Internship Abroad
This semester, I have had the unique opportunity to do an internship while in France (and get credit for it!). I am working a children’s hospital in Marseille with a philanthropic organization called “Les Blouses Roses,” which dedicates its time to making the stays of children and the elderly more enjoyable while at the hospital. Another student in Vanderbilt-in-France is doing an internship with a lawyer in town, while yet another is doing one with a poetry foundation.
I go to Marseille by bus every Monday morning and Tuesday afternoon and then take the metro to the hospital where I work for 3 hours on the 12th floor, which is in charge of general consultations, surgery, anesthesia, and ENT stuff. Because France sort of has universal health care, waiting rooms can be full and waiting times can be lengthy. Les Blouses Roses try to make this time, as well as in-patient stays more enjoyable by providing games, toys, and activities for children to do. They even go around at night and read bedtime stories to children with their “Marchands de Sable” or Sandman program.
It has been a great opportunity to learn about the French health care system, meet the other wonderful volunteers, and practice my French – communicating and understanding children is way more difficult than adults. To get credit, I have to work about 6 hours a week and turn in a 20 page paper on my experiences and what I’ve learned (that’ll be the hard part!).
While I miss doing biology research back in Nashville, I am very thankful to have had such a unique internship while in France. It has been an unforgettable experience that has taught me more about France and has made me reflect more seriously about the issue of health care in France, the United States, and the world. Not to mention the fact that I get to work with adorable children every day!