Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Felize Navidad y Felize Ano
Buon Natale y Felici ano nuevo

And Lord knows if I spelled any of that correctly!

I hope the almost-new-year finds you all well and happy. I just returned from my family cruise to the Southern Carribean and Central and South America. An amazing trip, I recommend you all visit. I have posted many photos, b/c they are worth 1,000 words. We had fun, saw pretty things, and made tons of friends, including my twin, Katie, who lives in California and is just all around awesome, and a ton of crazy people from Mexico City, Georgia, Canada, and all the Italian and Eastern European staff.

I found out while I was out in Philly doing my COMLEX PE exam that I will for certain be doing my family practice residency in Omaha at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that some of my DMU friends will be joining me in the area, but I am very happy about the outcome. I'm sad that my travel days are coming to an end, but it will be a nice change to have an actual dresser.

I wish you all a very merry christmas, a safe and happy new year, and many wonderful things in the near future.

New Friends
Lauren, Alejandro and Me






Daniela, Kirstin, Lauren and Alejandro







Lauren with the Animators (Leanna, Marcello, Carmine, Roberto and Miro)




Daniela, Kirstin and Lauren 

Trey and David






Kirstin, Katie and me

back row: Hernanda, Alejandro, Daniela, Andrea, Trey
Front row: Rojo and Kirstin 

Lots and Lots and Lots and Lots and Lots of Family Time!!!!!
BUT!!!
My Family is the absolute best. We all had so much fun and got along so incredibly well. Aside from a few cranky times, everything was smooth as silk. I'm am so lucky to have such a wonderful family and to be able to do this. Not to mention that my sisters are a riot, and I'm so happy we are all friends. They were key in making wonderful fun new friends, always having a dance partner, someone to gossip with, and someone to get you a beer (thanks dad!).

 

 

 

Santa Marta, Colombia
First stop on the trip was to this beautiful and festive city. Not a major port, or a place I'd highly recommend, but it was fun to see, and the paella is amazing!


 

 

Cartegena, Colombia

I was not here to Romance the Stone, but it was fun to see this famous city, learn about Simon Bolivard, the liberator of Central and South America, hold a sloth, and scope out the emeralds. It is a beautiful and colorful city, full of history and mystery, and perhaps a place I will return to.


 

 

Colon, Panama

First trip to Panama. We took a ferry through the Panama Canal and learned the history for this amazing feat of architecture. It was sooooo hot that day, but something I can say I accomplished in my life. And I even got to pose with Santa Clause this year!