Ask the students about their MUDEC experience,
and here’s what they say:

Jace Hunter, '05-06, organizational leadership major, history minor: "I had the privilege of taking several courses at MUDEC with History Professor, Emile Haag.  Every class was an adventure -- I was energized and engaged. Emile teaches as if he had experienced the historic times, places and people first hand, truly bringing the material to life.  I would learn about a historic place during the week and then would visit that same place on the weekend.  It was truly my most enriching classroom experience at Miami.

My decision to study at MUDEC was undoubtedly the best decision I made in college.  I met my best friends at Miami, traveled to over 15 countries, and lived an incredibly fulfilling and enriched life that semester.  Make it work for you and find a way to study at MUDEC.  I guarantee it will positively change your life beyond your comprehension."
 

Andrew Loufman, 2004-05, “Following in the footsteps of my brother, Mike Loufman, I got on the plane to study at MUDEC. I remember thinking: ‘What am I getting myself into?’ It turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life and the pinnacle of my college experience. From snowboarding the snow-capped Alps (which put the Rockies to shame) to exploring Ireland’s castles, to attempting to interpret a German church service with no experience in the language whatsoever, the Lux Program is unforgettable. You’ll create your own unique adventure, grow and learn, and forever cherish your professors, peers, and the random people you meet along the way.”

Amy Schumacher, MUDEC Summer ’07, Communication major:  "I have had many amazing opportunities in my short time here at Miami, but the one that clearly stands out from the rest is the summer I spent in Europe through the MUDEC Program.

  Between living with an amazing host family, studying in the gorgeous chateau, being able to accessibly explore much of Europe, and making unforgettable memories, my time in Luxembourg was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  As someone who has always been interested in other cultures, spending the summer experiencing how others live was incredible and taught me a lot about myself and my own culture as well.  I will never forget my time inLuxembourg and the countless ways I have and will continue to benefit from it."

Hello! My name is Lisa Dailey. I studied abroad in Luxembourg spring semester of my sophomore year (2006-2007). The entire trip was an unforgettable experience filled with endless opportunities; however one aspect of my adventure stands out above all others.

I registered to take MME 277 abroad, which is an independent studies course, taught by Dr. Osama Ettouney, chair and professor of Mechanical Engineering. This course allowed me to design my own class, and yes, I mean the entire class -- the syllabus, all requirements and means of evaluation. With Osama’s guidance and assistance my dream of observing/working with elementary students abroad came true!
I meet with Osama prior to going abroad. We talked in person about my options and ambitions. Then, we hammered out the logistics. Once I was in Europe, we communicated via email. I sent him weekly updates regarding my progress and he would respond with instructional feedback. At the end of the course I constructed a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the main aspects of my research, a scrapbook of memories and a final reflection paper.
Not only did I gain personal satisfaction from having completed an independent studies course, but I learned and took away so much from this experience as a whole. No matter what language children speak, they need love, affection and education. Children are universal! Ornery at times, but more than anything they are precious.
I would encourage anyone interested in thinking outside the box, or going beyond the norm, to consider this class. Professor Ettouney is wonderful to work with and very open minded! If you have an idea, express it! If you want to try something new, do it! MME 277 is your chance to shine, so give it go...you have nothing to lose!
--Lisa Dailey, spring 2007, Early Childhood Education

"As a second year student, I had only just arrived in Oxford the previous year and I was already taking advantage of MUDEC's unique opportunity abroad.

While I was at first unknowledgeable about the proper steps necessary to travel abroad, I was confident after my positive interaction with the Luxembourg Office staff, student alumni/alumnae, and the myriad of information available to me. By making my journey to Luxembourg as easy as possible, the Luxembourg Program guaranteed a time spent focused on European culture and travel plans, instead of proper documentation and bureaucratic headaches!"
--Isaac Reynolds, full-year student 2006-07, Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs

It’s difficult for me to describe with words, my experience at MUDEC. Where else will you find dozens of people who don’t know you, might not agree with your country’s values, and yet be willing to do absolutely anything for you? The people you’ll meet that are associated with the MUDEC program are awesome, but they’re only one part of the experience. In Luxembourg , your opportunities to see and learn about things you’ve only seen in pictures and movies come from everywhere. You’re continuously expanding your comfort zone, while finding a new “family” with your fellow students in Luxembourg , MUDEC staff, and host families.
--Matt Trangenstein, Spring ’05, General Business/Psychology

