Rome, After Uni.

Last week, I took you through a week in my life as a university student at John Cabot University. This time, I want to talk about my weekends. Because if you think they are slow and restful, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

As you know, alongside my studies I run this publication, The Expat Editorial, where I document my day to day life, recommendations, guides, and different experiences around Rome and abroad. Because of that, I am often invited to launches, previews, and private events. So while weekends are downtime for many people, for me they are often when everything happens.

One of the best parts about being at John Cabot University is the schedule. Classes run Monday through Thursday, with no classes on Fridays. The structure is intentional. With so many study abroad students, the university encourages travel and exploration. It makes the expat lifestyle feel real and accessible. For me, it also means I can keep my weekends open for events, content, and everything in between.

This past weekend started on Thursday night with a surprise birthday party for one of my oldest university friends. My classes end around 1 PM, so my evenings are usually free. It was intimate, sweet, and a reminder that even with everything going on, these friendships are what make living abroad truly feel like home.

Friday mornings I tend to keep completely free because it is my dedicated time for planning time. I wake up around 10 in the morning, keep it calm, and finish any remaining coursework I may have for the week. I like going into the weekend knowing my academic responsibilities are handled. After that, I review my calendar, confirm which events I am attending, plan content I need to film, and organize my deadlines. I always build in small breaks for myself, maybe a quiet coffee or dinner with friends. Even busy weekends need balance.

In the afternoon, my friends and I stopped at a café near the American University of Rome in Monteverde, which is where I lived last year. Monteverde overlooks the city, quiet and residential and almost removed from the chaos of central Rome. Going back always feels calming. We sat for a little bit, where I completed some more studying, planning, and answering emails.

After, we went to Mercantino, a vintage store I almost hesitate to share because the designer finds are that good. Everything feels curated and surprisingly affordable.

Friday evening, my friends and I attended a private preview with the fashion brand Diesel. They closed the entire store for invited guests and showcased their new collection before it heads to Milan. We had wine from Diesel Farm, as we tried the new collection on, took photos, and of course, purchased a few pieces before they were available to the public. It was fun, elevated, and very on brand for how my weekends tend to unfold.

Saturday, however, was dedicated entirely to studying.

I did have an event invitation that day, but university comes first. Especially during midterm season, there is no negotiation. So I stayed in and committed the entire day to preparing.

My friends and I have this tradition we call a ‘study crawl’. Instead of a bar crawl, we rotate between our favorite study spots across the city. We start at NaturaSì - Trastevere, an organic market I have mentioned before. We order a tea, sometimes two, and ease into our readings. Then we move to Mammò Trastevere, which is very much the classic JCU study spot. American bagels, iced coffee, laptops open, filled with students stressing over midterms. After that, we settle into the John Cabot University Library. The library has so many different study areas. You can sit inside in complete silence, out on the terrace, or even on one of the rooftops. It is one of my favorite places on campus because it feels calm but still inspiring. We stayed there for most of the day, fully in midterm mode.

At some point, I dropped my phone. Which is not very surprising, if you know me. I walked to Via del Corso, which is completely walkable from university, and got it fixed. While waiting, I edited some YouTube videos and reviewed more material for my exams. Even accidental errands somehow turn into productive moments.

Sunday morning was slower. Resetting, organizing notes, preparing for the week ahead. In the evening, I attended an event hosted by a private members club at Sanctuary Eco Retreat near the Colosseum. Sanctuary is technically a club, but my friends and I treat it more like a curated social space. It has an outdoor restaurant area, different themed rooms, and events happening simultaneously. That night there were tarot readings, vintage Super Mario projected in one corner, and even a painting class happening alongside the music. It somehow feels chaotic and refined at the same time.

By 11 p.m., which is early for a Sunday, I was home.

So yes, it was an eventful weekend. A balance of fashion previews, study crawls, midterm prep, content editing, and nightlife. It is not restful in the traditional sense, but it feels aligned.

A presto!