Best Summer Ever!

Before I even begin my review, I'd like to say that just as I was wrapping up writing my inital review my lovely computer thought it would be a great time to crash, causing me to lose the entire review I had just spent all that time working on. However, that said, Gap Medics is truly such a wonderful program that I simply had to take the time to start all over again. So, take two, here we go.

My month with Gap Medics was easily the best month I've had thus far. I had amazing opportunities to observe medical procedures that you would otherwise likely not get to see until well into medical school, while also living and travelling in a beautiful place surrounded by amazing people.

Both the hospital (I was at Iringa Regional) and the Ngome Health Centre were absolutely amazing places to learn about medicine in a developing country. The doctors I worked with were extremely knowledgable, dedicated and hard-working, and not only willing, but happy, to teach you all about their work. You will definitely want to bring a notebook with you so that you can write all of the valuable information you will be given while on placement... and also, depending on who your mentor is that week, you might even be tested on it!

All of that said, Gap Medics is not at all a purely 'work trip'. While there, I made incredible friends from all over the world, lived and travelled in the magnificent and culturally rich Iringa region, spent hours at Neemas and Hasty Tasty (don't worry about finding them; somebody in your house will know where they are), learned some basic Swahili (you get lessons at the house some evenings), fell in love with the adorable children at the orphanage, and even had the chance to go on a wonderful safari! One thing I can guarantee is that you will never get bored. And if you are ever unsure what to do or where to go, Mdoe, Jerry, Hassan, Baptiste, or any of the other wonderful staff members will be right there to help you out.

I would strongly recommend Gap Medics to anybody interested in medicine. It provides you with a vast wealth of knowledge, a chance to see what life is really like for people in a developing country, and a safe place where you can grow as a traveler, student and person.