I studied at MUDEC for both semesters of my junior year and could not have had a better study abroad experience! Travel has become an indispensable part of my life, and working and living abroad are in my future plans. A wonderful thing about MUDEC is that the program is a door-opener. This program allows students to pursue diverse interests, cultural experiences, and new perspectives on life. I have made lasting relationships with many of the students, professors, and faculty at MUDEC. I also keep in touch with my amazing host families! The faculty and founders of the MUDEC program have worked very hard to maintain a program that is not only strong academically, but is a ‘home away from home’ for students to experience life in new surroundings and to have adventures while maintaining a feeling of security. I am applying to law schools this fall and will certainly take advantage of the study abroad programs offered there. MUDEC will be one of the best and most life-altering choices you make. I also encourage any student to study for the full year. Oxford will still be here when you get back. -Adrianne Krauss, Both Semesters of ’04-’05, Political Science major

I am graduating from Miami in a few days. With pride and confidence, I can say that my time spent in Lux & my travels throughout Europe were my most influential and best Miami experiences. If you are even remotely considering going to Luxembourg , Go! The experience opens never ending doors and opportunities in your life. It has been over a year now since I left, and I only miss it more each day.

--Christopher Tracey, '03-04, Finance major

Studying at MUDEC offered me a depth to my academic growth that I feel no other program could have. By fully engaging myself in the European culture and context, I was able to broaden my knowledge of the world, my understanding of other cultures, and fluency in French. In my opinion, most of your learning in the MUDEC program takes place outside the classroom. Your edification is cultivated in the conversation with an old man in the train station and being able to accurately tell him where to go in another language you thought you’d never be able to speak. Your learning thrives on that one perfect photo of the sunset behind the Eiffel Tower that you can’t wait to show to your Art History professor. You challenge yourself like never before when you successfully travel from Luxembourg to Budapest with a eurail pass that you’re not sure works and only 3 minutes to change trains in Vienna . You learn something new when that Portuguese priest encounters you on a boat in Switzerland and asks you in German if you speak Italian because you look Brazilian because you’re wearing jeans.

The great thing about MUDEC is that it allows you the freedom to craft your own European experience. Through personal travel, classroom interaction, and cultural events available in Luxembourg , you are given opportunities to fulfill your passions and broaden your knowledge of the world. MUDEC is an experience made of experiences, which may not have an immediate impact on your life, but will remain with you as long as you live.

--Mike Stanaitis, 2003-04, Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs/Philosophy

Luxembourg was the pinnacle of my college experience. Never again will I have four months to discover the wonders of the Swiss alps, trek through Italian villages, or learn to “jig” with the locals of a small Irish pub. The classroom offers an excellent foundation for education, and provides the opportunity to experience the long train rides, random conversations, and indecipherable menus wherein I really learned about myself and the world around me. Luxembourg is the perfect setup to experience Europe , make lifelong friends, and realize some things about yourself that will stay with you forever.

--Nick Sabato, Fall ’04; Major: Psychology; Minor: Marketing

For many people, traveling through Europe is a dream that often goes unfulfilled. The Luxembourg program made that dream a reality for me as I saw Europe from Stockholm to Rome at the same time that I completed a full semester’s worth of classes. In addition the opportunity to live with a host family was an amazing experience as it enabled me to greatly improve my French, and provided me with a friendly and familiar home away from home in Luxembourg . Through European-focused courses, host family interaction, and travel experiences, I came back to the US as a more well-rounded and globally oriented individual, and was left with a lifelong desire to travel the world.

--John Dawson, Fall 04, History

Hands down, Luxembourg shaped my college experience. For four months of my life I was a world traveler. I saw and accomplished things most people can’t even dream of. Never in my life will I again be soaking in a Turkish bath in Budapest one weekend, skiing in the Austrian Alps the next, then island hopping in Greece after that! And all this in only THREE weeks! Words will never be able to describe my love for Europe, the Luxembourg program, and the lifelong friends I made while being there. And I will never regret the small sacrifice I made by leaving Oxford for one semester.

