What inspired you to travel abroad?
I have had a dream to intern abroad for a long time. This dream stemmed primarily from reading. Reading books enabled me to learn about different perspectives through the exposure of such various walks of life. I realize that when you have an urge to do something, whatever it is, you do it because that is an urge from the innermost part of your soul and no one can reckon with such a will.
A year ago, if someone told me that I would spend my next summer in Kenya, I would have a tough time believing them. I have always wanted to travel to Africa and Asia, primarily because of the drastic cultural differences and the abundance of knowledge there is to gain from both places. No matter how much I read about the places I have never been, I knew it to be true that I would never understand it unless I experienced it for myself.
Spending the vast majority of my life in the States with a relatively financially stable household granted me the privilege of not having to worry about necessities and although I argue that I am an open-minded individual, I also recognize my shortcomings; specifically, my lack of awareness on the ways of life for varying populations around the world.
One of my wisest moves when I was younger was choosing to read, specifically famous pieces of literature from everywhere. Without the initial wanting to read or giving certain books a chance, I would not have the same desire to go abroad nor do I think I would be the same person. I believe that everything that one takes out of this world must be put back in it.
I was not born in the United States, but actually adopted when I was a one year old from Kirov, Russia. As a result of my adoption, I was given a better life and greater opportunities. Knowing this is what drives me to continue to do better and work towards helping others who may be in a less fortunate position; not only through medicine in the future, but also in any other ways that I can. A great amount of aspects in my life have made me who I am.
Another inspiration in traveling abroad is building a community. I view a community as a group of people with at least one common factor that brings them together. Whether it be school, the environment which surrounds them, pain, oscillating emotion, happiness, privilege, or their want to learn about other people different than themselves, a driving force is behind every group.
I am incredibly thankful to all experiences local and far away from home. I find great passion in medicine, understanding physics and how the world works, learning languages, and finally speaking out in times of moral crisis. Reading was the start of my inspiration to go abroad but studying new languages has made me determined to work globally in the future.
Learning a new language is learning a new way to think. While I am currently studying Japanese, French, Chinese, with hopes of learning Russian and Swahili later in life, I realized just how much I am unaware of and how much I am exposed to the unknown. Being so aware of how limited my knowledge is in the grand scheme of the world pushes me to study harder and listen closer.
Having the accessibility to learn and read is truly a gift that is immensely overlooked. Utilizing what I have learned in school and through listening to other people’s struggles is how I plan to make a difference.
Old town, Mombasa
Why did you choose International Medical Aid?
I chose International Medical Aid because they had such an amazing program with so many opportunities. These opportunities included working in local hospitals in Mombasa, Kenya, not only working in various wards during the day, but also being able to work night shifts as well. Going on trips around the old town and new town of Mombasa was incredible.
Finally, we were able to travel farther around the country in order to see different areas. The program was well-structured with plenty of flexibility. Everything was well planned out and disclosed clearly.
What was your favorite part about Kenya?
My favorite part of Kenya was being able to explore Mombasa during free time. Every day, I was in awe at how the walkers, bikers, cyclists, and motor vehicles all shared the same roads in some areas, with no distinction for sidewalks. I found beauty in the town of Mombasa and the culture in which I was fortunate enough to be engulfed in.
The hospitality from everyone was overwhelming and left me reminiscent of all I had seen and experienced. It is not easy to live in Mombasa for most, and yet, that did not deter anyone from being the most friendly and outgoing individuals. I was fortunate enough to be invited to a patient’s house with a friend since she was thankful to us for keeping her company in the maternity unit as she was giving labor.
The extraordinary experience of going to her home, meeting her family, having a feast of ugali and vegetables as well as getting to hold the newborn was nothing less than an honor. Exploring old town and new town, walking through the parks and shops where people hand made all types of art, attending morning prayer at a local temple, and strolling around all the natural scenery on the outskirts of Mombasa offered me a perspective which in turn revealed a new dimension of beauty.
People with varying beliefs all living in one city, hearing prayer broadcasted over all the buildings, and the persistent feeling of welcoming was unlike anything back at home and utterly left me with a feeling of melting tenderness. There was not one person who I walked away from after a conversation and was unable to gain new insight from.
