Mei International Academy - Europe 2021
6 countries, 15+ cities, 70 days abroad + 40 days online, 4 courses
AP World History: Modern, AP English Language, Grade 12 Healthy Active Living, Modern Media
24 days in Italy (Rome, Ostia, Roccamare, Florence, Borgo)
6 days in Portugal (Lisbon, Sintra)
10 days in Spain (Madrid, Barcelona)
13 days in France (Paris, Strasbourg)
5 days in Switzerland (Murine)
11 days in Germany (Munich, Berlin)
Italy - Rome
Students begin their journey of Western civilization in the ‘Eternal City’. With visits to the Colosseum and the ruins of the Forum, we wander through time and discuss the foundations of the West in the streets of the most excellent open-air museum—Rome. We will witness the physical and literal layers of Rome's history—intermixed with high fashion, luxury cars, and an unparalleled passion for soccer! Whether writing morning notes on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica, performing Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in the Roman Forum, or sampling the world's best gelato at the Trevi Fountain—in Rome—students witness the ghosts of history come alive.
Italy - Ostia, Roccamare, Borgo, Florence
After a fast-paced introduction to the MEI ethos, we relax and reflect on the white-sand beaches of the Tyrrhenian coast. Our third stop is the ‘Home of the Renaissance’. Names such as da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Medici, and some of the world’s most beautiful architecture, Florence is the perfect place to see what an explosion of thought, art, and culture can bring to a city, and indeed, the West. While interspersing our days with visits to the Uffizi, Il Duomo, and the Accademia—home to Michelangelo’s David—students are captivated by some of the most vibrant markets, and some of the most beautiful architecture, in Europe. It is no wonder this city has been the favorite of artists, writers, and popes for centuries — it is the perfect place to investigate the Renaissance. Our fourth destination is a reward in itself: the beautiful Tuscan villa of Borgo San Luigi. Located halfway between Siena and Florence in the heart of Italy’s most famous region, this quintessential retreat offers sunbaked stone buildings and the quiet reprieve after Florence. Students are energized and recharge for their long journey ahead over an exceptional dinner of the best Tuscan cuisine with all of the newfound friends.
Portugal - Lisbon
We continue our adventure with a stay in Portugal’s illustrious capital — Lisbon. Whether climbing one of Lisbon’s seven hills or listening to a performance of Portugal’s famed Fado music, students naturally connect and are inspired by this ancient port city. Our classes vary between exploring hidden gems and nurturing creative pieces to be performed in small cafés of the Alfama.
Spain - Madrid & Barcelona
We continue into Spain and land in Madrid, where lovers of food and art alike instantly fall in love with this enchanting city. Whether wandering its elegant boulevards, exploring its world-famous museums filled with priceless European art, or admiring the orange glow of the city as the sun sets, this Spanish metropolis captures the imagination. An afternoon at the Prado allows the class to examine works by Picasso and Velazquez, as they collaborate in small groups to present their learnings followed by class discussions. In the evenings, students analyze literature over tapas dinners and take part in the relaxed, social atmosphere of Spanish culture.
Barcelona has been an inspiration for writers and artists for over two thousand years with its vibrant colours, unmatched architecture, and Catalan cuisine. Students practice their hand at character development along Las Ramblas, poetry in Gaudi’s Park Güell, and travel writing in La Sagrada Familia, all between lunches along the Mediterranean and dinners in the Gothic quarter. If we’re lucky, we may even catch a glimpse of the world’s most famous soccer team.
France - Paris & Strasbourg
Paris - After crossing the Pyrenees, we arrive in France. In Paris, the city of lights, lessons focus on the Age of Enlightenment and the Age of Revolution as we debate the nature of humanity and the structure of civilization. In the crypt of the Pantheon, we revisit the arguments put forth by Rousseau and Voltaire that laid the foundation for the French Revolution and the rise of Maximilien de Robespierre. At his tomb, we discuss ‘The Little Corporal’ himself, Napoleon Bonaparte, and his domination of Europe. From bike rides in the gardens of Versailles to visits to the Musée du Louvre, our visit to Paris is a once-in-a-lifetime immersion into French history and culture.
Strasbourg - A welcome respite from the energy and intensity of four of Europe’s most famous cities comes in Strasbourg—a UNESCO World Heritage city on the border of France and Germany. A climb up the Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral, which has survived plagues, revolutions, and two world wars, highlights this Alsatian stop on our adventure. Here, we take a deep dive into English, focusing on the use of critical lenses in literary analysis and ways in which we can identify bias in our writing. In history, the scenic town blends French and German culture, and there is nowhere better to understand the conditions that allowed for the outbreak of the First World War.
Swiss Alps
Making our way to the top of Europe, students emerge from the Stechelberg gondola to find their new home in the picture-postcard Swiss village of Gimmelwald. Here, we hike mountains and roast marshmallows by the fireside—with the clamour of giant cowbells, bleating mountain goats, and the sound of rushing waterfalls all around. Academically, students work on essay writing, namely developing a complex argument, for English and receive one-on-one mentorship while enjoying morning coffee overlooking the Alps. We also seek to understand the consequences of Industrialization and how the stage was set for the Great War. With a full-day Hike in the Alps and lots of rest time, Switzerland offers the perfect experience before we continue our adventure to Germany.
Germany - Munich & Berlin
In Munich, we introduce you to the works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and the WWII holocaust novel Night by Eli Wiesel. These authors help us connect to the universal literary themes of salvation and survival and Munich is filled with cultural traditions revealed in their writings. From St. Michael's Church to the English Gardens, from Hitler's speeches at Odeonsplatz to the horrific legacy of the Dachau Concentration Camp, students will be exposed to how literature brings the past alive. With each poem, story, and song, you will have a deeper connection to what makes Munich a fitting place to end our literary journey. As a reprieve, we'll pack picnic lunches and visit Lake Starnberg to get a dose of nature and Bavarian-lake serenity. Our adventurous summer ends with one last dinner at the legendary Hofbräuhaus where we reminisce on all that we have experienced.
Our final stop brings us to Berlin, the ideal location to dig deeper into the Cold War. This city, once divided in two, served as a microcosm for the post-war world at large. Dotted with reminders of its past, students will visit the Checkpoint Charlie Museum and the Berlin Wall Memorial to get a deeper understanding of the divide felt in this city. Now, the capital city of the most powerful country in Europe, Berlin has shed the remains of its communist past as it attempts to embrace its capitalist future. With its cafe culture and vibrant spirit, Berlin is the ideal city for students to complete their assignments and prepare for final exams. One last dinner together and a stroll through the Tiergarten gives us the chance to admire the Brandenburg Gate while sharing a fond farewell with our new family and reflect on all we have experienced on this adventurous and ambitious trek through Europe.
