University of Florida...Where's that?

So, the most frequent question I get when I tell people I'm going to the University of Florida is "Where's that?"  I tell them it's in Gainesville.  Then they say, "Where's that?"  So, I figured I would make a little post about where I'll be for the next 2 years of my life.

Voici, Gainesville, FL

As you can see, it's not really near anything interesting.
    - 2 hours to Disney World
    - 1.5 hours to the nearest beach
    - 2.25 hours to Tampa
    - 5.5 hours to Miami

I've always wondered why State schools are never anywhere terribly interesting.

However, just because it won't be near anything interesting, doesn't mean there won't be interesting things to do.

First, the University of Florida is the home of the Gators.

 The UF athletic program has been the dominant force in the SEC for the last 20 years and definitely one of the best programs in the nation.  They've won numerous national championships, including a 2007 BCS title and the NCAA titles in 2006 and 2007.
Sports are huge here.  I mean, take a look at this stadium, affectionately named "THE SWAMP."

Wouldn't you like to be here on gameday??

Second, this college is HUGE.  The current student population is 55,000.  That's only 5,000 less than my home town!  Gainesville's population is only about 105,000, which means that there are more students than there are actual residents.  There is always something going on here...Like this.

And of course, school itself will be interesting.  This is the teaching hospital where all my classes and some of my clinical work will take place.

 

Shands Hospital at the University of Florida

Click on the picture.  You see the building in the foreground with the helicopter landing pad?  That's a level I trauma center.  Very cool.  The larger building behind it is the main hospital.

I'm sure there's a lot more that I could write about Gainesville, the University of Florida, and the Physician Assistant program, but I guess I should save something for when I actually get down there.  Right?