What inspired you to travel abroad?
My main inspiration to go abroad was to explore and learn more about my passions. My passion for learning, my passion for adventure, my passion for the health sciences, and my passion to help those everywhere. I am a global health major and a pre-medicine student, and a big goal of mine is to become a medical professional that dedicates their time to helping those with inadequate access to healthcare through humanitarian work.
After graduation this spring I hope to apply for medical schools and want to be a part of Doctors Without Borders once I have my medical license. I needed to travel to a place where I could explore my passions while also gaining quality experience in healthcare.
Why did you choose International Medical Aid?
I chose International Medical Aid's medical internship in Mombasa, Kenya because it checked all the boxes I was looking for in an experience. It allowed me to go abroad, immerse myself in a new culture, expand my healthcare knowledge and be a part of something bigger than myself.
The hospital I was assigned to intern in, Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, had the medical departments necessary and a level of patient interaction that provided a worthwhile experience.
Completion of my summer 2021 program (August 2021)
What was your favorite part about Kenya?
My favorite part about Kenya was the people. Throughout all my travels, they were honestly the nicest collective group of people I have encountered. My entire two-month stay was filled with kindness and hospitality. There were a lot of people who could have been rude or taken advantage of an American in East Africa, but I was blessed to be surrounded by great people who treated me like one of their own.
Their kindness is what made this experience more enjoyable than it already was. It made it easier for me to get up every morning and go to the hospital, clinics, and education sessions. I knew that I was helping people that would do the same for me with less.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
The experience I gained made my experience extraordinary. Throughout my time in the hospital, I saw things that I would not have had access to in the United States. This allowed me to get an inside look at the burden many communicable and non-communicable diseases have on the general population as well as the effects of living in a developing nation.
I saw the lung damage tuberculosis or COVID-19 causes, I saw the debilitating brain damage caused by stroke or a car accident on lawless and crumbling roads, I saw the intensity and damage of malignant cancer that overtakes so many parts of the body. My experience also allowed me to help others. That made it even more extraordinary. Throughout my time I was able to participate in humanitarian work that helped many people.
My organization was able to set up free medical clinics to help those in the community without affordable access to healthcare. They were also able to set up education sessions with local schools to provide information on hand and oral hygiene as well as women's healthcare. I was blessed to be a part of it. I was also able to work with my fellow interns to facilitate a fundraiser for the hospital.
We raised nearly $5,500 USD in donations and were able to provide various pieces of medical equipment for various departments. It was something I had never been a part of before so to see it be so successful was rewarding.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
They were extremely supportive. I was always impressed with how they were able to keep track of at least 50 interns at once and get us all where we needed to be, whether that was to the hospital, to a clinic, or to excursions.
I also owe a lot to the housekeeping staff, kitchen staff, and drivers who were also so accommodating and always helped me with kindness and a smile on their faces. To me, personally, the office staff was a huge help in the fundraiser.
They were able to help me contact the correct suppliers to make sure the right equipment was ordered and delivered on time. They also were able to help make sure the funds were accurately allocated and saved me a lot of time and stress.
Leading teeth and hand hygiene education session (July 2021)
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I think that if I were to do one thing differently, I would have taken some time to slow down and enjoy the city around me more. I saw a lot and knew the city very well by the time I left, but I spent so much time at the hospital some of the little things about being in another country were forgotten sometimes. I did not get out into the city as much as I wanted to, a lot of the overnight and afternoon shifts I took were time-consuming and tiring.
I think if I were to do it again, I would have given myself a little more time to relax and enjoy myself. I do not regret spending a lot of time at the hospital because that was what I was primarily there for, but I think a healthier balance of work and relaxation would have been beneficial.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical day in Mombasa started with an early wake-up in the residence. I would get ready for the hospital that day and then head to breakfast which was always prepared for us. After breakfast, I would meet my driver for the day and head to the hospital.
I worked in various departments with different shift lengths. After my shift, I would head back to the residence for lunch. After lunch, our program coordinators would hold a debriefing session of the events of the hospital that day. After debriefing, the afternoon activities were variable depending on the day.
