In this episode of Soaring to New Heights, Emma Castilla, a pre-health student, shares her semester abroad in Kisumu, Kenya, during Fall 2024. From the very start, her experience was defined by deep cultural immersion—exploring local restaurants, adapting to daily life in a new environment, and building meaningful relationships with her host family over shared meals. Academically and professionally, Emma had the opportunity to shadow doctors at a local hospital, gaining firsthand insight into healthcare in a global context and reinforcing her passion for medicine. What initially felt unfamiliar—from mosquito bed nets to the intense heat—slowly became second nature. By the end of the semester, Kisumu truly felt like home.