University of Iowa Haruna Ishibashi (6th year, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, at the time)

The overseas advanced practicum at the University of Iowa was a very meaningful experience for re-examining Japan's healthcare system and the professional role of pharmacists from a new perspective and understanding them more deeply.

While living in Japan, I had learned that the systems and the way pharmacists work, which I took for granted, were not common throughout the world. However, by actually visiting medical settings in the United States, I came to realize that differences in healthcare among countries are deeply connected to social backgrounds and cultural disparities. The opportunity to learn from overseas instructors and students about each other's environments and discuss the challenges of our respective healthcare systems and the ideal role of a pharmacist was unparalleled, and I felt this was the true appeal of the overseas advanced practicum. Furthermore, experiencing American culture during my free time, such as watching an American football game and exploring the area around the University of Iowa, also became a cherished memory.

I feel that the most important thing when participating in the overseas advanced practicum is "to actively take on challenges without fear of failure." I had no experience living or studying abroad and had absolutely no confidence in my language abilities. However, once I was there, I realized that the instructors and students expected me not to "speak perfect English," but to "make an effort to convey my own thoughts." I was nervous at first, but as time went on, I gradually became accustomed to conversation and started to enjoy communicating. The number of things I realized and learned for the first time by participating in this practicum was far greater than I had imagined beforehand. For those like me who are interested in an overseas practicum but feel anxious about their language skills, I strongly encourage you to gather your courage and take on the challenge.