Dental Project Peru – Trip Report

15-28 October 2008

Written by Angus Gordon

With great excitement and some preconceived ideas of what to expect I arrived in Lima a day earlier than suggested by the itinerary.

This was a booking mistake on my part but allowed me a quick look around Miraflores, in Lima, before flying to Cusco with Daniel and Marie Johnson. In my luggage I had a list of ‘sisters and aunties’ of my Peruvian daughter in law to contact once I arrived in Peru. I did meet up with a sister in Lima but didn’t manage an aunty in the sacred valley.

The flight to Cusco was the beginning of a four day abstinence from food after picking up a nasty stomach bug in Lima. Daniel and the rest of the team must have been wondering what

they had lumbered themselves with in those first few days.

Once the truck was loaded for the first time in Cusco the days just flew by in a haze of traveling, incredible sights and communities needing our help.

Daniel, as our team leader, was just magnificent, and I felt very honored to be invited to his home in Lima to meet his family and have a lovely meal. I felt on leaving Peru that I had left behind a new friend.

Equipment, organisation, food and accommodation was great and we had so many laughs about the facilities awaiting us at the various ‘Hilton Hotels’ as we headed back to after a days work.

After the days on the trip I felt as if I had known Daniel, Leo and Yessie for ever.

Yessie was such a lovely person and was always there to guide and advise us with any dental issues. The meals she arranged in the evenings and lunch times were incredible.

Leo was amazing. His driving was so good –how safe we all felt, even on those precipitous roads.

Although I was not able to understand his talks to the kids, Leo was obviously so enthusiastic about the subject.

Thank you all for allowing me to join you. I do think of that journey most days and how mundane everyday work now seems.

My son, Gisela and kids are in Peru at this moment.

I wish I was there.