What inspired you to travel abroad?
I was inspired to go abroad to Kenya because I am half Kenyan, and I thought that it would be a great opportunity to connect to my roots and learn more about my heritage.
Equally as compelling was the opportunity to learn more about dentistry and see if it really is something that I want to pursue.
I also wanted to go abroad over the summer for an internship because there are few opportunities for my major to go abroad.
Why did you choose IMA?
I chose IMA because of the location. I have family in Kenya and had traveled there before, so I was a little bit familiar with traveling there and what to expect.
IMA had great accommodations and transportation to and from wherever I needed to go. I also liked that IMA organized cultural activities for us to do alongside interning at the hospital.
Handwashing and oral health education session.
What was your favorite part about Mombasa?
My favorite part about Mombasa, Kenya, was definitely the culture. I enjoyed learning about the history behind Mombasa and also Kenya.
There was so much to see and learn about Mombasa. I remember the city tour we did where we went to Fort Jesus, the Spice market, the beach, some parks, and, of course, the famous Mombasa Tusks.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
I think that the people I met while I was in Kenya made my experience extraordinary. From my fellow interns to the doctors and patients I met at the hospital to the staff at IMA, my experience in Mombasa would not have been the same without them.
I loved getting to know my fellow interns and learning more about them, their passions, and their interests.
The dentists at the hospital were always so friendly and open to teaching me new things. They always loved answering questions whether it was related to medicine or culture or anything else for that matter!
The staff at IMA not only helped guide our experiences while we were in Mombasa, but they were also always friendly and fun to talk to and interact with.
Leonie in front of the dental unit.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The local staff were very helpful prior to my arrival and during my time at IMA. Before my arrival, IMA sent me an itinerary and gave me insight into what my arrival in Kenya would look like and how I would be transported to the residence.
Most interns fly into the Mombasa Airport, but I was staying with family in Nairobi and opted to take the train to Mombasa. I had a very smooth arrival process with finding the IMA staff at the train station.
Throughout my time with IMA, the staff was always there to guide us and answer any questions that we had. IMA also had drivers who would provide transportation for us.
The cooks were absolutely amazing. They would prepare all of our meals for us every day and were super accommodating to any dietary restrictions.
IMA also had housekeeping staff who would clean our rooms and wash our scrubs every day.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
One thing that I wish I had done differently during my time abroad is probably spending more time interacting with the local people.
The people that I met at the hospital were always very interesting and had so many things to share, as well as questions that they wanted to ask.
I loved getting to know the dentists that I saw every day at the hospital and learning more about their journeys to becoming dentists.
I do wish that I had taken more initiative to also try and connect with the dentists and dental students that were there outside of the hospital setting.
Leonie in the OB operating room.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
On a typical day in my life abroad
- Wake up around 7 am to get ready to go to the hospital.
- Eat some breakfast and then we would go to the hospital at around 8.
- At around 1, we would return to the residence, change out of our scrubs and into clean clothes and eat lunch before heading out for our afternoon activity.
The activities we did in the afternoon ranged from going on a cultural trek in Mombasa to having a Swahili lesson to having a lecture (talk about lecture topics).
Then we would have some free time before dinner, and after dinner, I often hung out with fellow interns and watched TV or went out for some ice cream!
We also had the option of doing an afternoon shift at the hospital, where you would get a packed lunch in the morning and just stay at the hospital until the afternoon shift was over.
Twice a week, they also offered night shifts where you would go to the hospital after dinner and would stay until the next day when the morning shift started.
I loved going to the hospital for the afternoon and night shifts because there were often fewer interns with you, and you could ask a lot more questions.
Since I was a pre-dental intern, I also enjoyed the night and afternoon shifts as opportunities to shadow different units around the hospital outside of the dental unit.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
In my free time in Mombasa, I enjoyed hanging out with fellow interns and meeting up with new friends that I had made. We often went to the mall to walk around or to the beach to enjoy the clear blue water and white sands of Mombasa’s beaches.
I also was able to meet with the dentists that I had met at the hospital, outside of the hospital and talk about things outside of dentistry.
Leonie and a fellow intern at dinner in Mombasa.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
The accommodation that we had was shared bedrooms with shared bathrooms, and there were also living rooms and cooks who prepared meals for us.
What I liked most about the accommodation was my roommates and the food. I quickly became good friends with my roommate because we spent every evening together and often found ourselves chatting deep into the night.
I loved my roommates, and I still keep in touch with them today!
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
One thing that every future participant should know before their program begins is that you should come prepared to learn!
You will learn so many new things during your time abroad with IMA. You will learn so much about healthcare in Kenya and their culture and get a glimpse into what life is like for some Kenyans!
Would you recommend IMA? Why?
I would recommend IMA to others because it was an incredible experience, and I have absolutely no regrets about going. I urge anyone who is interested and has the chance to take the opportunity to do so!
I would say that my experience with IMA was life-changing. I was able to see so many things at the hospital and gain so much knowledge.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
I think that the biggest benefit of traveling abroad was being able to immerse myself in a new culture and see how other people in different parts of the world receive healthcare.
I loved getting to learn more about Kenya and get a glimpse into what daily life is like. I also loved getting to know the dentists and learning about their life experiences.
Women's health education session.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
Having been an IMA pre-dental intern has helped me reaffirm my choice in wanting to pursue a career in dentistry.
My experience through IMA has shaped me into a more aware and perceptive person. It has changed my worldview and my view on healthcare.
It has helped me understand how healthcare works, how healthcare systems can impact a population, and the importance of never losing sight of the primary goal of healthcare: improving the lives of patients!
I will forever carry the knowledge that I gained during my time in Kenya, and I will cherish the many memories that I made.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel, to me, means getting something out of every aspect of your travel. During my time in Kenya, I was able to get something, whether that was related to learning more about professionally and personally.
I learned so much about Kenyan culture and Kenya's history, as well as what healthcare in Kenya is like and I was also able to learn more about what it means to be a dentist.
I think that no matter what I was doing and where I was, I was constantly learning and will always be able to take the knowledge I gained there everywhere I go.
