (aduanas) with out paying anything! We can't wait to use the supplies, equipment and medicine that you sent. It really makes a difference...for example Dry's Pharmacy in Zachary donated Triple Antibiotic ointment among other things...we did not have ANY. So yes, things like that do make a difference!! Even small cuts here get nasty quick!

I got to spend New Years day eating with freinds from the clinic and went to Allen and Sandi Smiths later that night.
We celebrated the New Year using Peruvian traditions (reformed, of course!) It is Peruvian tradition to create a giant life sized "rag doll" (muñeco) of old clothes and fill it with anything flammable (fireworks too!) and set it on fire at 12 to welcome the New Year and leave the old one behind. Of course ours had a twist, we each wrote down a pecado (sin) that we burned with the muñeco and will (try!) to leave behind this year.
Also there are other traditions, such as walking around the block with a suitcase...doing this ensures that you will travel in the next year (I hope this one is true!) Everyone also eats 12 grapes...each one representing one month of the year to come and your hopes/plans/wishes for each!



More traditions por Año Nuevo:
http://www.demodaenperu.com/blog/2009/12/ano-nuevo-2010/

Ah and although both Christmas AND New Years have passed, the Plaza de Armas is still brimming with folks who come to see the Arboles de Navidad (Christmas trees) that diffenrent companies sponser and put up each year...I guess they want to get their moneys worth!