We are Manila bound!!!

After 15 hours on a plane to Hong Kong, 2 hour lay over, and then another 2 hour plane ride to Manila. We are finally here!!!! It's a shame its 3:31 AM because we cannot sleep!!! Our rooms are really nice here at the Joya Lofts and Towers!!!!its going to be a shock when we get up north and the hotels start looking a little more different!! I am rooming with Beth and Sarah. We are all getting accustomed to being here and getting in touch with our families right now. Time for showers and going to bed! Waking up at 8 AM and then going to the Far Eastern Nursing school. Good night US! Until the next time!!! Good night from the Philippines!! Danielle

THE TIME HAS FINALLY COME!

WEll guys! The time has finally arrived. I am getting my last minute things together! Arriving in O'Hare airport at 11 am where we will be going on our 15 hour flight to Hong Kong!!!!!! ahhhh (brought lots of books for this flight)! . FInally, 2 hour flight to the Philippines from Hong Kong! Stay tuned in our journey!!!! We will try to update this blog daily, otherwise we will have multiple blogs in one day!!! Stay classy America! We will see you shortly!!!

Thank you!

Student nurses from both Addison & Chicago Campuses

With less than 24 hours until we take off, reality has started to creep in. Both the Chicago Campus and Addison Campus students got together yesterday to participate in "Packing Day". From 10am until past 1pm, we took stuff out of boxes, bagged meds like pharmacy techs, sorted clothes, filled our suitcases, and weighed our bags (over and over and over). 50 pound maximums are so restricting!!!

Looking around the room, it was amazing to see the sheer amount of donations we each brought in -- from clothes, shoes, and toys to much needed medications for cough, flu, vitamins, and allergies. The room was PACKED with these important items because of great friends and family who supported us each. Gigi, our professor for Community Nursing and leader of our trip, even mentioned how incredible the amount and quality of our donations were.

16+ foot long table completely full of medications waiting to be bagged

I do want to personally thank everybody who donated to both Danielle and myself, as well as to my fellow teammates. My MVP's: Kevin Evangelista for the best Secret Santa gifts, Diane for her generosity, and to my niece Ava who donated a good portion of her savings (not really, but it was alot!). Because of each of you, we are arriving in Manila very well-equipped.

Now that the packing is done and over with, our suitcases sit quietly in the corner of the room and I sit here eagerly awaiting 2pm tomorrow...I quickly remember that I'm going to be gone for 16 days. Days that I'll miss sleeping in my own bed, miss ordering a pizza on Football Sunday, miss my dog, miss seeing my friends, miss tutoring, miss my family especially my beautiful niece (Hi, Ava!), and miss my husband. While I can't forecast what the next 2 and a half weeks will consist of, these next 16 days are going to count for something...something amazing for the 18 of us going on this trip.

Stay tuned for blog updates, photos, and who knows what! Both Danielle and I can't wait to share our experiences with you all.

Danielle

Aileen

Last night thoughts before we leave for the trip of a lifetime!

Spent these last few days with close friends and family! I could not have it any other way! Going to bed at a decent hour and enjoying it because I have a feeling sleep is going to be very rare! Good night US!

Packing with the team!

Here is a picture of some of the group putting medications into little baggies for the families! (We felt like pharmacist)! Monday we packed at Chamberlain College of Nursing-Addison campus! Here are a few pictures of the Chamberlain Team as we organized and packed all we could into suitcases for the trip!

DONE!

weighed in my 2 suitcases one for my personal suitcase and one suitcase for the donations and both less than 50 lbs!!!! thank god! Thank you again to my family and friends that donated! You guys are my world thank you for your good deeds!

Packing tips!

Okay for the students that are reading this and thinking about going on an international nursing project here are the things I have done to make the trip a lot easier for you!!!

1. PACK EARLY! haha sounds stupid, but really procrastination is everyone's friend!
2. Make a list of everything you will need
3. SHARE and talk with your friends so everyone can perhaps save money and not go crazy buying a ton of stuff!
4. ZIP LOCK BAGS are your best friend! I labeled some of my outfits so they do not get messed up in my suitcase and I dont have to search for a particular clothing material. For example: I put my church clothes into a specific zip lock bag so it doesn't get messed up with my other clothes!
5. They tell you to do this on the trip but do not forget to spray your clothes with bug spray a day or two before you leave!!! I packed everything into my suitcase now and then I will take everything out and spray them individually so I know I have everything to bring!
6. bring a garbage bag for dirty clothes and throw them in there when clothes get soiled
7. I personally brought 7 scrub bottoms, 7 t shirts, one scrub top for the surgical days, 17 pairs of underwear, 4 bra (sports and regular), 5 socks, swimsuit,1pair of sleep wear in a zip lock bag,  2 flip flips (one specific for shower), 2 pairs of gym shoes, and one pair of nice sandals for church wear.
8. PACK HAIR TIES LADIES don't forget them and headbands to pull your hair back!
9. oh and toiletres...bar of soap, tooth brush with cover, deodarant (nonscent), and if you can buy shampoo/conditioner at your destination do that!
10. NET FOR WHEN YOU ARE SLEEPING! I HATE BUGS! OH AND BUG SPRAY! GAWWWW

I can't think of anything else!!!! Ill update as soon as I think of anything more! I am currently asking my friends if I should bring my straightner, I am telling you share if you can!!!