What inspired you to go abroad?
I believe it is important for future healthcare professionals to experience differences in medical care depending on location and culture, especially how to adapt when under-resourced.
I wanted to experience the cultural differences and unique challenges for those in the psychology and mental health field. Stigma is pervasive, but the stigma differs from culture to culture.
Why did you choose International Medical Aid?
I wanted a program that combined my interests in psychology and humanitarianism. Mental health care is less common within humanitarian organizations, but it is a growing field.
IMA provided an opportunity to gain "real-world" experience, confirming that I am on the correct path in my studies and occupational goals. Participation in weekly outreach and the opportunity to work with both inpatient and outpatient individuals allowed for diverse encounters.
As Kenya is a country that struggles with gender-based violence (GBV), the ability to intern in one of the very few GBV clinics in the country gave me the chance to better understand the severe psychological effects that result from GBV.
What was your favorite part about Kenya?
The vast majority of people were friendly, kind, and interested in getting to know you, while also eager to share their culture. I'm still in touch with some of the Kenyan interns I worked with in the psychology unit.
In addition to the positive interactions I had with people, the natural environment was incredible to experience during additional trips that the program offers for interns. I visited the Masai Mara and beautiful beaches close to Mombasa.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
Plaque in the CGTRH psychology unit
The opportunity to interact with patients with a wide array of psychological struggles (i.e., bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, postpartum psychosis, learning disabilities, etc.), while also interacting with patients struggling with physical ailments or injuries, was extraordinary.
The psychologists serve more roles in the hospital than they do in most Western hospitals because of understaffing. I watched psychologists spend time with patients to talk them through treatment plans and explain their cases, as many people had low levels of health literacy. I got to visit every ward and unit of the hospital as I shadowed the psychologists on their rounds.
This was a unique opportunity because I was exposed to diverse groups of patients with diverse problems, helping me to understand how mental health and physical health go hand-in-hand.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
The staff in the psychology ward answered all of our questions with detailed, easy-to-understand explanations and advised us on how to interact and speak with patients.
The IMA mentors were easily accessible throughout the day to speak with and guide the interns in processing our experiences at the hospital, to chat about anything, or to answer our questions.
The kitchen staff made delicious meals and were very accommodating to people's dietary needs. They also asked for our food preferences to ensure our comfort at the residence.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish that I made more of an effort to learn Kiswahili because not every patient spoke English, and I could have made deeper connections if I tried harder to speak the language.
I also hope to visit the region again someday, and a better knowledge of the language would have made my continued learning easier. The best opportunity to learn a language is when you're immersed in it.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
I woke up around 7 in the morning and ate breakfast with the other interns on my shift. After breakfast, we were driven to Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, where I spent four to five hours shadowing psychologists, sitting in on counseling sessions, and doing rounds in the medical wards with fellow interns from IMA and Kenyan psychology students.
The same driver picked us up from the hospital and drove to the residence, where we ate lunch with all of the other interns.
Safari in the Masai Mara
We usually have to choose how we spend our afternoons, sometimes attending lectures, taking an extra shift at the hospital, resting in our rooms or with friends, swimming in the pool, visiting a beach, going on excursions organized by IMA, or doing activities with fellow interns.
The residence offered dinner around 6, and we were free to spend the evening as we liked.
What did you enjoy doing during your free time abroad?
I went to the gym most days, which was a five-minute Uber ride from the residence, ate at restaurants with other interns, and visited beaches on weekends.
While resting at the residence, I journaled about my experiences and relaxed by the pool. We visited a paintball, go-kart, and mini golf place, and every once in a while, went to a karaoke bar.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I was in an apartment-style unit with two bathrooms and three bedrooms that each held two or three girls.
As interns left and new interns arrived every week, the rooms were not always full to capacity, but there was plenty of room even when it was full. The air conditioning always worked, and the bed was comfortable. We had a living room space, a balcony, a kitchen table, and a fridge.
I enjoyed having the ability to decompress alone in my room or socialize with my apartment-mates in the living room, depending on my mood and needs.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
The experience is mentally, physically, and emotionally draining, but very rewarding. It is important to know yourself and what you need, whether that be socializing, sleeping/resting, or working out after a day at the hospital.
You have all of the resources you need at your disposal, and everyone around you is experiencing similar things, which creates an opportunity to develop deeply personal friendships.
Would you recommend the IMA Cross-Cultural Care Mental Health Internships? Why?
Afternoon shift in the surgery ward
I highly recommend IMA's mental health program. You get hands-on experience and have the opportunity to observe the cultural differences in mental healthcare and stigma surrounding psychology.
Psychological treatment varies from person to person and from culture to culture, and this is an important understanding to have before entering any mental health field.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
The biggest benefit is deeper cultural understanding. Traveling abroad introduces people to different life experiences and values, which helps one to navigate the world with more compassion and critical thinking.
We live in a multi-cultural society, so it can only be beneficial to learn about cultures that differ from our own.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
My experience confirmed that I am on the right path in pursuing clinical psychology in relation to humanitarianism. The entire time abroad has given me a new appreciation for life and for the privilege of being able to travel and receive a high-quality education.
I also understand myself better, can more easily identify my strengths, and have faith in my resilience.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel teaches me more about myself and others. It includes exposure to different cultures or to the natural environment, which increases my appreciation for life and fosters personal growth. It involves full immersion, rather than general tourism, so as to gain new perspectives on others and the world.
