What inspired you to travel abroad?
I had never traveled at that point and knew that I wanted to spend my career experiencing different cultures. More than eight years later, I’ve only become more passionate about pursuing a career in humanitarianism and meeting people across the world.
I know that it would fulfill my interests, allow me to feel like I’m dedicating my life to something important, and would overall just be something I’d love to do.
Sarah and staff at a free clinic in a more remote part of Kenya providing free healthcare.
Why did you choose International Medical Aid?
When I learned about International Medical Aid, I was initially very interested because it would be my first time doing something I had planned to do in my career.
I knew that it would allow me the opportunity to shadow doctors and gain a greater understanding of working in healthcare. However, IMA also specifically sent students to underdeveloped countries, and this made the program even more attractive to me.
IMA allowed me to travel, live in a different country, witness the difficulties with providing healthcare in low-income areas, and overall see a glimpse of what life is like as a doctor.
Additionally, I really loved IMA because of their dedication to providing free clinics and women’s health teachings. I was highly interested in the hands on experience and guidance in real professional settings from professionals.
What was your favorite part about Mombasa?
I loved trying new food, seeing how different the streets and houses were from what I was used to, and meeting new people and comparing cultures.
My favorite, I think, would probably be how prominent both Christianity and Islam are in the cultures. Both are practiced by large percentages of the city’s population, and everyone can coexist peacefully and respectfully.
Sarah and her program are preparing for the night shift.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
After my six weeks in Mombasa, I went to Tanzania to hike Kilimanjaro. I love hiking but have never had the opportunity to do a trip even a fraction as big as Kilimanjaro, so I was so excited to have the opportunity.
IMA helped plan and make it possible. I will forever be incredibly happy that I was able to accomplish it.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The local staff were absolutely amazing. Caroline, Bella, and Robert were the main coordinators that I interacted with during my time at IMA.
Additionally, the cleaning and cooking staff were amazing too.
Everybody was so kind that it immediately quelled any fears or uncertainties I had, and they also were so willing to help me navigate my trip.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish I had spent more time learning Swahili. I did my best to learn a different word or phrase every day and to incorporate it as much as I could in conversations, but I still would have loved to learn even more.
Sarah and peers dressing their best for surgery.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
During the weekdays, AM:
- 6 am: Wake up and go for a run
- 7:20 am: I would shower and eat breakfast with other interns
- 8:00 am: Head over to the hospital. The ride took about 15 to 20 minutes.
- 8:30 am: at the hospital, our separate rotations and shadow until 1:00.
Afternoon Schedule:
On Mondays, I would usually stay at the hospital for the afternoon, absorbing what I could.
The other weekdays, we would come home for lunch and do an update with our mentors.
It varied for our late afternoons, and we’d sometimes travel to various schools in Kenya in order to give lessons on either women’s health or basic hygiene.
On other days, we would have the opportunity to go to local cultural activities such as an inclusive woodworking center, women’s cultural centers, or a wildlife conservatory.
Evening Schedule:
4 or 5 pm: We would have dinner and relax with some free time.
9 pm: Bed
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
I really loved going to the cultural activities that our mentors set up for in the afternoon. We went to a few different locations, but my favorites were either the zoo/wildlife center, an inclusive vocational woodworking center, or a historically accurate cultural center run entirely by women.
A tour was always provided by one of the employees who taught us so much.
Sarah on a beautiful drive in Masai Mara.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
We stayed in a two-building compound that was inside a gated community, and further had another gate around the buildings itself.
There was a main house with a kitchen, dining room, and living room and then another smaller building with more bedrooms. IMA interns stayed on the top few floors of the second building while other tenants stayed on the bottom two.
I shared a room with two other girls, but since our timing was staggered, I had four roommates for the course of my six weeks.
I especially liked the pool and the common room.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
The program itself is hard work and you have long days–it’s no vacation. We also had a curfew and are limited to where and when we can go out on our own.
Additionally, the amenities aren’t as abundant as one may be used to, and sometimes have issues with doctors unwilling to teach due to cultural differences.
I do think that anyone interested should expect to learn as much as they can and come prepared. There is time to explore and downtime, but it’s ultimately a professional opportunity.
Would you recommend International Medical Aid to others? Why?
I would! I had a wonderful experience and learned a lot. I also genuinely enjoyed my time while being there.
It was a great way to sample shadow and try several different specialties. Additionally, the doctors working at Coast General Teaching Hospital are very knowledgeable.
Experiencing hospitals that had patients with different ailments than what I’m used to in the US was enlightening.
The program was very well-organized, too, and so I wasn’t at all concerned with safety, logistics, or planning.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
Getting thrown into a situation entirely outside your comfort zone challenges you and betters you in every sense of the idea–especially if you’ve never been abroad before.
Cultural, social, and economic differences were the most exhilarating, from the markets to wildlife, and general expectations. It makes you become present and take in everything with more intention.
Sarah at the top of Kilimanjaro.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
This trip cemented my career and the goals that I have been planning for. I’ve always wanted to be a medical humanitarian who worked abroad, but it was based on Kidder’s book and a few others.
I was so relieved to realize that I truly loved every part of it. It made me want to be a medical humanitarian even more. I’m so happy to have had this experience in its entirety, and it has me more focused than ever.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
To me, meaningful travel means that you both experience a new place and a new culture while also doing something that you deem important.
It can be helping others, advancing your career, or even just learning something. This travel is specifically different than if one traveled purely for entertainment or to relax.
There has to be a goal in mind and spend the time traveling to do what needs to be done in order to fulfill it.