Everyone gave me insights, whether that be a doctor, a nurse, or a child that I talked to when visiting their primary school. Not only did this internship enrich my knowledge entirely on the different practices of medicine in a new country but it also enriched my knowledge on life lessons. Visiting primary schools, and doing health clinics was an amazing experience on the side of working in hospitals.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
The simple things are the most extraordinary. Interacting with the staff in the hospitals and getting to know many individuals is what made my experience that much more memorable. Whenever I had free time, I tried to practice Swahili just so I could connect with the patients some more and it was a beautiful moment when a patient looked at you and understood that you were trying your best to connect with them.
I always had a feeling that I wanted to practice medicine abroad as I began college, but this experience has confirmed it. I get great pleasure out of learning new languages as I have mentioned, and I clearly remember a conversation I had with one doctor during my emergency night shift. It was on the topic of reading and how both of us turned out to be avid readers.
I told him about all the books I have read and how I am on a mission to learn as much as possible in every way, not just in medicine. He informed me that I should learn Arabic, as many terrific books are written in that language. We built off of each other on how certain things just do not have a direct translation and being able to absorb these things in their mother tongue provides more insight than the most effective translation could give you.
After all, a translation is someone else's interpretation of the words. Later that shift, there were a few quiet moments in the emergency room, so I decided to pull out a book. He looked over and asked, “What are you doing?” to which I replied, “I am understanding.”
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
Local staff supported me greatly throughout the program. From the supervisors to the drivers, I felt welcome and always free to ask questions. What made it so personable was being able to sit down with them outside of an event and just hang out together and maybe crack some jokes. They always checked in on us after every shift to discuss what everyone saw in the hospital. I found this relieving as well as eye-opening to see what other individuals had experienced throughout the day.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I would've given myself more time to explore the city. I definitely felt like I did not have enough time to embrace the environment around me. I would have gone back to more places, attended prayer at the temple more often, and talked to more people.
Additionally, I wish I had been able to attend more staff meetings in the hospital and rotate in more units, but I am grateful for what I was able to see in-person during my time in Kenya. I think this would have allowed me to get closer to more people and experience more. Besides this, I wouldn't have changed anything else about my experience.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical day started at 7:00 AM. That gave an hour before the bus came at 8 am to eat breakfast and get ready for the hospital. Typically reaching Coast General Hospital at 8:30 due to traffic, we would go to our assigned rotations for the week.
At the assigned rotation, we would shadow doctors and nurses until 2:00pm and help out in ways that we were allowed to, such as taking vitals and talking to the patients. At 2:30, a debriefing in the residence would occur. More often than not, an event would be scheduled where the drivers would bring us somewhere in Mombasa to explore and buy from local businesses.
Getting back around 6 pm allowed an hour to eat dinner. Sometimes, there would be educational lectures after hours in the hospital, afternoon shifts, or overnight shifts. If you did not have an overnight shift, you were free to spend your time however you preferred until the next morning. Typically, I would study Swahili, read, and hang out with some fellow interns until 10 pm or so. On weekends, we either visited a primary school to run a hygiene clinic or a health clinic.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
During my free time, I loved exploring Mombasa by foot with friends and going through the town and stores along the way. I talked to many locals that way and was able to observe much more compared to traveling in a car. Making plans with a small group of friends always led to a good time.
Because there was not too much free time, I did not do too much. I also loved to read and call my friend who lives in Estonia, since we were in the same timezone and enjoyed the sunset together. Hanging out after dinner with interns was also enjoyable.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
The residence had a great dining room, common room, and outdoor area that was protected with security to just enjoy free time and socialize. I loved having an amazing view of the surrounding neighborhood and of the sunsets. We had a bus and cars to get around places and could request a place if we wanted to go ahead of time.
We also got a packed lunch if we had an afternoon shift or a dinner box for an overnight shift, which was thoughtful. Finally, trip options were included for more cost if you wanted to explore farther away from Mombasa such as certain oceans, safaris, and various towns.
What is one thing every future participant should know about the Nursing/ Pre-Nursing Internship before their program begins?
