What inspired you to go abroad?
I wanted to gain new perspectives and new experiences. Going abroad challenges the way you have been taught to think and do things.
I wanted to go somewhere that was as different as possible from the US, and that was also related to healthcare. I wanted to be exposed to the struggles that people in other countries had to deal with on a daily basis, so that by seeing that, I could understand it better.
Why did you choose International Medical Aid?
Me and other interns at the hospital
I chose IMA because it offered the best combination of location, internship, and cultural exposure. Kenya was perfect in the fact that it is very different from the US and offered a great learning experience.
The balance between interning at the hospital and getting to engage with the local culture was also ideal. I was exposed to so much at the hospital while also meeting locals and exploring the country.
IMA is also amazing on the logistical end of things. I never felt stressed or worried about food, transportation, housing, or any of the basics.
What was your favorite part about Mombasa?
My favorite part about Mombasa, Kenya, had to be the people. At the hospital, the doctors and nurses were so engaging and explained so much to us. I learned about different procedures and diseases, and they shared all the tips and tricks they knew from working in a healthcare setting with fewer resources. I became close with a medical student and a radiology tech there, and would meet them for dinner or to play soccer on the beach.
I would often find myself having conversations with strangers I would meet there. I never felt unsafe and always felt welcome there.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
Once again, the people. I'll focus more specifically on the IMA staff and other interns in the program. The mentors and staff at IMA not only take great care of you and make sure everything goes smoothly, but they also become your friends. It was amazing being able to talk about serious things that I would see in the hospital with them, but also be able to have conversations about lighter topics, like what they enjoyed the most in Mombasa.
Engaging with the wildlife
Working in a hospital in a foreign country with other students your age was such a unique experience, and I made friendships that will last me a lifetime.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
The local staff made sure everything always ran smoothly. They made sure that the buses were on time and got everyone to and from the hospital every day.
I have a peanut allergy, so food can be difficult when traveling abroad; however, I never felt worried about it with IMA. The first day I told the kitchen staff about it, and they reassured me that they would make sure to not cross-contaminate and ensured the food was safe for me to eat.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I enjoyed my time abroad so much, and I would say that I explored Mombasa a decent amount, but I wish I did more.
Working in the hospital was tiring, so some days you had to go home and crash on the couch, but I wish that I had gotten out into the city more and made more local friends. I also wish I had taken more pictures with the people that I met there. I had plenty of pictures of the landscape, but I wish I had more with the friends I made.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical day would start with breakfast at the residence and then heading straight to the hospital for our five-hour rotations. We'd get back around 2:00 pm most days, then there'd either be a clinical debrief, an organized activity to explore Mombasa, or just hanging out at the residence with the staff and other interns.
Then, after that dinner, I got to know my peers better. We'd take walks, hang out outside, and play cards.
What did you enjoy doing during your free time abroad?
I enjoyed exploring Mombasa the most and meeting up with friends I made at the hospital. Multiple times, I met up with some of the guys from the radiology department to go play soccer on the beach. Those soccer games were some of the best times I had during my free time.
On the scuba diving trip at Waka Waka Island
It was also really fun exploring the food scene there with a medical student we met. He guided us to the best local restaurants and ensured the food was peanut-free, which was very kind of him.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
It was a residence where all of the interns stayed. Everyone had a roommate and shared bathrooms, but the rooms and bathrooms were always kept clean. I liked the common spaces that it had. There were multiple spots for the interns to sit around and talk, which I think helped form the amazing friendships. The rooms were spacious and always clean.
I think how well the staff kept the place clean and organized was one of the best parts.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
One thing every future participant should know is that you should be prepared to write down memories and events from every day. I never did this before, but started doing it because of the hospital rotations.
IMA gives you a notebook to write in, but I wish I brought one for my own personal thoughts and memories outside of the hospital as well.
Would you recommend Global Health & Pre-Medicine Internships to others? Why?
Yes, this program is genuinely life-changing, especially for someone wanting to work in healthcare. This internship will show you what real hardship and struggle look like, but it will also fill you with so much love and care.
The things that you experience in Kenya broaden your perspective so much and ground you in what is important in life.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
I think the biggest benefit is being placed outside of your comfort zone because it forces you to change for the better. It teaches you how to adapt in new situations, not be so stuck in your way of doing things, and be exposed to totally new ways of thinking.
I think it makes you more understanding of other beliefs and perspectives, which in turn makes you a more loving individual.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I am much more appreciative of the little things in my life. After meeting people who, by US standards, had little to nothing, were so happy and appreciative to live another day, I really realized what is important to me. I
have noticed myself prioritizing my relationships with my friends and family more and being okay when things do not go according to plan. I have become much more grounded and attribute that completely to my time in Kenya.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
It means embracing the culture and doing things that you would never expect yourself to do. This makes you someone with a wider range of experiences and a broader perspective, which I think makes you a wiser and more relatable human being. Taking full advantage of the time spent there is meaningful travel to me.
