What inspired you to travel abroad?
I was inspired to go abroad by the rich history and culture of Kenya, along with the hope to give some sort of aid to under-priveledged people who live in third world countries, such as Kenya. The idea of traveling and giving help to those in need has always sat heavy on my heart.
When I was younger I dreamed of becoming a missionary who travels the world sharing the gospel, and through the medical field I have found a way to share my faith, travel, and give medical aid abroad.
IMA specifically inspired me to go abroad through their well-designed website and alumni testimonies. IMA provided an internship that was not only beneficial in growing my medical career, but also provided cultural treks and experiences throughout the city/country.
Why did you choose International Medical Aid?
I found International Medical Aid’s website while looking for a new job opportunity during college. However, when I found IMA I felt compelled to travel abroad and experience Kenya. The first thing I noticed about IMA was their website and social media platforms.
IMA does an amazing job at including testimonials from previous interns, and details on their internship program. Also, they provide cultural treks and experiences outside of the hospital. The experience that IMA provides is very well described on their website which inspired me to apply for their program.
What was your favorite part about Kenya?
From the moment I arrived in Mombasa I could see the hard-working, determination of the people. Men, women, and children are all constantly moving and working. This environment of hard-working spirits resonates in every part of the culture and is a beautiful thing to experience.
Not only are the people of Mombasa bard working, they are caring and accepting beyond belief. Throughout my stay I always felt welcomed by everyone I came in contact with. For example, on our city tour, we got a rock stuck under the bus, and several bystanders came to help with our issue.
This is just one of the many experiences of care and hard work that I experienced in Kenya. The people of Mombasa celebrate differences and culture, work hard, and made my experience in Kenya amazing.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
The people I met during my trip made my experience in Kenya unforgettable. Since my first landing in Mombasa, I felt like I was accepted and greeted with open arms by the people of Kenya. As I spent more time meeting individuals I continued to experience that same feeling of acceptance.
In the hospital, the doctors and nurses were constantly engaging with me, asking me questions about myself, and sharing their own personal experiences with me. In the city, the men and women I met at restaurants, parks, and beaches were always so kind and genuine in their conversation and expressions with me.
Also, my fellow interns and the IMA staff played a part in my extraordinary experience. The IMA staff constantly made me feel loved and welcomed into their home. The drivers sparked conversation and I convinced one driver to make me a mixtape (thanks Steven!).
The staff at the residence were also always so kind, helpful, and accepting. The interns that came along with me also helped in making a great trip. I built relationships with several people that extended beyond our time in Kenya.
With a friend/intern on the Tamarind dinner cruise
How did the local program staff support you throughout the Pre-Med Fellowship?
Throughout my time in Mombasa the IMA staff were incredibly helpful in all aspects of my internship experience. I never felt uncomfortable, unsafe, or confused throughout my time with IMA. The staff at the residence never failed to have a delicious meal ready for us, the rooms were always clean and comfortable, and they made sure we had everything we needed at all times.
The drivers were also incredibly helpful and friendly. They were patient with the interns, were always on schedule, and built personal relationships with the intern. I was actually made a mixtape by a driver on my last day of my internship (thanks Steven!).
The IMA staff and mentors always made sure we understood our schedules and our days went smoothly and safely. Apart from the IMA staff, the Coast General staff were always incredibly patient with me, and they made a genuine attempt to help me gain a greater understanding of healthcare.
The hospital staff were also incredibly friendly and made conversation, and built personal relationships with me and several other interns. The Coast General staff ensured that I was learning hands-on without making me uncomfortable inthe process.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
The only regret I have from my time in Kenya is not spending a longer time in Mombasa. I signed up for the 2-week long internship originally thinking I was going to have plenty of time to learn and grow as a pre-medical student/intern, but also have time to enjoy the country and the culture without getting homesick.
However, I found it to be the exact opposite. As I spent more time in Mombasa I began to grow attached to the people and the culture. If I could go back and redo my internship I would only change my experience by adding more time.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
On a typical day in Mombasa, I started my day at 8am with breakfast before heading to my rotation at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital. Upon arrival at the hospital, usually around 9:30am, I would begin my rotation for the week.
I shadowed doctors during their shifts at the hospital, learned and interacted with patients throughout my shifts. Around 1:30 pm, the bus would pick us up from the hospital to take us back to the residence. After our morning rotations at the hospital, we would eat lunch together at the residence before our daily debriefing session.
