Malawi: Abigail Grabow (Final Reflections)
3 Things I Learned in Malawi
After traveling to Malawi through the UW-Nursing study abroad experience, I have had time to reflect on the many things I experienced in this part of Africa. Through a whirlwind of emotions and new experiences, there was a lot for me to take away from this trip. When I think of what I learned, it is hard for me to summarize a final reflection of my time in Malawi because there is so much to unpack. So instead of trying to explain everything little thing I learned, I created a list of three major lessons that I feel can be applied to any international learning or traveling experience.
- You will find your people, even across the globe.
Being in a new place can be uncomfortable, and for me, I felt somewhat isolated when I first arrived in Malawi. But thinking about it now, I am not surprised that I found people to connect with in “the warm heart of Africa.” I met so many welcoming people who made me feel like I truly belonged. Being around supportive people was so important for me, and I don’t think I would have learned what I did without them.
- Stepping outside of your comfort zone is important, but it is okay to maintain personal boundaries.
An important part of experiencing new cultures is trying new things and being open to “different.” This is not always as easy thing to do, and at times I had to remind myself that I did not travel across the world through three plane rides to live my typical American life. In order to learn, I had to be willing to be uncomfortable at times. It was scary to jump right into a different healthcare system, but I learned so much. I also learned that personal boundaries could coexist with being uncomfortable. For me, that meant checking in with myself to consider when to step outside my comfort zone and when to say no to something. For example, I tried lots of new and unfamiliar foods, but there were some things I decided to say no to when it didn’t feel right.
- Check your biases and ask yourself questions.
When being in a new environment, it is natural to experience things that seem different, and sometimes these things may seem strange. One thing I did in these situations was ask myself “why does this seem strange to me; just because it’s different that what I know, does that really make is strange?” Asking these types of questions helped me to trust that there are other ways to do things, and that doesn’t make one way right or wrong. Recognizing my own biases was essential in learning about a new culture and being able to truly appreciate the way Malawians live.
Abigail Grabow
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Major: Nursing
Program: UW Nursing in Malawi
One goal that I hope to achieve while abroad is to learn more about the nature of health care in Malawi, specifically the role of nurses in Malawian care. I chose this program to expand my nursing skills and global health knowledge. I am very excited to meeting new people and trying new things while in Malawi!