My experience on Zanzibar

My first three weeks on Zanzibar have passed and time has flown away. I can not understand that I’m already going home in a week.

Every day we have experienced something new and exciting. The day is spent at one of the hospitals where we are in a new and exciting department every week. During the last few weeks I have been to Internal Medicine, Maternity and Anesthetic department. Each department has been very exciting and instructive. We get a lot of theory and afterwards observed many of the things in practice. The staff at Al Rahma Hospital where I have been are sweet and very welcoming. We are allowed to join where we can and the doctors are good at explaining the different cases so we have an understanding of what is happening. The last days at Maternity ward have been really exciting. Already 10 minutes into the first day we saw a natural birth. It’s an amazing experience to see a newborn come to the world.

After the hospital we either take to a stroll in the city, go to the beach or enjoy the pool at the Try Medics house. The unity in our group evolved very fast and everyone is well together. We are enjoying ourselves in the rooms and laughing at everything and nothing.

During the weekends we have been on different tours. Last weekend when some of the group were on safari the remaining 10 of us took to the northeastern side of Zanzibar to a dive center called “Dive Point Zanzibar”. We had arranged it ourselves though with the help of our Program Manager. Some of the girls did not have diving certificate but the Friday before they took theory and did practise in pool so they were ready for a “Discover Scuba Diving” dive on Saturday. We saw very beautiful corals and colorful fish. When we were on our way up from our 2nd dive we were suddenly surrounded by dolphins swimming and playing around us. It was such an amazing experience.

So far everything has lived up to and exceeded my expectations.

• Laura Nielsen, Pre-Medicine