Arianna Kana Katersa

I was inspired to undertake my placement overseas as, as a young girl, there is still so much I would love to learn about healthcare and the world. This placement gave me the chance to see who I really am, what I am capable of, and what I need to learn and take in. My career also played a part, as a future child nurse, I wanted to expand my knowledge of nursing in a low-resource setting.

Work the World made this trip 10,000,000 times easier. Before coming to Vietnam, I wasn’t sure about my decision, because I was scared. Going to a new culture, a different continent, people, food – even being a black woman. The Work the World team embraced me and others as if we were one of them. Every in-country team member knew the details about my life I’d shared with the UK team, my name and birthday – they all knew and ensured that the Work the World house would be my new home, and it was.

On day one, you get picked up from the airport. When I arrived, I saw big smiles; everyone knew my name, and I was given a fan. Every day after placement, we had activities like Vietnamese language lessons, cooking classes, and barbecue nights. We also got breakfast, lunch, and dinner – the cakes were my favourite! You have to be here to experience it.

The social aspect of my trip was absolutely amazing. We would usually travel on Friday afternoon and return on Sunday. The people here were always lovely; we would usually travel in a group of 6–8 people so that the overall price would be cheaper and create group memories. The food, weather, and location were always great, and coming back to the Work the World house was the best.

The Work the World team here became my family. I felt so at home; this place is home for all of us because of them. Every staff member, from the programme manager to security, I knew them all – and they knew me. I felt special.

The biggest highlights of my placement were the head nurses at my placement hospital. Every day, I used to get a Vietnamese snack or meal with them, which made me feel so included – more than I would feel at home. People there love pictures, so I have great photos with them that I will save forever, as they are part of my life.

In the evenings in Hue, we would go to play pickleball, just for fun and bonding. Other nights, we would go to the spa with the girls. Sometimes, celebrate together with housemates by going out for dinner.

One thing about my placement that will stick in my mind forever is the Vietnamese citizens, because although some may have so little, they are full of joy in their hearts. They are always willing to give and help, and I will miss them.

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