{ Research Exchange }
that the Nameday is a holiday celebrated in Poland and Russia, similar to a birthday, so they prepared a big feast with presents. Regarding alcoholic beverages, caipirinha is a brazilian cocktail made from sugar cane, or cachaça. My favorite drink however was a popular tea, made from yerba matte - dried, powdered Paraguayan holly leaves. Preparations, Travel and Arrival My travel preparations were minimal, since I did not need a visa or specific vaccinations. I purchased my ticket and packed a travel guide book, clothes and personal items. However, my preparation for the research exchange required a review of some basic science coursework and of the literature regarding amyloidosis. Stay Although my room was small, I was comfortable
with a bed and wardrobe (which is realistically all that medical students need during the research exchange). Breakfast and dinner were had with my family, and lunch with either my colleagues from the laboratory or my amazing mentor, Liliani A. Sereno Fontes Medeiros. Without a doubt, she has been the greatest mentor in my life! My contact person was Angela, who was very helpful in arranging my trip. The medical students from IFMSA-Brazil assisted me greatly as I prepared my flight to Sao Paulo and Bahia state. I am still in contact with many people from my exchange program, even my Colombian friend who I initially met at the General Assembly in Denmark. In conclusion, I would recommend all IFMSA students visit Rio de Janeiro. Apart from the beautiful views, you can meet amazing people. I think that a trip to Brazil, instead of Prozac, should be prescribed to patients who suffer from depression!
Exchange Experience: Cairo, Deep in My Heart Mehdi Benaceur Research Project My project was titled, “Incidence of diagnosed breast cancer during mammographic screening”, and took place at the Kasr Al-Aini School of Medicine at Cairo University as well as at the WAFI Center in Cairo. The aim was to look at previous breast cancer screening data and apply statistical reasoning for analysis. As a result of this project I am now an expert in reading and interpreting normal and pathological signs in mammograms. There were no language barriers because I communicated in both English and the Egyptian-Arabic dialect which I learned from watching Egyptian soap operas and films. My hospital co-workers were wonderful clinicians who freely shared their knowledge and culture. City and Country The project took place in Cairo, the capital of
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Egypt. During the first days of my visit, I was shocked by the noise and the crowds. Little by little, I became accustomed to the Egyptian lifestyle and fell in love with this city that “never sleeps”. I felt like it was my home city, and I still feel attached to it. Along with some friends, I had the opportunity to visit several Egyptian cities. In Alexandria, the “Pearl of the Mediterranean”, we visited many museums. We also traveled to Hurghada, where we dived and snorkeled in the turquoise water amongst colourful fish and coral; the Black and White deserts; and Bahariya Oasis, where we admired rock formations and spent a night looking at the stars and eating tasty Bedouin food. Finally, we took the “Road of the Pharaohs” from the north to the south, following the Nile through the sacred Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel, and visiting the most beautiful temples and monuments.
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Mehdi Benaceur, ASSOCIA-MED Tunisia.