Track Update: Sarah Landers
10/19/2015 8:55:00 AM | Track, Competing With Purpose Blog
Sarah Landers is a sophomore on the Pepperdine track team - but she's a long way from Malibu this semester. She checks in from the study abroad program in Florence, Italy, and tells us what life is like for a student-athlete on the other side of the world.
 
Walking to my gate at LAX as I prepared to embark on my semester-long trip to Florence, I still was unable to fathom the idea that I would be living overseas for half of my sophomore year. At the time, it felt almost like any other overseas trip I had experienced before. With my back aching from the weight of my bulging backpack and my arms growing tired from dragging my three-kilogram-over-the-weight-limit luggage, I somehow still had the momentum to make it to my terminal.
As I waited with Tori (Lopez, a fellow sophomore on the track team) for our flight to board, the first (and long overdue) question we asked each other was, "Did you bring your running shoes?" Replying with a head nod and a wink, we both knew we didn't even need to actually answer that question. Of course we had brought our running shoes. How else will we survive our workouts when we return in January?
While everyone was anxiously discussing the places they planned on visiting, Tori and I spent at least half the time discussing our plan to stay in shape. Although part of the reason we wanted to stay fit was due to the abundance of pastas, cappuccinos and gelato we were about to indulge over these next three months, the real reason was that we didn't exactly have a choice (unless we planned on puking our first day back at practice).
"You're on the track team? But then how are you here right now?" This was a common question we got the first week or so in Florence. And every time I heard that question, I felt more and more fortunate that in fact I am an athlete for my university and I do get the opportunity to study abroad. I mean, how cool is that? Which other Division I schools have athletic programs that allow their athletes to leave for a semester (or even a year)? That was one of the main reasons I chose to come run track for Pepperdine. I had wanted to study abroad in Italy ever since I traveled therefor the first time in sixth grade, and I always wanted to be on a collegiate athletic team. How much more perfect could my experience at Pepperdine get?
My time abroad thus far has been incredible. I've been able to travel to the World Expo in Milan, swim in the Mediterranean in the picturesque Cinque Terre, ride a gondola in the Venice Canals, hike around Lagodi Braies in the Dolomites, and climb Mt. Etna, the active volcano in Sicily.Using public transportation, booking hostels and navigating around in a foreign country has required me to utilize my mediocre ability to speak Italian (and my€35 data plan). My friends and I have quickly had to learn how to use our Eurails and how to interpret confusing train schedules. We've managed to travel and eat on a relatively low budget, and so far every trip has gone rather smoothly. It is definitely an incredible growing experience; I can already see my increase in independence as I transition into adulthood.
The "studying" part of studying abroad has been a fun challenge. Half of our professors are Italian, and so one can imagine the language barrier when learning about American Politics or the human brain. On the plus side, when there are only 50 people in the villa it is easy to study for exams as an entire class, setting each and every one of us up for success.Plus, we can't complain when we only have class four days a week.
Our meals are all at set times, allowing for three giant family meals each day. When we find breaks throughout the day we manage to slip away to the gym sporting our stylish blue-and-orange team shoes. Luckily, there are a good amount of people that Tori and I have found who always are willing to accompany us to our daily workouts, so the mile trek to the gym has become a fun, social part of our routine. It's these little aspects of our daily routine that make us forever grateful to be a part of a sport in which individual exercise can sustain our training for at least a few months during this once ina lifetime opportunity. Plus, it gives us an excuse to try all these authentic Italian dishes!
While it's amazing being abroad, we get so excited knowing that we have a team with so many new girls to meet when we return in January. We miss you, track family! Can't wait to see you guys soon.
Players Mentioned
