(Information courtesy of RN from Vancouver, just recently returned from mission)

You sleep about 10-12 people per room on army style cots. 1 bathroom per room so it can be busy in the am's. The shower isn't very strong at all! The nite shift workers were staying at a hotel near by as there wa so much construction during the day it would be impossible to sleep. The a/c is sometimes dicey but when it is on, it does get quite cold (set at 16 degrees when I was there) so you will need a sleeping bag (I left mine for a Haitian---talk to Stanley, 1 of the translators, and he will find a home for whatever you leave); also you will need some kind of pillow--I used a blow up travel one. An FYI...in the rehab room, there is a real bathroom with a real shower (the ones in the rooms are kind of like a trickle---and that is being generous)

The food was mainly sandwiches and 1 hot meal/day--usually rice with some kind of meat. With so many people around that were hungry, I usually gave mine away and lived off of granola bars and protein bars. ALOT of granola bars. I also took trail mix, Starbucks VIA coffee (a godsend!); fruit snacks; beef jerkey; some candy; lots of gatorade/iced tea mix b/c the water is filtered but can taste a bit ...well like dirt to be honest. I saw lots of people with things like Crystal lite . But you will appreciate the sugar and electrolytes as you sweat more than you ever thought possible!

Yes theres lots of water...they have a filtration system on site affectionately known as the silver bullet. Take a water bottle with you as you just go up and fill it out of a tap as often as you need it! It is warm though...so if you take 2 bottles, sometimes you can put 1 in the OR fridge...I think they were trying to get a fridge for the med surg area as well. 2 other fridges are in paeds and the pharmacy.

We worked 12 hour shifts..or thereabouts. The 1st day is a bit tricky trying to get people onto nights, but it works surprisingly well...and you are there to work, and you will be tired. I worked 110 hrs in my 7 days. you work all 7 days.

On the Friday our CMO (Chief Medical Officer) arranged city tours with a UN driver (I believe this is done every week) You go out in 2 hour slots and it is about $40 per carload (7-8 people) the money goes to an orphanage that the driver is helping to rebuild. Other than that, it is too dangerous outside to go out on your own.

As far as money goes..you won't need much. You can buy some necklaces and bracelets from some of the translators that will bring them in for you....talk to Kensy or Jimmy. You can usually get 4 for $10 or so. I didn't do any bartering b/c they have it rough. Sometimes a guy will come on site with gorgeous paintings on canvas that are about $20 each. Then there is the UN bar: There is a shuttle every nite that goes to THE DECK (at the UN) it comes to the hospital to pick you up and will bring you home. They have showers there and REAL food and drinks! Beer is $3 and dinners are less than $10 (all US bills). It is really quite a treat...if you work days, you should go at least once!
And at no point are you not safe. You are in a gated compound with several armed guards 24/7! Be sure to take a fanny pack (as sexy as they are) as you will need to keep all valuables on you at all times (passport, camera, phone, ipod, money).