Some days we would have clinic or education sessions, some days we would have global health lectures or hospital education sessions, and some days we were free to do whatever. Dinner would be served a couple of hours later followed by a little downtime before heading to bed to do it all over again.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
I did a variety of things in my free time. I always kept a journal of my daily experiences in the hospital and around the city and would write in it every day. I always made sure to have a book with me to give myself some reprieve from the world around me.
Outside of personal downtime, I frequently joined other interns in exploring the city around us. Mombasa has so much to offer with endless blocks of markets, amazing restaurants with a variety of cuisines, and beautiful beaches. On weekends, many of us would take day trips together to hike nature reserves, take boat trips on the Indian Ocean, or shop.
There were also options to take excursions outside of the Mombasa area. A couple of weekends I took trips to Nairobi and Maasai Mara National Reserve for a safari and spent a weekend in Malindi to go snorkeling. There was something for everyone to do during their free time in Kenya.
Hell's Kitchen Canyon outside Malindi, Kenya (July 2021)
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
We stayed in a hotel residence with suites. It was in a gated community just outside of the Mombasa city limits. I always shared a suite with one or two other interns. We each had our own bed and a shared bathroom. Each floor in my building had a common space and balcony. Our residence had multiple buildings but that was the general layout of most living conditions.
The main residence building had a large dining room, kitchen, and living room for leisure. Outside we had a swimming pool and multiple patios and seating areas to enjoy the weather. The residence was gated and had security 24 hours a day, so everyone felt safe.
I enjoyed the residence staff the most. The kitchen and housekeeping staff were always so accommodating and kind. I also enjoyed the common spaces where all the interns were able to interact with one another with ease.
What is one thing every future participant should know about the Pre-Med Health Fellowship before their program begins?
I think the biggest advice I would give is to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Like any other travel experience, you are exposed to new experiences and things that you are not used to. While it might be beneficial to try and stay in your comfort zone, you will not get the full experience if you do not embrace being a part of a new country, new people, and a new way of life.
I would also recommend keeping an open mind. There are things that will seem weird and different to you. You might be intimidated to interact with someone from a different culture and your personal biases and uncertainty might try to take over. Do not be afraid to try something new and to get to know the locals that you work with. It will teach you a lot and benefit your overall experience immensely.
Would you recommend your International Medical Aid to others? Why?
I would. I think that if there are other students out there that are looking for the same things that I was, this program is perfect! However, even if you are wanting to go to Kenya for other reasons, this program has something for everyone. I met other interns from all walks of life who came to Kenya to experience different things.
Some were there to gain clinical experience, some were using their internship as a senior trip, some were there to learn as much as possible and some were there to figure out what in healthcare they wanted to do. This internship is what you make of it and if you enter the program with good intentions, I have no doubt you will get a lot out of it.
Zebras and Giraffe on Maasai Mara National Reserve (July 2021)
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
I think the things you learn are the biggest benefits. I learned so much this past summer about Kenya, healthcare, global health, the program staff, the other interns, and myself. Regardless of whether I am in a foreign country or sitting in my room at home, I am always looking for new ways to expand my knowledge.
In my opinion, if your travels do not teach you something, it is not meaningful. Meaningful might mean something different to you than it does to me, but I think it is important to know why you have decided to take the trip that you are on and try to focus on that why! It will be different for everyone, and you might not figure it out immediately, but once you do it will make things very worthwhile. It will make you a more well-rounded individual.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I see the world differently than I did before. I appreciate what I have and everything around me. My time in Kenya was truly the first indescribable experience of my life. Over eight weeks I saw myself and those around me grow as students, providers, teachers, and most importantly human beings.
This journey has left me with more questions about what exactly I want to do in medicine but has certainly solidified what I want to do with the rest of my life. This trip has reignited the deep passions that brought me to Kenya in the first place. I cannot wait to go back one day and make my mark in the world of medicine.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
To me, meaningful travel is travel where you explore your passions, learn something, and come home with a different worldview. For this trip I was able to explore my passion for healthcare and global health, I was able to learn about a new culture, medicine, and the people around me.
I was able to come home appreciative of what I have and with a passion to do more for the world.
If you can do at least one of those things you have made a meaningful trip. I got everything I wanted out of my trip. I encourage anyone reading this to try and get what they want out of their adventures too. It is something you will never regret.
