Charlotte Williams

I was inspired to undertake my elective overseas after I found out that a medical elective was part of my degree requirement. I knew I wanted to go abroad and go far, to make the most of it. I wanted to go somewhere new and exciting and experience healthcare somewhere very different to home. 

Having never travelled so far away before solo, I knew I wanted to look into the kind of support and help I could get when organising an elective placement. Work the World offered placements in countries I was interested in, and the kind of placement experience I wanted - something new, fun, and to learn lots from. 

From organising the placement to accommodation, food, recommendations and help from the in-country team, I felt Work the World offered all the support I needed to plan my elective solo.

The Work the World house is like a home away from home, we all live together in a big house, sharing rooms and communal living spaces. We all come together for breakfast and dinner, and can socialise together in communal areas in our downtime. 

Living with other healthcare students was fun and added some familiarity to an unfamiliar environment.

We were able to debrief about our experiences in the hospital, how we were finding time away and spending downtime together. It was so easy to make friends, and I have made wonderful friends across the world who I will keep in contact with.

The whole team were so welcoming and friendly. We shared lots of fun and giggles. Gerry, Junrey and Brian’s cooking (and karaoke skills) are second to none. I will always remember karaoke nights with the team.

The biggest difference in healthcare in the Philippines compared to the UK is the lack of resources. Practice often has to be adapted in the context of low-resource settings or low-income patients who cannot afford certain levels of care. Tropical diseases are far more prevalent, which results in a significant number of clinical cases we would likely not see at home. 

During the evenings, we explored Iloilo - lots of eating out and trying local food (fish port is our favourite).

We were travelling every weekend - island hopping, boat tours, snorkelling with sea turtles, canyoneering, zip lines, jumping off cliffs and visiting as many islands as possible! 

We also liked to visit the local pool to relax, the local gym for classes, and go on city tours to get to know the area.

There is so much to do, and always someone keen to join you.

One thing about my Work the World placement that will stick in my mind forever is trying new things in a country that has become my second home.