What inspired you to travel abroad?
My family has always encouraged travel to learn more about the world and the people around us. My grandfather traveled to military bases throughout the world, which resulted in my dad growing up in many different countries, like the Philippines, London, Jordan, and many more. I was always told that you learn so much from going outside of your comfort zone and immersing yourself in a different culture.
To be human and to understand the people around you, you have to understand where they're coming from. I was hoping to have that kind of experience while I was in college so I could graduate with a better understanding of the world around me, even if it only meant traveling to one different country for a month.
Why did you choose Global Health & Pre-Medicine Internships Abroad | IMA?
I spent roughly a year searching for different programs that offered a pre-medical shadowing experience abroad. While I was intrigued by programs that offered experiences in countries such as Italy or Australia, I knew those experiences would not be as meaningful to me as the experience I could have in Kenya.
I knew learning about a culture so different from my own and witnessing the struggles people experience in Kenya was going to be more valuable to me. I was also very interested in the free clinics and workshops International Medical Aid (IMA) ran for people in different communities within and outside of Mombasa. Once I saw that portion of the internship, I knew this was the program I wanted to be a part of.
Alongside fellow interns during a mental health clinic in Mombasa
What was your favorite part about Mombasa, Kenya?
My favorite part of Mombasa was the sense of community I got from the people I had the chance to speak with. Whether it was someone I met on a run, at the beach, at a school, or the hospital, everyone welcomed me with open arms. Everyone was eager to teach me Swahili, so I felt more included in their conversations.
I had some local runners cheer me on while I was on my morning run. When there were no patients, the nurses would talk to me for hours, teaching me about Kenya while I taught them about the US. The people I met in Kenya were the most welcoming, kind, and respectful people I have ever had the chance to meet.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
I had a student come up to me after our women's health education session at Coast Girls' High School in Old Town, Mombasa. She had asked me a personal question at the end of our session, but then came to find me again before I got on the bus to leave the school. She pulled me aside and told me that I had given her the power not only to achieve her goal of becoming a doctor, but also to help her friends do the same.
This high school student was facing more struggles than I ever had in my 21 years of life, yet she told me my words of advice gave her the confidence to get through it. I had a similar experience with a few patients who simply needed a friend to talk to. Nothing could be more valuable than knowing I had an impact on these people's lives.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The guidance of the staff at IMA made my experience in Kenya what it was. With their help, I was able to visit different areas of Kenya, eat local food, and feel safe no matter where I was.
If there were ever any issues, they were quick to respond and resolve what was going on. The IMA staff were able to assist over 50 interns at once, and all of us felt equally loved. We had a little family at IMA, and for that I am extremely grateful.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish I had asked even more questions. There were some moments where I was in the hospital or somewhere local where I had the opportunity to ask questions and talk to different people, but because of my natural shyness, I didn't speak up.
I know I may not get to return to Kenya for a long time, and I should have spoken more to everyone I had the chance to talk to. While I did have a lot of meaningful conversations, there was room to learn more from the people around me.
I also wish I had written more down while I was there. In the moment, it feels like an experience you'll never forget, so you don't feel the need to write everything down. I kept a journal for the first two weeks, and I wrote absolutely everything that happened to me.
I wanted to remember the interns I was with and all the patients and doctors I had met. I had some days where I was so busy I didn't have the chance to journal, and I wish I was more consistent so I had those memories written down forever.
Smiles all around during our Maasai Mara safari—group photo with fellow interns
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
I took advantage of every opportunity I was offered while I was in Mombasa. After eating breakfast, all of the interns had morning shifts at Coast General Hospital that lasted five hours. We would split into our different rotations depending on the week and shadow our doctors for the day.
I took every opportunity I could to have afternoon shifts, which were two days a week, that would add around four more hours to my daily shift. The afternoon shift was in a rotation of my choosing, which allowed me to explore all the different specialties we had the chance to shadow.
If there were no afternoon shifts that day, we would have either a hygiene or women's health clinic at a local school. In these sessions, we would break into groups and teach children how to brush their teeth and wash their hands, as well as provide information about reproductive health.
