Olatz Roa and Mireia González have brought back from the United States a very intense formative experience and staff , and their own white coat, imposed in a gown ceremony in the purest American style.

What has your experience at the University of Florida been like?
Studying for a year at the University of Florida has been an experience and a challenge from the very beginning. Starting with our integration in a system educational different from that of the School of Pharmacy of the University of Navarra and going through our adventures to be able to move around the United States without a car.

What would you highlight about the teaching in Pharmacy in the North American country?
All the classes were online. That is, they were pre-recorded and we could watch them through the university's virtual classroom . However, we had to go to class daily for a couple of hours to review the work done from home and discuss clinical cases as a team.

To follow this outline of work, the class was divided into teams of six people throughout the course. The teams were arranged at round tables during class. But the space was so large that we had to use a microphone to speak! Another thing that struck us was the age of our classmates, who were around 25 years old, since to study pharmacy in the USA they must first take a degree program from Basic Sciences, just as they do to study medicine, engineering or law, among other disciplines.

What about your own life in the U.S.?
After a whole year living there, we both agree that the United States is the country of opportunities. It is incredible how many activities we have been able to attend attend through the University, such as lectures by members of large pharmaceutical companies and talks on clinical or community pharmacy. The teaching, moreover, is totally focused on the internship. That is, to our professional future. In the teaching of Pharmacy in the USA, the attention with the patient is very important, so we were examined on how to measure and interpret vital tests, such as glucose, blood pressure or cholesterol. In addition, we were able to take part, along with the rest of the class, in the White Coat Event, which is the act of submission of the pharmacist's coat to each of the students.

How would you describe college life in the U.S.?
College in the United States encompasses much more than just academics. Students are involved in different leisure activities, sports and organizations. There is life at campus every day. Among the most popular sports, we would highlight soccer, which we were able to enjoy on the first semester and where students and families dress up in the university colors for an all-day celebration. We have also participated in several activities of volunteer activities in a clinic for citizens in poverty status , in food drives and even in a festival to raise awareness among families of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. 

How would you rate the reception of foreign students like yourselves?
The Navigators alumni organization is in charge of welcoming foreign students there, with the goal main goal of integrating them into the Gators' world. As a curiosity, the term Gators is the term they use to refer to the students of the University of Florida and it is also the name of the team's mascot. This organization put us on contact with those who were our teammates from the first semester and it was very enriching because each of us came from a different place.