I am a Luxembourgish citizen and so I had my education up to high school included here in the Grand Duchy. My family is originally from Esch / Alzette, and so I attended the school institutions there. Kindergarten in the early “swinging” sixties, elementary school up to the threshold of the seventies. My high school experience also took place in Esch, in the “Lycée de Garçons” where I decided to specialize in languages. After my graduation I worked for three years in private business, but then a bulb lit up in my brain: Tom, you can do more! I enrolled at the “Centre Universitaire de Luxembourg” which was quite severe and cost many efforts, today we have the “University of Luxembourg.” Then I went to Trier in Germany, a city you certainly know from a trip with MUDEC. I had there a happy and satisfying time and left this faculty with a Masters in German (major) and French (minor) language and literature.  

2. How did you end up working for Miami?

I started to work in Luxembourgish elementary schools as a substitute teacher, waiting for a job at a high school. Afterwards, I worked in various such colleges for more or less twenty-five years.

In July 2013, I got the opportunity to come to work at MUDEC. An interview with Dean Thierry Leterre and the assistant Dean Raymond Manes, and, without being too narcissistic, I got from the Dean an email in the afternoon of the same day that I was “ hired.” I certainly do not regret that, even at fifty-five you can learn a lot. By the way, we are learning during our whole lives.

3. What are you looking forward to the most this semester with remote teaching?

Every school has an atmosphere of its own and I would lie to you and to myself when pretending that remote teaching is able to match the presence of students. A class community with its interaction is by far more valuable than any remote teaching. But fortunately we are living in an IT area, so we can fix a little bit the physical absence. But it is an unhappy compensation, the French call that a “faute de mieux,” nothing better is available. I repeat: We are lucky that Corona did not strike forty years earlier. But better times will come.

4. What inspires you?

For the moment I am very much inspired by the perspective that the COVID–19 will be defeated sooner or later. There would be no mountains or plains if there were no valleys. I am generally inspired by good perspectives. In 2013 MUDEC was a perspective for me and I have not been disappointed. The day when I shall enter the Château in Differdange and I shall see “physical” students is also an inspiration.

A month ago a person, who is not an acquaintance of mine, said to me: “You are looking like a professor!”

As my height is today 6‘ 6” ( = 198 centimeters) I grew up quite a lot and I had much time to think about it. I never wanted to be a fireman or a locomotive driver which is common for my generation. In elementary school you were a cowboy or an Indian, I was a cowboy. In high school I sometimes dreamt to be a well-known writer or even a mathematician. In puberty most people have the need to feel recognized. Today I am more modest, but nevertheless tall.

The internship that I was lucky enough to be a part of was with ArcelorMittal, a steel manufacturing corporation. It was located in one of their headquarter offices in Esch, the second-largest city in Luxembourg. Thankfully, the train ride there and back was quick and painless. When I was working, I would review the English of technical documents that were to be published. This includes marketing advertisements, engineering reports, and technical reviews. I had to ask my boss about the differences between British and American English everyday (What is a car park? You mean garage?).

2. Why did you want to intern with this company?

Originally, I wanted to intern with ArcelorMittal because they are known as the world's leading company in the production of steel. After being introduced to my supervisor, Franck Pichoff, I quickly realized how incredible of a work environment this would be. The people were the kindest, the work was extremely interesting, and I have never felt more welcomed.

3. Why did you want to intern while abroad?

Abroad, I did not have the option to take my mechanical engineering classes. I worked hard to get ahead in my major classes so that I could be a part of MUDEC this semester. The ability to intern at such an illustrious company was extremely valuable. I was able to take this semester to focus on my professional development.

4. Why did you choose to study abroad with MUDEC and what are you looking forward to now that you are back in the U.S.?

I chose to study abroad with MUDEC because I know that I will never again have the opportunity to tour Europe for 4 months after I join the workforce (it was a great 7 weeks, thanks Corona). As I return to the States, I am most excited for the basic things: Hot Cheetos, a mirror in my bathroom, and being government-quarantined. 

5. What is a fun fact that most people don't know about you? 

During a trip to Switzerland, paragliding with my friends, we witnessed a poor student nose dive into the cement below. Most people say that the worst thing that can happen in Europe is being pick-pocketed (shoutout Tory). Personally, I think that emergency dental work takes the prize. Putting this aside, this semester has been one that I will never forget thanks to MUDEC staff, ArcelorMittal, and my close friends.

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