Samantha HoskingParticipated in 2022Intern Abroad | Kenya

Samantha Hosking is a 21 years old from Long Island, New York. She is currently a senior studying nursing at the University of Connecticut. She was a pre-nursing intern in Mombasa, Kenya with International Medical Aid from June-July 2022. She has a very strong passion for healthcare and learning.

What inspired you to travel abroad?

What truly inspired me to go abroad with International Medical Aid is my passion for healthcare. I have always loved helping others, and being given this opportunity of a lifetime was something that I am extremely grateful for.

As a nursing student I was eager to learn about different healthcare practices, as well as gain more insight into a culture that is different from mine. I was inspired to utilize everything I had already learned to help provide for the local communities.

In nursing school they have always stressed the importance of being culturally competent, as well as advocating for the patients. Going abroad and being able to shadow healthcare professionals across the world was an extremely eye-opening, yet challenging experience.

I am very proud to speak about my experience abroad in Kenya, and feel that I have grown so much as a future healthcare worker.

Why did you choose ?

I chose to go abroad with International Medical Aid because after extensive research, I found that their pre-nursing internship was something I was heavily interested in. I read many reviews online, studied their website, and even messaged past alumni who had already completed their internships.

Everyone I spoke to had only great things to say about this organization—and they were correct! I also chose this specific program because of the amount of support that was offered. There was always someone around to support you, even through email. The organization of this program is so amazing and it helps make the experience that much better.

What was your favorite part about Mombasa, Kenya?

My favorite part about interning abroad in Mombasa, Kenya was how welcoming the community was! As soon as I arrived I felt extremely safe and was greeted by so many friendly people. I loved how good the experience made me feel—everyone was so appreciative of our help at the medical clinics and in the hospital.

One of my favorite experiences was attending a hygiene session at a local school. We played games with all the children and passed out toothpaste and toothbrushes. The children were so grateful and sang us songs and it was just a really great experience that I will never forget.

Hygiene Education Session at Kongowea Primary School!

What made your experience abroad extraordinary?

There are so many things that contributed to my extraordinary experience. One of the main things that made my experience so great was the lifelong friendships I made while I was in Kenya. Even though I was only there for three weeks, I created such strong bonds with the other interns and it was so hard to say goodbye.

I also made strong relationships with the program mentors as well as so many staff members at Coast General, the hospital where much of the shadowing took place.

Another huge part of this experience was how much I learned. I came back home with so much knowledge on culture, medicine, and healthcare. I feel as though I have a different outlook on the healthcare delivery system and for that I am very grateful.

Also, going on super cool treks and day trips was amazing, especially being able to experience them with all of my new friends!

How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?

The IMA staff were extremely supportive and accommodating. They were very organized and planned out each day to help us gain the most from our experiences.

One thing that I really enjoyed was our group debriefing sessions upon arrival to the residence after leaving the hospital. These sessions were very helpful as all the interns were able to discuss their shadowing experiences of the day and share new things learned.

The staff always checked up on us to see how we were doing and made sure we were prepared each day. They were always on time, and were always around if anyone had any concerns.

I also really enjoyed how they taught us about Kenyan culture because not only did it help when shadowing in the hospital, but also when exploring the area. They had planned barbecue dinners every Friday and they were always so fun!

Overall the staff at International Medical Aid are amazing and they made going abroad an experience I will cherish forever.

Did your program provide specific pre-departure Covid support? If yes, tell us what kind of support you received.

The pre-testing requirements were lifted before my trip abroad happened, but I took it upon myself to test myself before arriving and also when I got back home to make sure myself and everyone around me was safe.

Although the hospitals did not have mandatory mask requirements, we were all advised for our own safety and the safety of others to wear a mask while shadowing.

How did your program help you stay (and feel) safe abroad, especially amidst the ongoing pandemic?

The program made me feel safe the entire time I was there. In regards to Covid, everyone wore masks while shadowing in the hospitals and hand hygiene was made a routine. We were advised to report any symptoms experienced during our stay, but during my stay everyone stayed healthy!

There was security at the residence at all times and there were locked gates surrounding the residence. No outside visitors were allowed at the residence unless invited by the program staff.

After night shift shadowing time!

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?

One thing I wish I would have done differently during my time abroad was to stay longer! I stayed in Kenya for three weeks but if I could do it again I would definitely stay longer. Although I did in fact see and learn so much, I know I could have done more with my time if I had more of it.

