Here are Four Reasons why Group Travel is worth a try

Here are Four Reasons why Group Travel is worth a try

Travelling abroad doesn’t just happen; it’s usually premeditated and entails a lot of planning and organisation. All these are with the hope that you will have an excellent experience abroad. Does it always happen? That is a story for another day. When travelling for an elective abroad placement, planning and organisation are also taken into place. And one of the most important questions is who will be on placement at the same time as I am? Can I come with a friend? But again, I will not have privacy, will be clashing constantly with my roommates and even worse if they are my friends. It happens! But when all is said and done, there is more advantage to group travel than its limitation.

Here are Four Reasons why Group Travel is worth a try

Shared Memories

We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend, says Robert Louis Stevenson, a Scottish writer

Group travel brings a long with it someone or people we can share with and do things with. Having the common interest of undertaking healthcare internship together is enough to get you along. You are bound to become closer and your friendship is likely to be strengthened. You may find out on habits about your friends as much as they are to find about you. But at the end of the day as Mark Twain would put it, there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them. Crazy? Right?

Saves you Money

The second thing that travelling in a group gives you is cost cut. If you are to stay in an apartment during your healthcare internship abroad, that is, if you are not using a provider, you will save some money by distributing the cost among your team. This also applies to having a cab take you round the town, food etc. You are also in a better position to get discounts when you travel in groups. For instance, Elective Africa gives a special discount for medical students/prehealth students who come in groups for their hospital work experience in Africa. Hotels too have special packages for groups not forgetting parks where in most cases you may stand a discount if you are in a group.

Safety in Numbers

Arriving in a new continent or country on your own can be quite scary. You’re never prepared for the crowds, people and even culture. You are an easy target for mugging or even attacks. The numbers reduces your chances of being mugged coz there is always someone who got your back. You may get lost once in a while but that’s the fun of travel especially when you are in a team.

If it scares you, it may be a good thing to try says Seth Godin

Someone to psyche you up

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter says, Izaak Walton

Travelling abroad brings a lot with it to learn from. In your case, you will get to learn on the unique healthcare systems and how different they are from your own. If you are taking your healthcare internship in Africa, you are sure to learn how doctors, nurses and physician assistants get to be innovative amidst inadequate healthcare resources for healthcare delivery. The culture is something to appreciate. Whenever there is learning to be done, there is always that person to pat your shoulder to tell you ‘you can do this!’

Katie Lobban, Undertook her Physician Assistant Elective with a group of 16 others. This is her take on group travel,

‘I spent my four weeks going around the different wards seeing and doing a bunch of things I could never do here in the States. When I was there were 4 English, 4 Australians, 6 Norwegians, and 2 American interns. Most of them were studying to be doctors. Having them around and in the hospital really helped as well because I would go with them some days to minor theater (where minor surgeries are done) and would first show me a number of things….’

There you have it! Whether you decide to go for solo or group travel, at least you know what group travel has to offer.

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by Elective Africa

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