Making like a tree and leafing...

I was blogging offline during our 15 hour flight and completely forgot to upload...

• 3:05pm CST on 1/9/13, somewhere over Minnesota: 



• It's official... we're Manila bound! All 18 of us made it to O'Hare International Airport with our outrageously heavy suitcases in tow. My backpack felt more like a small toddler at 9 kilograms. Several moms and dads and others stuck with us until it was time to move our way to the security gate. We had to have taken 1000 pics before we left. Some shed some tears...which was so adorable. On the other end of the spectrum is Patrick (my husband) who opted for the curbside drop off. Hahaha. I know its early, but all signs say that we are a pretty rambunctious group. Laughing our heads off over a McDonald's lunch, sharing fries and friending each other on Facebook.
• 5:02pm CST on 1/9/13, somewhere over western Canada:

• Just finished a salmon dinner and it was good!! Jordyn (my seatmate) and I were pretty impressed. Only 12 hours and 29 minutes til we land in Hong Kong.

• 6:00am CST on 1/10/13:
• 3 movies, some ipod time, and a little bit of sleep and we have finally made it to Hong Kong!!! Got ourselves something to drink. $27!!! Hong Kong dollars of course. Taking off for Manila in about an hour.

Some pics of our adventure so far:

O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, IL

Lack of space underneath our airplane seats...hardly enough room for my legs and Jordyn's

Our first day!

Today was our first full day in Manila! We got up at 8 am to have breakfast and experience real filipino food!!! Then, we drove awhiles way to the Far East School of Nursing where we met with the nursing students there and took a tour of the hospital attached to the school. It was so different comparing it to our hospital and how much money we spend on air conditioning, decorations, amenities, etc. The hospital and school do not have air conditioning in the hallways, only in the rooms. We then traveled to the Fort Santiago, which was a Hispanic stone fortress(the oldest may I add). Finally, we drove to have dinner at Barbaras, a great tourist spot where we had dinner and watched filipino traditional dances all night!!! Finally we are back at the hotel! Sorry if I sound like i am blabbering. I am so tired and I hope I make sense. I am really trying to write on this blog daily! It is currently 10:52 at night here and tomorrow it will be Saturday for us! We have not had sleep for the past 24 hours so I am ready for bed! good night from the Philippines!!! Tomorrow starts at 7:45 am. oh and ps. Driving here in the Philippines is by far the worst traffic ! I will never complain about Chicago traffic ever again!!!!