What inspired you to travel abroad?
I decided to go abroad to broaden my understanding of health in other cultures. I believe that individuals that have an inspiration to go into medicine should become culturally aware and understand medicine in other countries.
In my future career, fully understanding diverse cultures will help me become a better health professional. I was inspired to learn more about medicine in a country that lacked money and resources. I wanted to gain experience in a setting of medicine that forces health professionals to think quickly and creatively to give their patients the best care possible.
Education Clinic
Why did you choose International Medical Aid?
I chose International Medical Aid (IMA) because it provided me with a diverse opportunity to study medicine in a developing country. I am currently earning my master’s in public health, which has provided me with a different insight into medicine.
I am interested in not only clinical medicine but global medicine and the impact of health in communities. IMA provided me with an opportunity to view medicine clinically and understand the health system in a third-world country.
What was your favorite part about Kenya?
My experience in Mombasa, Kenya was life-changing. I felt nervous going into a country that I have never been to before. However, my favorite part of Kenya was how welcoming everybody was. When I first arrived in Kenya, I immediately felt the love and care from the staff.
IMA made me feel comfortable and went out of their way to help the interns feel welcomed. The physicians in the hospital were kind and often went out of their way to help us learn. I feel so thankful for the opportunity to have gotten to know the staff and to have been welcomed into their culture and lives.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
My experience abroad provided me with many opportunities to diverge in the culture. The hospital setting provided me with a reality of how third-world countries practice medicine. The opportunity helped me become more culturally sensitive, which is a trait that I will need in my future.
Not only did my trip abroad provide me with learning opportunities, but my weekend treks were life-changing. My weekend trips to Masai Mara and Watamu Beach will forever be unforgettable, and I hope I get the chance to go back someday.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The local staff were kind and supported me throughout my experience abroad. The IMA staff were willing to help and make all the interns feel comfortable. The staff provided us with safe transportation, which was something I was concerned about before going to Kenya.
I also had food restrictions and was nervous about meals, however, the staff was happy to accommodate. The staff constantly checked in with the interns to make sure that we felt safe and comfortable. Overall, I am thankful for the staff for being welcoming and making Kenya feel like a home away from home.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I would not have done anything differently during my time abroad. During my two weeks in Kenya, I would’ve only had the opportunity to see two specialties. However, we had the opportunity to do afternoon shifts and night shifts during the week in the hospital. I decided to take this chance to see more specialties and learn more in my hospital shifts.
Instead of only seeing two different specialties, I had the opportunity to rotate in 6 specialties. On my two weekends in Kenya, I was able to go on two treks. My first excursion was an experience I will never forget. We had the opportunity to visit Masai Mara Safari and see the wildlife in Africa. On our second trip, we traveled to Malindi beach and traveled to local villages by boat to see the culture of the locals. Overall, I enjoyed my trip in Africa from being in the hospital setting and my weekend outings.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical weekday involved waking up at 7:00 AM and getting ready to spend 4 hours in the hospital. The staff prepared breakfast for us before we left on the bus for the day. Around noon, we either went back to the house for lunch or had the opportunity to stay for another 4 hours for an afternoon shift.
After lunch at the house, we met as a group to discuss what we learned that day in the hospital. Following our meeting, we either had education sessions with the community, medical clinical training sessions or lectures, or free time including the option to attend city tours or attend dinner at local restaurants. Our weekends included medical clinics, weekend excursions, and free time.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
During my free time, I enjoyed getting to know the other interns. I was so thankful to meet other people that share the same interest in medicine. The pre-med or pre-health track is not easy and meeting other people that have a similar plan helps to reassure that we are all in it together.
Further, I enjoyed going to local restaurants and shops in the area. I did not know what to expect and if we would have the opportunity to see the area. However, I was pleasantly surprised that we had time to explore and diverge into the culture in Mombasa.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I was unsure what to expect when I got to Kenya and where I would be living for 2 weeks. When I got to the gated home, I felt like I was at a resort. The accommodation had two large houses. The house that I stayed in had 4 floors with 3 bedrooms and 2 ½ bathrooms on each level.
Each room had bunk beds, so I had 2 roommates in my bedroom. The other house had a kitchen, dining room, family room, and some bedrooms upstairs. The resort-like home included a pool and backyard to hang out. I felt thankful to have a space where I felt safe and welcomed.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Anyone that plans to attend International Medical Aid should go into the program with an open mind. During my time in Kenya, I consistently wanted to learn, see new specialties in the hospital, and understand cultural differences between Kenya and the United States.
Some differences comparing Mombasa’s hospital to the U.S includes resources and bedside manner. I was thankful to see Mombasa’s public hospital and learn more about medicine in a developing country. I felt that being open-minded during my time helped me grow and learn from my experiences.
Would you recommend International Medical Aid to others? Why?
I would recommend International Medical Aid (IMA) that is looking to travel abroad and grow their experiences in medicine. IMA provided me with an opportunity to visit a developing country and grow my cultural awareness and sensitivity. Understanding cultural differences can help me become a better future provider.
I also believe that seeing different hospital systems is essential to learn how we can improve and grow not only their system but other countries as well. IMA provided me with the ability to discover and learn medicine in a developing country and to learn more about myself as a future provider.
Masai Mara Safari
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
The biggest benefit of traveling abroad to Mombasa was having the opportunity to learn more about their health system. As a student earning my Master’s in Public Health, I not only was interested in learning about the day-to-day life in the hospital but how their health system impacted their communities. I was able to see up close how developing countries need a better public health system.
Something as little as creating traffic laws could reduce the number of accidents and individuals that come into the emergency department in the hospital. I was able to understand the importance of the clinical staff, but also a government system that wants to protect its citizens. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to see the importance of public health and hope to return to Kenya to make a difference in their system.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
During my time in Kenya, I realized how differently individuals live compared to developed nations. In the U.S., our culture is fast-paced and often stressful. After submerging myself into Mombasa’s culture, I realized that life does not have to be as stressful as we make it in America.
I often heard Kenyans respond “no problem” which is something that I have taken home with me. Often, I find that the problems that we have are “good” problems in the U.S. I am thankful that my time in Mombasa has forced me to slow down and realize that our lives do not have to be as stressful as we make it.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
I believe that meaningful travel is about exploring and creating new experiences with a purpose. I decided to go to Kenya to discover life and health in a developing country that lacked money and resources. My trip to Mombasa helped me learn more about myself and other cultures. I wanted to travel abroad with the interest of learning about other lifestyles and growing my future career.
I felt that I was constantly learning and discovering, which was everything that I could have asked for. The people that I met inspired and challenged me to be open-minded to adapting and exploring another culture. Overall, my experience in Kenya was meaningful and life-changing.