When we got back to the IMA residence, that marked the end of our work day! We would eat dinner and often relax at the pool at the residence. Since I wanted to take advantage of every opportunity I was given, I did as many night shifts as I could.
Shortly after dinner, we would take a bus or a van to the hospital to begin our 10-hour night shifts. Night shifts could be extremely hectic with patients filling the Accident and Emergency wing, or you could have seen as few as one patient. Every day in Mombasa was different, which was what made the experience so special.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
The IMA internship was filled with so many activities and excursions, so there was not an abundance of free time during the month I was there. Since I often opted to work afternoon or night shifts, my experience was very busy, which was exactly what I wanted since I wasn't sure when the next time I could be in Kenya would be. However, I still had some days to myself.
My biggest hobby is running, so I knew I wanted to keep running while in Kenya. I am an avid marathoner and know of the dominance Kenyans have in the field, so I was very excited to run around Mombasa with other interns before our morning shifts. The beach, local coffee shops, and the IMA residence pool were the most popular spots for other interns and me to relax after long days at the hospital.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
The IMA residence was a beautiful accommodation near the beaches of Mombasa! The neighborhood and the house itself were gated, which made it feel extremely safe. Safety was never a concern during my experience in Kenya.
The residence had one main house with shared rooms and two other areas with many bedrooms. While my month in Kenya was filled with an abundance of interns, we never ran out of space. The residence was beautiful, and the area allowed us to have easy access to the beach, which was a very popular place to visit while I was there.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
I would tell a future participant to be prepared to go outside of their comfort zone. To get the most out of the experience, you have to be willing to ask doctors questions. The doctors at Coast General are faced with a surplus of patients every day. Sometimes it is difficult to keep up with everything going on in the hospital, especially if you don't understand Swahili.
The experience is what you make it; if you don't speak to the doctors, they may not talk to you. I would also tell a future participant to take advantage of all the hospital shifts and culture excursions IMA offers. You may not have the chance to go back to Kenya, and your goal should be to learn as much as you can from the culture and community, just as much as the doctors.
Group photo with local students at one of our hygiene clinics
Would you recommend International Medical Aid (IMA) to others? Why?
I would recommend International Medical Aid to any pre-health student who is looking for a study abroad experience. I know there are many students who want to study abroad in Europe, but the experience IMA gives you in Kenya is unlike any experience you could get anywhere else.
As a doctor, it is important to understand where your patients are coming from. My internship in Kenya gave me so much insight into what struggles patients face in communities facing extreme poverty.
Not only do you have all the opportunities they offer to shadow and learn about the culture, but they also provide weekend excursions throughout Kenya. During my month in Mombasa, I was able to go to Maasai Mara for a three-day safari.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
The biggest benefit is learning more about yourself and the world you live in. You can read about the world around you and watch videos, but you will never understand other cultures unless you explore the world.
To have connections with people, you have to understand where they're coming from. If you stay in the same place your whole life, you may be missing out on deep connections with people from around the world.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
My time abroad has pushed me to use the privilege I have to help those who are not as fortunate as I am. I was heartbroken to leave Coast General and Mombasa. I couldn't act like I had forgotten everything I had seen.
Once I got home, I spent time editing a video of other interns and me discussing the things we saw at Coast General and how many patients are unable to afford lifesaving healthcare. That was the start of Kutoa Kenya, a GoFundMe for all the patients at Coast General.
While we are still figuring out ways to continually raise funds, we have raised a little over $1,000 for patients who need it. I look at Kutoa Kenya as something I can continue to grow to help the patients who need it.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel to me means you learned something while you were there. Whether it's about the culture, history, or food, a trip is meaningful if you gain something from it. While looking at beautiful sights is enjoyable, learning is the most important thing anyone can do.
Meaningful travel means immersing yourself in the culture, talking to the people around you, and exploring places you may have never known existed. Experiences like that are the ones you will carry with you every day.
