Supposed to being the operative word! Tower Control informed out crew that there was a possibility of snow being in the air and that being the case, the plane HAD to be de-iced. So the ground control crew were called and this was unexpected so they were gearing up to head over and de-ice when control figured out there was no snow in the air and we could take off. So we did 15 minutes late.
However we landed 40 minutes late into Houston and that gave us only 20 minutes to get to our departing terminal (and they close the gate and doors easily 10 minutes ahead of time). We came into concourse b and needed to get to Concourse E. Well we got to that concourse and Pam, who is the Student Volunteer Coordinator was standing there waiting on us as the two girls in our group of seven were in her charge. So we were lucky that there were seven of us, I think that helped them keep the plane there.
We landed in Managua to 90 degree weather. Stifling a little bit. We milled about (Navy term for goofing off a little bit) waiting on some others to arrive from Miami (that was only 20 minutes later), we exchanged some money, got a quick bite to eat from a Subway and then got aboard a couple buses to do our 2.5 hour ride to Chinandega.
Well 3 plus hours later and we arrived to our hotel. What a trip along the way. Talk about third world. Some of the vehicles (buses) were brightly colored, carts being pulled by horses, mopeds on the median as well as bicycles and even adults and kids walking along not 4 feet away from the 80 kmh traffic along the paved highway. Outside the city, all other roads were dirt. Not gravel or crush and run. But good ole dirt. Kinda bare trees, no grass around the houses, which were made of cinder block, tin, and even one that looked like it was made out of cardboard. Fences were all crudely fashioned out of small logs with barbed while attached to it or trees growing in a row. Saw one gate made out of poles sunk in the ground to keep people or things from going thru.
Along the way, you could see the volcano, not sure the name of it, but smoke was wafting out of it. At first, it was across from Lake Managua, which is a large lake here in Nicaragua. Once we got to our hotel, the volcano is much closer, I would estimate prob 10-15 miles away. Late in the afternoon, there seemed to be more smoke billowing out of it. Supposedly it is a tourist attraction around here.
I am in an upstairs room with the head anesthesiologist and the head Medical director who is also considered the team doc if anything happens to any of us. Lucky me. 3 twin beds, simple sink in the room but a spacious bathroom,- toilet, large sink and shower where the curtains barely hit the edge of the floor rim 9means water gets on the floor somewhat I you aren’t real careful).
We had our first Team Meeting at the pool area, where there is a real nice cabana/table/chairs. The pool looks to be about a 20 meter pool, will try it out later. Dinner was served, consisted of a simple salad, steak with a gravy sauce on top and rice. Someone had them bring out some wine and beers to go along with the water and cokes. Then Katie – the lead op Smile worker on her last mission introduced some key people then we all went around and introduced ourselves. There were about 45 of us there.
Back to the room to start arranging things for the next day and finally got to bed about 10:30, after a long day.
Pam from Colorado along with Torrie and Kelly of Virginia Beach, those two are high school student volunteers. they will work with the kids before and during checkin, teaching them proper brushing techniques and just basically keeping them busy. The second pic is us standing in line exchanging monies to Cordoba's. It is 20 to 1. The blonde is Aleisha from Texas who is working with me.
The center courtyard at the airport in Managua Nicaragus. The young lady on the right is Katy who is are Mission Coordinator for this trip, she is from Norfolk. The other young lady is Rebecca from Managua and is one of the two coordinators here in Nicaragua.
The bus being loaded, there was this bigger one, then two smalled ones. Most of the luggage was loaded on top, some stored in the very back. Then a pic of some of my new friends all loaded onboard. The lady (Kristy) next to me had just cut her hair two weeks earlier, it was down to the middle of her back, she got a wild hair and cut it and donated the hair.
We were at a stop light and this guy jumped out and quirted water all over the window from a soda bottle and proceeded to clean the window with a squeege, there were a few of these at intersections. You could also buy food/drinks at intersections as wel, and these weren't at 7-Elevens but at small portable or semi rigid stands.
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