What inspired you to travel abroad?
A key inspiration to me traveling abroad was a conjugation of my desire to explore new cultures and gain new experiences while traversing into the education of overseas medicine. I was motivated to challenge myself, broaden my horizons and seek new adventures, which ultimately became one of the greatest adventures in my lifetime.
With exposure to new customs and traditions, going abroad would offer a perspective that would help me better understand the world. Many underserved communities lack access to basic necessities like clean water, nutritious food, and basic healthcare. Thus, going abroad would heighten my capability in helping those in need, ultimately guiding me in helping my own community back home.
Why did you choose International Medical Aid?
Prior to choosing International Medical Aid (IMA), I was initially enlisted with the Global Medical Brigades at Sacramento State University. Similar to IMA, the Global Medical Brigades held an intention in allowing students to travel abroad in helping those in underserved communities. However, after Covid had impacted the world during the time I was going to participate, the ability to travel abroad became extremely limited. With a goal in mind, I was not going to allow these deterrents to halt my main objective.
Thus, after some personal research, I was led to the International Medical Aid's website. I was at first fairly susceptible to the organization as I had not fully comprehended if it was legitimate or not. Nevertheless, after examining the organization and reviewing previous Alumni statements, I decided to choose IMA.
I took a photo (more like a selfie) with a tortoise while it was mid-meal at Haller Park!
What was your favorite part about Kenya?
I believe one of my favorite parts about Mombasa, Kenya was the beauty that embodied the city. As an Island, Mombasa is scattered with a greenery atmosphere. Distinct landmarks I can think of were the Uhuru Gardens and Haller Park.
However, I believe my utmost favorite thing about Mombasa was the culture that was engulfed throughout the city. Everything and everyone manifested diversity, with people attributing themselves to different tribes or religions, creating a unique history dating back over a thousand years. There is this melting pot of different cultures with influences from Arab, Indian, and European backgrounds. This is clearly reflected in the city's architecture, food, and overall way of life.
I especially resonate with this as my own country, Lebanon, has very similar aspects to Mombasa. Additionally, as a Muslim being in a predominantly Muslim city, it was gratifying to see fellow brothers and sisters that hold a similar mindset as you do.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
Something that made my experience extraordinary was the support I received from the IMA staff and co-students. Before I took on this journey, I truly did not believe I was going to meet the friends I made throughout the trip. With all of the co-interns being relatively in the same boat, it was a unique experience, to say the least with everyone pushing for the same objective.
Meeting fellow travelers established an enriching experience that further created lifelong bonds and connections. Additionally, having the staff support us throughout all the troubling barriers during my internship was a truly rewarding feeling that I wouldn't have traded for anything.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The local staff was anything but subpar in ensuring that all interns received custom care and support throughout the internship. From the beginning of the orientation, up until the day of our flights, the staff guaranteed that we received all support and problem-solving advice. They were able to provide recommendations about local customs, insider knowledge about shifts in the hospitals, and what to expect as a foreigner in a country like Kenya.
Many of our issues stemmed from the cultural differences between Kenya and the U.S. Therefore, the staff validated that these instances are normal and proper ways to handle certain scenarios.
The beginning of our rotations with my group! We made sure we were all masked up!
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
One thing I wish I'd done differently was to better learn the country's language before embarking on the internship. An issue I had while staying in Mombasa, particularly in the hospital and medical workshops, was a language barrier between me and the patients we were working on. Although Kenya's federal language is English, many of its citizens speak primarily Swahili, perhaps due to a lack of education or simple preference. Learning at least the basics of Kenya's language I believe would have enhanced my experience to connect with the tribes and citizens, moreover creating a better experience overall.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
On a typical day, I would wake up for breakfast at around 7:00 A.M. Once breakfast was completed, I would follow my colleagues into the company van to be escorted to our daily shifts in the hospital. The overall chaos in our shifts generally varied between what department you were scheduled to be in. For example, during my surgery department shifts, it would be relatively calm due to surgeries being scheduled ahead of time, allowing the staff a probable amount of time for preparation.
Conversely, a shift in the Emergency Department was an entirely new story, with multiple interdisciplinary systemic issues that caused the department to sort of thrive off chaos. Once our shifts were over, we would then have multiple workshops planned throughout the day which varied from I.V access introductions, cultural immersion workshops, or simply learning about Kenya's healthcare and the history behind it. Ultimately, on occasion, my colleagues and I would go out to explore the city usually depending on how fatigued we are from the day.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
During my free time abroad, I would usually spend it with the friends I made traveling or exploring the city, as well as buying souvenirs for my family back home. During my first week of the internship, I actually began working out with some of the staff at the gym they'd go to. I thought this was a perfect way to bond with them as well as compare and contrast the differences in how they work out compared to how I do back home.