I also worked with other interns to start fundraisers to raise funds for orphanages and the hospital, but I wish I would have had more time there to raise even more! We were still able to donate so much which was amazing and certainly uplifting, but I know with more time we could have changed even more lives.

Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.

A typical day abroad in Kenya with International Medical Aid started with waking up at around 6:30 AM to get ready for the day. Then we would head down to the dining room to eat breakfast at 7:00 AM and then get picked up by the bus at 7:30 AM.

We would all pile into the bus and have such a fun ride to the hospital every morning, jamming out to music and all singing together. Then once we arrived at the hospital we would break off into our groups based on what unit we were shadowing in on that day.

Then at around 1:00 PM we would meet at the pickup spot and take the bus back to the residence for lunch. After lunch we would break off into groups for a debriefing session. Then after that we would either attend a medical clinic or an educational session at a local school.

Some days interns would travel together to do things like going to the beach, the mall to shop, or even go out for gelato! Dinner would always be served around 5:30 PM, and then after that interns were able to do anything they liked which sometimes included night swimming at the residence pool!

What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?

During free time abroad when we were not shadowing or at a medical clinic, we usually were hanging out by the pool at the residence. If we weren’t doing that we usually would go to the mall and get gelato or walk around the area! We even went to the beach a few times! It was super fun and the community was always so welcoming.

On the weekends we would enjoy the nightlife of Mombasa and all get to know each other. It was awesome to be able to spend time and live with people who all had the same interests as me.

I also participated in two organized treks: a day trek to Shimba Hills National Reserve, and a weekend trek through Masai Mara. Both of these treks were amazing and were some of my favorite parts of my time abroad.

What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?

For our accommodation all of the interns lived at the residence. There was 24-hour gated security and there was always someone around to assist with any needs. We shared a suite with about four-six people, and there were about two-three rooms in every suite. Each suite had its own bathrooms, kitchen area, and small living room with couches.

There was a bigger common room in the main part of the house, and we would all spend a lot of time down there watching movies or playing games. I really liked the living situation because we all got to spend so much time together.

We had three cooked meals a day and our clothes were laundered for us every day. The staff at the residence were all amazing and super friendly!

What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?

One thing every future participant should know about going abroad is to make goals! Stay open minded and have goals for yourself. Bring a notebook, take notes, do your research.

There will be so many things going on it could be hard to keep track of everything, but I set a goal for myself to come out of this program with more knowledge and I am proud of myself that I have done that.

Do research before you go, stay organized, and make a checklist. Be prepared to see things you have never seen before. Remember cultural bias is a real thing and recognize you will be learning a new culture and seeing a new side of healthcare.

It is good to stay open minded because you will learn so much more and it will help you for your future career as a healthcare professional.

At the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi

Would you recommend IMA to others? Why?

I would 110% recommend studying abroad with International Medical Aid to anyone who is passionate about healthcare. The program is very organized and efficient, and it is an amazing experience for anyone interested in learning.

You will make lifelong memories with new friends, as well as see so many things that you could never learn from a textbook. If you are someone who is interested in helping others as well as shadowing doctors, nurses, surgeons, and so many others, then this program is definitely the perfect fit for you.

What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?

The biggest benefit of traveling abroad is being able to create your own experience. I traveled abroad by myself and made the absolute most out of my time in Kenya. You can learn so many new things, make so many relationships, and have so much fun!

You get to see a new side of the world while also becoming more knowledgeable about your field of interest. You get to learn a new culture, and even try new food which was definitely a plus for me, because the food I had in Kenya was amazing! Also, you get so many new stories to tell and unforgettable memories.

Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?

Now that I am home and it has been about six months since my time abroad, I can certainly say my life has been impacted. The way I view healthcare has definitely changed and I feel as though I have a better sense of awareness in regards to other cultures.

I was able to see firsthand how culture makes a huge impact on caring for patients, and I learned that it is always a good idea to continue learning and doing research. I learned so much about how resources and funding can have a large impact on healthcare, but I also learned that when there is a lack of resources there are always other ways to do things!

Another way my time abroad has impacted my life is that I now have lifelong friends that I still keep in touch with! Going abroad was such a great way to make connections which I know will be helpful for the future.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

To me, meaningful travel means going abroad with an open mind and coming out of it with a new understanding of the culture and society in your host area. As for a healthcare internship, it means recognizing your own cultural bias and realizing that care might look different in different cultures.

Also, doing your research and coming out of your experience more educated! The travel is fun and memorable, yet informative. Being able to be immersed in a new culture, try new food, learn a new language, and learn about the history was all so meaningful during my experience and made a great impact.

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