What inspired you to travel abroad?
I have always been curious about the world around me and how those who live in it are so different, yet also so similar. I was shown at a young age that there are people in the world who don't have the opportunities that I do. I began going on mission trips with my church at 12 years old and this is what sparked my passion for traveling and helping others in situations so different from mine. I decided to go to Mombasa, Kenya because I wanted to learn more about healthcare in a country where medical need is so dire and not as readily available as it is in the U.S.
International Medical Aid staff at Coast Provincial General Hospital
Why did you choose International Medical Aid?
I decided to go abroad with International Medical Aid because it was one of the only programs that offered interns the ability to shadow physician assistants, which is the field I am interested in pursuing. After doing more research on IMA I found out that I knew someone who had previously been a part of the program and after speaking with them and hearing how amazing their experience was, I decided this program was a good fit for me.
What was your favorite part about Mombasa, Kenya?
I was truly amazed at how welcoming the people of Kenya are. Everywhere I went the kindness of strangers was so warming that it made a place which seemed so foreign into something more familiar.
Tessa at a school health clinic with IMA
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
Every aspect of my trip was extraordinary. The people, the culture, the food, the hospitality, and the beauty that encompassed Kenya all made my trip remarkable.
How did the local staff support you throughout your program?
The staff helped by making all the interns feel at home. They were very welcoming and extremely helpful in trying to get us accustomed to a new place. The staff also took time out of their lives to bring us around different places in Kenya during our free time. Overall the staff was absolutely amazing and they definitely had a huge influence on my experience in Kenya.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
My trip was absolutely amazing and I would not have changed it for the world. The only thing I wish is that I would have stayed longer.
Tessa and her favorite girls at the IMA residence
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical day began with a homemade breakfast made by one of IMA's amazing staff members, and after breakfast we would head off to the hospital around 7:30am. We each went off to our different departments within the hospital. For my two week stay I was in the emergency department; once I arrived in the morning I would do rounds with the nurses and learn about each patient that was there and the reasoning for their stay.
At around 9:00am I got to follow around some doctors and clinical officers (similar to a physician assistant) on their rounds. I also got to watch some procedures that were done in the minor theater such as suturing, debridement, and insertion of catheters. At 1:00pm we would go back to the IMA residence for lunch. Most days after lunch we had free time to go to the beach or the local cafes. Some days we would go on excursions to orphanages and local schools to teach health clinics. Anywhere from 6:00pm to 8:00pm we would have dinner, and after dinner we would get ready for bed so we were all prepared for our upcoming day at the hospital.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
During my free time I really just enjoyed spending time with the other interns and getting to know everyone better. We would usually go for walks to the beach which was a lot of fun and the scenery was extremely beautiful.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
Having a chef cook for the entire group of IMA interns three times a day was definitely a huge accommodation. It is difficult to eat in a country where you are not used to the food and you don't know what your stomach will be able to handle, so having a chef cook amazing meals for everyone was truly wonderful and especially helpful for those who had food allergies and intolerances. The best part was everything had been made fresh and it tasted absolutely delicious.
Tessa and her favorite clinical officer
What is one thing every future participant should know about International Medical Aid before their program begins?
I would tell all future participants to be very open-minded once arriving in Kenya. The country is full of beauty, but it also has a lot of poverty, so being understanding and humble about your surroundings is extremely important.
Would you recommend International Medical Aid to others? Why?
I would absolutely recommend being a part of IMA! If you want a remarkably unforgettable experience then you need to go abroad with International Medical Aid.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
Traveling abroad not only allows you to learn about another culture, it also gives you the opportunity to experience that culture and connect with people in a way you cannot do anywhere else.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
Being abroad has given me an insight on how differently life is in other places in the world. You don't really understand it until you experience and see it right in front of your eyes. Now that I am home I tend to be more grateful for things I did not think twice about before my trip to Kenya.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
To me, meaningful travel is any experience that opens your eyes to the world around you.
