Marina Bontrager

Marina is a pre-med student at the University of Kansas. She joined the VACorps program in May 2025 and participated in a medical internship.

I decided to intern in Cape Town because I wanted to explore a new country in a way that would push me outside my comfort zone. I expected to be challenged while working at Retreat Clinic, but I couldn’t have imagined the many ways I would grow and change beyond my internship.

My main goals were to experience different areas of medicine and to gain a clearer understanding of which path might be the best fit for my future career. I truly believe I achieved that—I received the shadowing experience I needed to better understand my aspirations in medicine.

Outside of my internship, I’ve loved exploring everything the Western Cape has to offer, from the Garden Route and city outings to the stunning nature surrounding Table Mountain. The relationships I’ve built, the culture I’ve experienced, and the hands-on clinical work I’ve done have all come together to create memories that will last a lifetime.

I’ll miss watching the sun rise over Table Mountain every morning, surfing in Muizenberg, and enjoying daily adventures with my roommates and VAC friends. Although I’m sad to leave, spending eight weeks living in Observatory has given me the chance to truly experience all that Cape Town has to offer.

Thank you to VAC for the weekly events and constant support—and a special thanks to every wonderful person I had the opportunity to meet. Onward and upward!

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