During the last few days before my departure, most of my free time would go into fundraising and purchasing hospital supplies for the emergency department. I, along with some other interns, began fundraising to help support and offer materials across all departments of the hospital. It was ultimately one of the more rewarding experiences of the time I spent abroad as I had more or less left something for them, without feeling like I left not doing the best I could.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
The types of accommodations varied between what we were doing. For example, throughout the duration of the internship, we had a chef cook meals for us for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This was by far the best because Kenyan food is amazing, and the chef and staff did their absolute best to give us the best meals.
Another accommodation was the tour guides we would have when it came to historical landmarks. These were some of the more intriguing events since you got to learn the background history of the Kenyan government and the fact that it was even a British colony at some point in its yore.
Admin of Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital after I helped fund and purchase materials for departments.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
My time abroad has significantly impacted my way of life, whether it be at work or during school. As an EMT, I am daily confronted with multiple different backgrounds and cultures that I may not be entirely cognizant of. Traveling abroad and seeing how to appropriately deal with different cultures, especially in a medicinal aspect, has truly reformed the way I interact with others now.
Additionally, everything I've witnessed abroad has helped give perspective to the things I've often taken for granted. Witnessing individuals not even having a basic education in hygiene or fundamental healthcare comprehensively transforms your mindset of life.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Although not heavily emphasized, I believe one thing every future participant should know before their program starts is to fully prepare before the departure date. This may differ due to my departure being in peak times of covid, nonetheless, I think it is right-minded to laboriously do your research on the country you're going to visit and the arrangements you need to do before traveling to it.
One example from my experience is the fact that I packed too many warm clothes. Although it was currently winter time in the states, average temperatures in Mombasa were 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This made almost all the clothes that I packed useless. This is but one example of things to keep in mind before traveling.
Would you recommend International Medical Aid to others? Why?
I would sincerely recommend my program to others and will continue to do so for all pre-health students. Just the other month I volunteered to be a representative for IMA during the UC Davis Health Conference. This gave me a special opportunity to thank IMA for giving me a chance during the internship and the hope to share it with other students.
International Medical Aid went above and beyond when it came to supporting its interns. There wasn't a single day that transpired that made me think I wasn't receiving enough from my internship. From the beginning of the internship, all the way until the end, the IMA staff supported me through thick and thin. I was welcomed with open arms and left with grace and gratitude.
Did International Medical Aid provide specific pre-departure Covid support? If yes, please tell us what kind of support you received.
International Medical Aid did provide keen details on covid support such as what steps to take before departure and pre-meditative measures to take for the trip. Types of support were for example a list of medicinal supplies to bring just in case anything occurred during our stay. Another example was before our departure from Kenya, IMA held a specific day when interns leaving can take a free covid test required for departure.
This was after we had just finished giving a lecture on proper menstrual hygiene for the regional high school students at Mombasa!
How did International Medical Aid help you stay (and feel) safe abroad amidst the ongoing pandemic?
IMA helped keep me and all other interns feel safe throughout the internship amidst the ongoing pandemic by strictly enforcing rules to prevent exposure to covid with others. An example would be the fact that we had to wear masks during all hours outside of the residence. This rule was enforced to protect yourself and others from attaining covid or any other respiratory disease outside of the house.
Additionally, when returning from the hospital, all interns must first wash their hands with soap and water outside of the residence and change their clothing immediately before doing anything else. I think this helped sustain any form of cross-contamination which ultimately led me to not contract covid.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
I think the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is the exposure to different cultures. Due to America being a melting pot of diverse cultures, I think it's key to attain a perspective on how different cultures interact with each other and the best approach when approaching one. These new perspectives can be later utilized when becoming a healthcare professional yourself, and even during your daily life routine.
Another big benefit I feel is the personal growth one can attain when traveling abroad. This was by far one of the most transformative experiences I underwent, and it surely allowed me to grow and develop as a person.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
I believe meaningful travel means something that goes beyond simple tourist attractions or taking a break from work. Meaningful travel defines a deeper purpose, that often involves an element of personal growth or making a positive impact on the world. An example of meaningful traveling would be immersing oneself into a different culture, connecting with the locals, and engaging in socioeconomic or environmental issues of the destination. I believe ultimately, meaningful travel is an opportunity to broaden one's ability in challenging themselves to gain a new perspective in life.
