Wednesday and Thursday!

Another day of "duty!" We all became very thankful that we only have clinical once a week, as it was very difficult to wake up at 4:30. We were all spread out among the wards, most of us in different areas from yesterday. There were a lot of eye opening situations today. A few of us experienced a situation where a patient was in critical condition but due to inexperience by the nurses and lack of financial support for the patient, the patient just lied in bed. Even though there was frustration among many of us, we all realized how much we know and that we are prepared for situations like these if we're ever found ourselves in them. We are very grateful for the modern technology in the United States, as the paper charting here has been quite the task. A few lucky students were able to assist in a delivery while in the OR. In the afternoon we all got dressed up and made our way to The St. Scholastica College. We were able to give a presentation to a group of high school students about our college and the nursing program. The students asked us questions and we gathered in small groups to get to know them a little better. We were then invited to have tea time with the Sister Mary Lois. As we walked into their "hotel" we were surprised at how realistic and beautiful the building was. This hotel is like our simulation rooms in the nursing program. Students there practice all management and culinary situations. Our mouths dropped open when they started serving our snack. This would have been a meal in the U.S. We were served bleu cheese lasagna with garlic toast and for dessert a cream filled chocolate cupcake. I think we all agreed that we were most excited about not seeing rice on our plates. On the way back to MJ, we talked Gina and Josey into letting us have a pit stop at a local store to grab local candy and snacks. Upon arriving at MJ, the students were having bible study that we quickly joined in on. Then we went onto preplanning for the next day, and got ready for bed. I believe most, if not all of us were sleeping by 9:00pm.

Last day of clinicals in the Philippines! Woke up again at 4:30, and ate breakfast. At the hospital today, it was a very slow day. Those of us in the ER and OR experienced a very unproductive day. The girls on the other wards were able to keep busy with what little they were required to do. Some of us were taken up to the Physical Therapy ward were we experienced what their physical therapy is like and the differences from our own program at CSS. It was then time to go to the Mall of Asia. If you think the Mall of America is big, then imagine an even larger mall. They had rides, an ice skating rink, and every single store imaginable. We all found our way to a souvenir store were we probably spent the majority of our remaining pesos. We enjoyed snacks throughout the mall, as well as Jollibee for dinner. During our trip, we were required to wear our coral shirts was filipino on the back. We were told by the students that it said we were missing and to please return back to Duluth, Minnesota. A few people stopped us to read our shirts and they would laugh and walk away. Some even took pictures! I think we were all exhausted from the day and ready to get back to the school so we could go to bed. On the way home we played music off our phones and sang along with all of the MJ students. It wasn't until 10:30pm that we arrived back and everyone quickly dispersed. We are all ready to be back in the United States and sleep in our own beds, but it is a little bittersweet knowing we only have one day left here in Manila. I think we can speak for everyone in saying this has truly been one of the best experiences and we have become a little family. It will be hard to leave all of the MJ students as they have just been the sweetest and we have gotten to know them all very well. We have all stated what our choice of food will be when we land in Minnesota as well as how long we will sleep before reality sets in and we have to get ready for school! We cannot wait to see our family and friends. We thank you and love you all!

Megan and Kelsey B.