During debrief, one intern would describe their day in their respective department at the hospital. After lunch and debrief we were given either free time or were taken on a cultural experience in the city. During the afternoons, after a cultural trek, community outreach session, or free-time, we ate dinner together at the residence, and spent the rest of the night socializing with fellow interns at the residence, went to the gym, or explored Mombasa.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
During my free-time abroad I found myself experiencing the city of Mombasa with my fellow interns. During most afternoons we were given long periods of free-time after the hospital which allowed for us to explore the city and build relationships with fellow interns, and people throughout the community of Mombasa.
On a typical weekday I would spend my free-time at the gym, walking the city, going to the beach, or playing games with people in the city. On the weekends, when we did not have community outreach sessions, we had a lot of free time. This allowed for adventures throughout Mombasa, including hiking to waterfalls, visiting Diani beach, and fun cultural experiences and amazing restaurants.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
During my time in Mombasa I was accommodated extremely well. We stayed in a residence near the beach, with a gate and 24/7 guards. Throughout my stay I never felt unsafe or uncomfortable, the residence was always watched and kept safe for the interns.
Apart from security, the residential staff were extremely kind and accommodating. They helped us with laundry, made sure the residence was clean, especially during the COVID pandemic, and prepared us meals three times a day.
The staff always made sure the interns were comfortable and helped us with any questions or concerns that we had. We were also provided with drivers who drove us to the hospital, and also other destinations upon request. The drivers were always extremely nice and helpful.
With a group of young Kenyan students
What is one thing every future participant should know about the program before their program begins?
One thing every participant needs to understand is to not be afraid, and stay curious. Going into my trip, I was extremely nervous leaving the country on my own for the first time. However, International Medical Aid is a very well-oiled machine.
The staff answer any question you have, and do their best to make any accommodations that you may need. I never felt lost or uncomfortable with IMA. Also, stay curious throughout your trip! Kenya is a beautiful country, and IMA is an amazing program that does their best to give you cultural and medical experiences.
However, in order to capitalize on this trip I had to stay curious and open-minded. The hospital, city and culture is much different from America, so stay open-minded and soak in the beauty of Mombasa.
Would you recommend International Medical Aid to others? Why?
I would absolutely recommend International Medical Aid to any student who is wanting to get into the healthcare field. Prior to this experience I had never worked in a hospital or had much healthcare experience, and I had never traveled abroad before.
Ima was able to provide me with a hands-on immersive internship through the Coast General Hospital, along with working with other people in the community to provide us with a cultural experience. Throughout my entire trip, I always felt safe and comfortable, the staff was encouraging and helpful at all times, while also allowing for the interns to gain their own experiences.
The staff at Coast General was helpful throughout the entirety of my internship, and always answered questions and allowed for interns to expand their knowledge. The resident staff were helpful and friendly the entire stay in Kenya, and the IMA directors and mentors answered questions and helped interns to the best of their abilities at all times. Overall, IMA gave me the best internship and study abroad experience possible.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
I think the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is exposure and experience. The reason we need to travel more and go abroad is to learn the history and culture of the people who surround us. As we get comfortable in our bubbles, people tend to forget that there is so much beauty in the world.
The exposure to different cultures and histories provides people with first-hand knowledge, and also teaches people how to be more accepting and loving of one another. Secondly, experience is one of the most important benefits of traveling abroad.
Perception through a camera lens or television screen can be twisted and molded into so many different forms that without experiencing the world's first-hand the true beauty and history is never revealed.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I learned so much from my time in Kenya with IMA. The doctors and nurses in Coast General fed me knowledge and experiences that I will forever be grateful for. They showed me that my true desire is to be in healthcare and helping others.
Apart from the medical aspect of the trip, I learned and grew so much as an individual. The people of Mombasa showed me how to be more accepting, empathetic, and hard-working. Since my return home, I have tried to carry the knowledge I gained on my trip.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
When I got home from Kenya, a friend told me “you are where you’ve been.” This comment has resonated with me since my trip. I believe that all travel is meaningful travel, because we are a product of our experiences.
Learning, and experiencing different cultures and different parts of the world give an experience that is unparalleled by any online experience. Travel is meaningful because it leads to growth and knowledge about the world surrounding us along with the people in it.
