My experience abroad enhanced my academic pursuits by allowing me to open my mind to international medical students at the Universidad Centre de Este (UCE). They were bright and vibrant young men and women eager to learn and help patients, like myself, but who live in different time zone and places than I do.

My experience abroad expanded my personal horizons – to be thankful for the opportunities to travel the globe, see new cultures, experience new beauties like the ocean at the island where Dominican Republic is located, and shake hands and converse in different languages than the one I’m now familiar with.

The first night I arrived at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic I was greeted by a very friendly and respectful gentleman, Josue, who was eagerly waiting for me on the other side of customs, wearing a UCE and MSU shirt and sporting a Spartan cap. Josue asked if my name was Ahmed, to which I confirmed, and then greeted me with a big smile and said he was waiting for me for a little while now (my flight was delayed an hour) but he was happy to see me. It was a relieving, reassuring and comforting interaction. I was tired from a long night of traveling and into a new land in the literal dark, however Josue’s bright personality and friendly energy set me up for a better experience.

Josue, a fourth year medical student at UCE's medical school, spoke very good English and entertained great conversations. He took me to a local restaurant to grab a light meal as I was hungry from the road, however, the people at the restaurant did not speak English. Therefore, I was challenged early on to push my ability to communicate in a non-English speaking environment. I ordered my food in Spanish to the best of my ability and my food came out just how I thought I ordered it: a chicken sandwich with cheese and a passionfruit smoothie. It was light, delicious, and refreshing. Additionally, the waitress asked if I wanted something but I didn't quite understand what she was trying to say. I turned to Josue and asked for his help to interpret what she was saying at that time, to which he said she asked if I wanted hot sauce, but also warned me that it is in fact spicy.

The meaning of retelling this exchange, my experience abroad entailed me strengthening my communication skills by directly challenging me with non-English language skills as well as building connections with locals who speak the native language and English to act as communication vessels. This helped me grow personally and professionally.

Name: Ahmed Ismael
Status: Graduate
Major: Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown: La Mirada, California
Program: Global Health: Dominican Republic - Clinical Immersion