Live as the Romans live

The rubble and ruins of Rome’s Circus Maximus site – once the scene of the ‘greatest show on earth’ – was the backdrop for a group of ACU students to explore the secret to longevity.

As part of the EXSC230 Circus Maximus unit, 14 health sciences students from ACU had the opportunity to spend two weeks in the Italian capital, living and learning the Roman life.

At the heart of the short-term international study experience, however, was an exploration of healthy ageing, and the environmental influences that can help.

The overseas trip was led by ACU senior lecturer Dr Liam Johnson, who said it offered a rare opportunity to compare Australian and Roman perspectives on living well. 

“For our Australian ACU students, Rome, ‘Circo Massimo’ (the venue) and the Romans and their customs, sports, and parks use, provided the perfect canvas for contrasting views between Australia and Rome on ageing, health and performance, and the environments in which they take place,” he said. 

“The emphasis of the unit was on growing awareness of the relevance of the environment in shaping our understanding of longevity – fitness, wellness, and healthy ageing – in general, and specifically lifespan behaviour, performance and health in sport, exercise, physical activity, and ageing.”

A different world

Surfing, cricket and backyard barbecues may epitomise an Australian way of life – and it’s a far cry from the way the Romans lived thousands of years ago.

But it’s one thing to learn about a different culture in the classroom, and another to travel halfway across the world to explore it in person.

That’s one of the reasons why Liam and his contingent of students attended the EXSC230 overseas opportunity – to discover just how the Romans lived, and the timeless benefits their lifestyle offers for health and wellbeing.

From exploring the original site for Circus Maximus, to touring the Colosseum, students gained an historical education into some of the world’s most famous landmarks. 

The group also explored the Stadio Olympico – the venue for the famous Italian soccer teams SS Lazio and AS Roma.

It was also the site of the 1960 Rome Olympics, and became the centrepiece at a time of great change in Roman history from a cultural, economic and geopolitical perspective.  

ACU students during their trip to Rome. Credit: Dr Liam Johnson

A blessed experience

The trip also provided an opportunity for the group to attend a Papal Audience with Pope Francis. 

“This was a very special and unique experience for the students, who got to see and hear from Pope Francis and receive a blessing alongside attendees from all corners of the globe,” Liam said. 

“The Catholic Church is ever present in Rome, and while studying in Rome, one can’t help but feel strongly connected to Catholic intellectual and spiritual traditions synonymous with the mission of ACU.”

The students also had a morning tea and a Q&A session with the Australian Ambassador to the Holy See, Ms Chiara Porro. 

More than learning

It wasn’t an all-intensive educational trip though, with the opportunity for students to savour Rome’s legendary food culture, attend cooking classes, share meals with fellow students, and explore local cafés and restaurants.

“Many students took the middle weekend of the two-week intensive as an opportunity to explore the beaches and nightlife of the Italian coast, Croatia, and Greece,” Liam said. 

“The students were also very diligent in ‘practising what they preached’, with many finding the local parks, stairs, and hills of Trastevere to their liking to get their daily exercise in.”

Liam said the feedback was “overwhelmingly positive” from the students, who recommended the overseas learning opportunity.

“This was one of the best experiences I have ever been on,” one student said. 

“It is so easy to make friends and end up becoming one big family. The activities that Liam had planned for us really helped with the learning of the content and personally I think that having the course content over two weeks was a great way to learn.”

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