Two weeks ago, over 100 Miami University students arrived at the Miami University Dolibois European Center (MUDEC) to begin their semester abroad. Coming from all across the country, the students met at the Luxembourg airport to begin their journeys to host families, apartments and hotels where they will be staying for the next four months.
On Saturday, their first full day in Luxembourg, the students met at the school (also referred to as the “Château”) to begin the two-day integration period. Morning activities included a tour of the Château, a Château scavenger hunt and a photo challenge around Differdange. Later in the day, students broke into groups to visit various sites around Luxembourg, including the German and American military cemeteries, Luxembourg City, Bourscheid Castle, the Patton Museum and Beaufort Castle.
On Sunday, students began the day writing a letter to their future selves, which they’ll open at the end of the semester. They then participated in a culture shock exercise called BafaBafa, which challenged them to think about how to approach cultural differences and learn about the elements of culture shock they may encounter on their travels. Students later broke into groups again to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before heading to more site visits throughout the country.
After a very busy few days, students finished their integrated period with the start of classes and even got to listen to a speaker from the U.S. embassy in Luxembourg!
Over the next 15 weeks, students will continue to take classes at the Château and engage in various cultural activities such as guest lectures, concerts, movie debates, Discovery Tours, and more! On the weekends, students are encouraged to travel somewhere else to learn about that culture—wherever they want!
