For many students, finding a routine in a new country can make all the difference in feeling at home while studying abroad.
At John Cabot University, athletics, fitness, and extracurricular activities become an important part of adjusting to life in Rome. Whether through varsity sports, intramurals, fitness routines, or university-organized trips, JCU offers students opportunities to stay active while building friendships and creating meaningful experiences beyond the classroom.
Lauren Brondyke, a study abroad student from Grand Valley State University in Michigan, spent the spring semester at John Cabot University while also interning with JCU’s Marketing Department. Continue reading as she shares how staying active through athletics, travel, and community helped shape her study abroad experience in Rome.
Finding Routine and Community Through the JCU Fitness Center
Staying physically active was one of my non-negotiables I set for myself before going abroad. I knew it might look a bit different from my typical routine at home, but little did I know how much it would vary from my original plan.
Throughout my time abroad, I went to the gym, played intramurals, went on a school hiking trip, and played with three varsity teams. John Cabot Athletics allowed me to remain active and competitive, meet new people, and enhance my overall study abroad journey.
Joining the JCU Fitness Center was my go-to place this past semester; even my Apple Maps had it as my favorite over any of my other saved locations. That may be due to the fact that it is located on the ground floor of the Gianicolo Residence, but I prefer to believe the former. I remember first being skeptical of the setup and small size, but it didn’t take long for me to feel comfortable.
The best way to describe it would be a compiled group of rooms, each serving a different purpose, but still allowing for a smooth transition between sets. There are sections with cardio equipment, machines, free weights, a full squat rack, and the mirrored room which serves many workout purposes.
The Mindbody app makes scheduling appointments super easy. I typically plan out my gym times a week or two in advance. I just prefer to have all my things scheduled in advance for the sake of my planner, but I know many people book as soon as a few minutes before without issues. Each time slot is 1.5 hours and allows 16 people per time. While it may seem like a rigid structure, people often arrive within a reasonable amount of time before or after their scheduled time. Upon arrival, you leave your JCU ID with the person working the desk to “check in”.
Working out at the gym was one of my favorite parts of my day. It was one of the first things I found in Rome that gave me a sense of normalcy. After some time, I started seeing a lot of familiar faces at the gym, making friends, and my experience at the gym became even more enjoyable. Staying disciplined in the gym was the one thing that has probably remained most similar to my schedule at home. After all, having a consistent gym schedule and meeting new people is how I found myself on my first varsity sports team.
Exploring Italy Through a JCU Hiking Trip to Cinque Terre
Fun fact about me, I LOVE doing puzzles, and one of my favorite puzzles is actually taken at Cinque Terre.
I knew at some point in my life that I had to go here and see the beautiful coastal cities for myself. After deciding to study at John Cabot, it was the first trip I booked.
The trip was organized by the Student Life and Athletic Department, and the entire weekend was planned out for us. There were around 25 students, accompanied by Massi, Peppe, and Elena from JCU Athletics.
Each day brought amazing views, memorable hikes, great conversations, and unforgettable memories. The agenda was given to us far in advance before the trip, but the experience was tailored to the group based on what we wanted to make of it.
There were opportunities to go for additional hikes or roam around the city. There was enough independence while not having to worry about the next travel or activity. Each of the days, we would take a train to the hiking destination and start walking from there.
Varsity Sports at JCU
Originally, I had no intention of playing any sports at JCU; I thought my days of competitive sports ended in high school. Thankfully, I was persuaded to join a soccer practice by one of my now friends/teammates, whom I met at the gym.
The team was incredibly welcoming and fun to play with, so this is how I found myself on my first varsity team. I played soccer up until around spring break time, when my next opportunity arose to play on the other varsity teams.
Basketball came about after a conversation with Massi during the Cinque Terre hiking trip, when he mentioned a need for more female players to travel to a tournament in Denmark.
At this point in my experience abroad, I had already traveled to Denmark and had plans for that weekend of the tournament, but I still decided to attend practice.
From that Monday after the hiking trip, I showed up to basketball practice and played with them for the majority of the season. Although the team didn’t have a winning record, everyone was super welcoming and easy to get along with.
Even though I had played basketball for seven years growing up, I hadn’t played in a game since my sophomore year of high school. My shot was pretty rough, my dribbling wasn’t great, and I didn’t know any of the plays, but Coach J and the team were really supportive, which helped me get back on the court.
The last varsity sport probably pushed me the furthest out of my comfort zone.
While I first expected padel to be very similar to pickleball at home, I was in for a rude awakening. Madi, whom I met through soccer, was without a girls' doubles partner, so I volunteered, thinking it wouldn’t be much more difficult than pickleball.
I have best described padel to my friends and family at home as a combination of pickleball, tennis, and squash. Just for the record, I have never played squash, only played tennis for intramural my freshman year of college, and play pickleball casually with my friends from home.
This was the biggest learning curve for me out of all the sports I played. It was a small, close-knit team that made it easier to adjust, especially given my lack of experience. Had I tried out at the beginning of the semester, I think I could’ve contributed with more practice. Even though I joined late and only played for a few weeks, I had a great experience.
I can’t say I would recommend playing three sports all at once. I don’t think it is feasible or easy to give your best efforts to all the teams. Still, I would not change my experience for the world.
If I had one piece of advice for future students considering sports at JCU, I would suggest focusing on one sport, or at most two.
John Cabot Athletics made my study abroad experience SO much more enjoyable. I loved every minute of walking to practice with my teammates, building connections, sharing stories, and making memories. I am extremely grateful for the athletic department, my coaches, Bea, J, and Luccio, and all my teammates who made JCU feel more like home.
Lauren’s experience shows how studying abroad at John Cabot University offers students more than classroom learning. JCU provides opportunities to build community, challenge themselves, and create routines that support both personal growth and well-being.
From fitness and athletics to university-organized travel and friendships formed through shared experiences, JCU helps students discover meaningful ways to stay connected while living in Rome.
Ready for your own experience at JCU? Explore how you can earn your degree or study abroad in Rome and become part of John Cabot University’s community. Explore our Student Life programs or contact our Admissions Office at admissions@johncabot.edu to learn how you can begin your journey at JCU.
