My name is Alice and I am a midwife, French-born, Scottish-trained.

As I was growing up in France, MSF was frequently on the news, journalists reporting how they were doing their best alleviating the suffering of the very worst-off human beings in the world: war victims, malnourished children, abused women... Already I thought how amazing they were and how I would love to join their ranks.

During my training as a midwife, I decided to spend my elective placement in rural western Ethiopia which confirmed my initial suspicions: this is what I wanted to do "when I grow up".

After graduation, I worked at Imperial in London both in clinical and academic positions, getting as much experience as possible in the three years MSF required prior to my application. As soon as I hit the three year mark, I sent off my application and a few months on, here I am, getting ready to leave for my first mission.

I do not pretend to know what to expect of my first mission, but I know that this is what I have been waiting for.