A-team in Managua

No significant issues to report as we end our first day in Nicaragua.  The A-team arrived, more or less on schedule, and left the airport — more or less intact.  We collected our four duffel bags from the checked luggage carousel, which would have been better if we hadn’t brought five duffels.  Naturally, the fifth bag would be filled with 70 economy-sized bottles of vitamins.  When we returned to claim the bag (before we actually left the airport), a customs official, who apparently has designs on a position with TSA, decided that it was singularly inappropriate to be traveling with medicine sans prescription.  Soyoung Hwang (clinic director and third-year team member), Michael Cammarata (2nd  year team member), and Yardley Albarracin (newbie par excellent) tried explaining that the bottles contained vitamins, which don’t require a prescription — even in the U.S.  “Close the bag and mind your manners,” was the gist of the cordial reply.

We waited for the “head” customs official, who arrived with a Spanish equivalent of “P-shaww.  Ain’t no thang,” and we were off.  Our charming amigo, Dr. Roger Martinez, met us at our regular Managua hostel with the prescription meds we had ordered.  We spent an hour organizing the meds and trying to imagine how 5 people, 10 or so bags, and about $1500 worth of medicine will fit in a Toyota Prado (slightly smaller than the Toyota Highlander).  We have a three hour trip up the Pan American highway tomorrow — and it will be cozy.

Dinner at a nearby “Mexican” restaurant (don’t think either Taco Bell or Tequila Rose) provided the perfect recovery.  It’s 10 pm now (11 EST), and the crew are quiet.  I’m in the courtyard and can hear the television in Gabi Arias’ (4th year team member and in-country coordinator) and Soyoung’s room.  I hear an occasional word from the room shared by Michael and Yardley, but otherwise it’s a close, warm Nicaraguan night.

It’s a little bittersweet already.  Gabi is here for the 5th time, having joined the team as a freshman and having returned also last summer to do field research.  Soyoung has been here 4 times (three annual trips + last summer).  That’s an amazing chunk of talent and experience.  I hope I’ve learned enough to continue without them in the years to come.

Hasta luego, amigos y amigas.