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From the . Story submitted by Katie Van Patter (pictured, far right) – Dalhousie School of Nursing

Having just completed my third year of nursing school, I knew there were a lot of elements that I loved about nursing.  I like connecting with people, I like to learn, and I love a challenge.  Nursing provides me with all of this but one of the biggest allures about nursing to me is how transferable it is.  No matter where you are, people always want to maintain their health and will therefore always need nurses.  Travelling is a passion of mine so when an opportunity came up to travel with the Dalhousie Global Health Office and The Nova Scotia Gambia Association to The Gambia as a summer intern, I knew this was an opportunity I could not pass up.  Upon being selected to go on this adventure, I participated in four pre-departure sessions to help orient me for the trip; but nothing quite prepares you like actually living it!

While in The Gambia, I spent two and a half weeks travelling around the country teaching in four different schools about water safety, conservation, and scarcity.  The passion for learning that the students had in addition to their always warm and inviting attitude made me feel instantly appreciative and grateful to be there.  I was there to teach them about water but they taught me so much more.  I saw first-hand how strong, smart, and truly happy these students were.  Some of these students had barely enough money to stay in school each year and most could not afford to buy new uniforms to replace their currents ones which had just one button on their shirt or were too short in the arms and legs but they would share everything that they did have with one another and with me.  I was consistently blown away by their hospitality and their truly kind spirits.  The Gambia is known as the Smiling Coast of Africa and I can see why. Never have I found everyone in a country to be so happy, friendly, and welcoming.

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