One thing participants should know is that they will most likely experience things very different from what they are used to in a hospital setting. Many things may not be as hygienic as we would like them to be, but they sincerely have to remember that the medical professionals are doing the best they possibly can.
Certain things can be overheard in the hospital and although we may not feel the best about it, we have no right to judge or criticize because, in all honesty, a few months there does not equate to what it's like working there for years. I would just recommend them to be open minded in all circumstances.
Through the rain, you'll see sun glow
Would you recommend International Medical Aid to others? Why?
I would definitely recommend International Medical Aid to others. The program was great and gave so much insight into working in a hospital setting very different from home. The experiences were once-in-a-lifetime that are unforgettable. International Medical Aid offered many opportunities in the weeks I was there, and I made sure to take all of them.
Similarly, each unit of the hospital I rotated through offered numerous lessons, I simply had to listen. The emergency room was no exception, and I am happy to have taken all the afternoon and night shifts possible in this unit. Being able to get this much time in the emergency room was amazing since emergency medicine is what I have a primary interest in, along with medicine practice abroad.
There is one case specifically that circulates my mind frequently, and this case was on my second night shift. In the emergency room, there is never a dull moment; I got to shadow doctors taking care of inmates with diabetic ketoacidosis, patients expelling bodily fluids, screaming individuals, plus several other types of cases.
There are limited resources in combination with limited staff and these factors both contribute to the challenge medical staff face of trying to provide the best quality of care possible; but from what I saw, they truly tried making the best of what they had around the clock. As I walked in the front trauma section of the emergency room, I saw a patient bleeding from the ears, a patient with a blood pressure reading of two-hundred twenty-two over one-hundred eleven getting treated, a man with a belly as enlarged as a nine-month pregnant woman, and an old lady who looked severely malnourished.
I walked around taking it all in while helping where I could. After taking a few vitals and grabbing supplies for the nurses, I listened to what the doctor had to say about a few cases and read over some charts. After some time, I made my way over to the minor theatre, where surgeries that do not require anesthesia are performed. In the minor theatre is where I met Giglio 5, a little girl. She was currently getting examined by the doctors at her leg and was crying. As I approached her bed, I saw her whole Achilles tendon and gastrocnemius muscle exposed.
Seeing such a thing is shocking and intimidating to say the least; after reviewing her chart, I quickly noticed that she was on no pain medication. Pain medication is too expensive and not often given in the hospital but for a case like this, I was not prepared. Not to mention that she did not scream. She just cried like many other cases where I would expect people to be screaming their hearts out. I stood there just watching the nurses wrap her foot up while I myself could not move, for my soles were firmly planted to the ground.
It was at that time I had decided I would not leave her side. After she was relocated to the main room of the unit, I got to sit down and talk to her mom for a bit; she explained that the cause was a motorbike hit-and-run. We additionally discussed her daughter’s hobbies and school friends for a while. After they fell asleep, I continued rounds until it was late into the night where I circled back around to them. The little girl heard me and put out her hand, leaving me to stand by her bedside where I held her hand until it was time to go that early morning.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
Understanding. I can sum it down to one word. In every way, traveling abroad increases one's understanding more than any book or movie could. You do not know how you will handle a situation until you are in it; of course, you can predict how you would act, but really you truly do not know. I found myself noticing this constantly.
Traveling abroad enables a whole new view of the world: a different culture and a different language from your own. Once you experience going abroad once, you know that the same level of understanding could never be achieved at home.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
My time abroad has impacted my life in many observable ways as well as ways that I may not even realize. I find myself being more conscious of things that should really not be taken for granted such as clean tap water, hot showers and access to various foods.
Additionally, it has taught me to look inward more; going to morning prayer at a local temple has caused me to look more into hinduism as well. I am also hoping to study Arabic sometime in my life due to that conversation I had with the doctor in the ER. I am more aware and more grateful than before I left, that is definite.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means interacting with new people, not just the people you know from the internship. It means trying new things, such as local dishes in one's host culture. It means trying your best to respect the environment you're in. Meaningful travel has an everlasting effect on you and the experiences you obtain are everlasting.
Most of all, meaningful travel means that when you walk away, you are different from the person you were before. I try to gain the most from everyday by learning something new and reflecting on it before I go to sleep.
