Subscribe to our email list
MUDEC Méinden Fall 2021 #9
MUDEC Méinden Fall 2021 #9
Miami UniversityJohn E. Dolibois European Center logo
MUDEC Méinden-Weekly news from the MUDEC community for the MUDEC community-#lifelongMUDEC

Fall 2021 #9

October 25, 2021

Living with my Host Family

by Meta Hoge, MUDEC newsletter intern
One of the best ways to be immersed in a culture is by living with a host family. This semester I’m living with a host family in Esch-sur-Alzette, which is about 30 minutes by bus from MUDEC. During the pre-arrival orientation process, I considered living in the apartments because I thought that I’d rather be more on my own, but I’m glad I decided to live with a host family because I have loved my experience so far.
Living with a host family has given me the chance to see what life is like for people in different cultures. I think that it is interesting and important to meet people with different values and traditions.
I’ve also been able to have experiences that I can’t have back home in the states. For example, on my first Sunday night in Luxembourg, my host mom made a traditional Luxembourgish meal. I was able to try a lot of new foods just in the first weekend. Since then I’ve had multiple meals with my host family, and I’ve grown to appreciate the time spent with others rather than just a quick meal.
My host dad doesn’t speak a lot of English, so I have been trying to learn some Luxembourgish to talk to him more easily. Living with a host family gives me the chance to practice speaking other languages.
My experience living with a host family has enhanced my time abroad. I appreciate the time spent with them getting to know them and more about Luxembourg traditions and culture. I think this experience will form some of my best MUDEC memories.

Slovenia Study Tour

by Hannah Horsington, MUDEC newsletter intern
Blue sky and mountains with town in foreground
This week, students taking LUX 201: Self-Determination and Regionalism in Europe embarked on their study tour. The group traveled to Ljubljana, Slovenia to learn about Slovenian history and explore the beautiful country.
On Monday, students visited the National Assembly (the Slovenian Parliament), where they were addressed by the Secretary General of the National Assembly and learned about Slovenia’s separation from Yugoslavia from a member of the National Council. Students then toured the Ljubljana Castle and got a great view of the city from the top of the lookout tower before having some time to explore the city on their own.
On Tuesday morning, students visited some of Ljubljana’s museums, including the National Museum of Contemporary History and the National Gallery. After a short lunch break, the group traveled to the University of Ljubljana for a lecture on Yugoslavia and its eventual breakup. Then there was more time to explore the city that night!
On Wednesday, students started the day interviewing Slovenian citizens to learn more about the country, before setting out on a guided food and walking tour of the city. Over the next five hours, students tried multiple Slovenian dishes, including sardines, squid, turnip soup, sausage, pumpkin seed ice cream, cheese dumplings and layer cake!
Students traveled to the town of Bled on Thursday, where they visited a beekeeping farm and even got to make their own beeswax candles! This was followed by a visited to a pletna bowl workshop and a ride on an authentic pletna boat to the island in the middle of Lake Bled! Students had lunch at a traditional restaurant before visiting another lake, this time in the town of Bohinj!
Wrapping up the tour on Friday, students visited the underground Skocjan caves and a Lipica horse farm before continuing on to the city of Piran located on Slovenia’s coast.
All students loved the trip and now have a much deeper understanding and appreciation on Slovenian culture.
Landscape in Slovenia Brightly colored units in Slovenia boat on a lake, slovenia

A Kinesiology Partnership with LUNEX

by Maddie Kelley, MUDEC newsletter intern
Kinesiology cohort at LUNEX
For the first time in MUDEC history, the Kinesiology cohort could spend their semester in Luxembourg, taking classes that not only fulfilled Miami plan credits but also classes for their major. This semester, the courses included KNH 244, Functional Anatomy, as well as KNH 188, Physical Activity and Health, which was a sprint course taken at LUNEX University.
LUNEX, an international school in Luxembourg, offers programs such as physiotherapy, sports and exercise science, and sports management. LUNEX is basically a university dedicated to kinesiology, which made this sprint course even more interesting. Taught by Miami's Dr. Eric Brooks, the course was offered for students outside of the KNH major as well as students attending LUNEX to begin with.
The LUNEX course met each night for two weeks to run through all the material about the health of the human body. This course touched on how to keep your body healthy using exercise and the overall benefits of staying healthy.
During each four hour session, LUNEX and MUDEC students sat together learning about the importance of physical activity for the human body. This was a great experience for MUDEC students to meet and interact with the students living in Luxembourg and get to understand the nature of the international school. Even though there were MUDEC students who were not KNH students, the information given in this course was a great tool for the future.
The seven students in the Kinesiology major love that MUDEC is giving them a chance to have an international experience. The LUNEX KNH 188 course really added to the experience of being abroad, and they would all recommend the experience to any KNH students looking to spend a semester in Europe.

Follow MUDEC on Social Media

Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
We are happy to share MUDEC events and news with all of you! If you no longer wish to receive the newsletter per GDPR, please unsubscribe below.
powered by emma