--Michael S. Berner, Fall ’04, Marketing Major

I am so flattered that you would like to use some of my words to describe the program. It would be quite an honor to share with prospective Luxemburg students what the program has meant to me. For it was much more than just a study abroad program, it was a home and we all were the family. In recalling all of my experiences overseas—traveling throughout Europe to some of the most beautiful and intriguing places, meeting & interacting with such fascinating people, and of course running through train stations at 2am with mounds of bags attached to us, hoping to catch the last train to Barcelona. I most often find myself missing the little things, like being captivated every class by Dr. Haag as he would speak, or more likely tell us stories of a world history I knew nothing about, and Rosemary [Dr. Fraser] sharing so much with us, both inside and outside of the classroom. I even miss the daily trips to the Match to "experiment" with all sorts of unusual foods. I could probably sit here all day, day-dreaming about so many things back in Luxemburg, but I should probably get focused on all of my projects and papers coming up back here. But I just wanted to tell you what an amazing experience this was, but it would be nothing without all the faculty & staff (abroad & home) who put so much of themselves and their hearts into making it all happen.
--Karen Tringle, ’01-02, Marketing major

I think Miami has the best European program going.
–James D. Robenalt, ’76-77

It is so easy to get comfortable with your every day life here in America, but what if a new opportunity presented itself: to move outside your comfort zones and meet people of vastly different background, languages, and ways of life? Now that is what life is all about, and a program overseas in Luxembourg my junior year at Miami University helped me realize what it truly means to live life to the fullest.

--Lloyd Lytle Garrison, ’99-00, English/Creative Writing (on right)

I had the semester of my life in Lux. Life after Europe is extremely drab in comparison. I traveled almost every weekend except for 2 or 3. Classes were great, too. My foreign professors were also a lot of fun. I have nothing but fabulous things to say about the MUDEC program and all the people who work in Oxford and abroad. I only wish I could do it all over again.
--Jordi Matsumoto, ’01-02, Ohio State University, majoring in International Business

“ It was the best four months of my life!” “It was unique because I barely knew anybody when I got there and by the end we were a close knit group that didn't want to leave.”
– Brock Miskimen, ’01-02, Political Science major

It was the most fun! It's an experience that everyone should have, and one that can never be duplicated.
--Whitney Manchester, '99-00, Public Relations major (on the left)

My experience in Luxembourg was amazing, as I took part in new experiences everyday. The opportunity to travel to Morocco, Barcelona, London, Florence, and many more amazing cities is once in a lifetime. I truly enjoyed living with a host family and interacting with my host family daily. The classes I took and the professors I had were among the best in my college career. Being able to travel with Miami students around Europe is one that I will never forget. I would highly recommend this program to anyone. Don’t let this great opportunity pass you by, because one like this is hard to come by.
--Erica Cochran, ’99-00, Music Education major (center)

I will never forget the time I spent in Lux -- the people I met and cultures I experienced are something I will always treasure. Everyone should be so lucky to have this adventure.
--Michelle Lord, '99-00, Business major (on the right)

Luxembourg is an unforgettable experience that allows you to meet new people, see new places, and experience a different way of life. You'll wake up each morning unable to comprehend the adventures the day will bring. I saw and learned more in 1 semester in Luxembourg than I ever imagined possible!
-- Karen Kazmer, ’01-02 , with majors in Finance and Marketing

Miami’s Luxembourg campus offers students courses with intelligent, dedicated professors who want their students to excel in the classroom. But more importantly, the professors know that it is what they learn outside the classroom that makes students excel. We learned about daily life in a foreign country as we interacted with our host families, rode trains to and from Luxembourg City, and even when we did our weekly grocery shopping. Most of all we gained a deeper understanding of ourselves. Miami University’s Luxembourg campus is an amazing opportunity that should not be passed up.
--Andrea Koch, ’01-02, Zoology major

Last night I went to dinner at my political science professor (Guy de Muyser)’s house. He was the ambassador to the USSR from Luxembourg before the collapse. He showed a presentation of Anti-Soviet art that he was able to bring out of the USSR. He explained all of the pieces and the artists who painted them, most of whom he knew personally. It was incredible – not only the art, but the stories he told. He has done more in his life than probably 90% of the population. He helped people leave the Soviet Union, he has been a NATO representative, he’s traveled the world, and now he’s my teacher! It’s pretty incredible to think about things like that. After the presentation, we had dinner and wine and just hung out and talked.
--Ben Reidy, ’01-02, Business major

It was a great experience that truly changed my life. Prior to studying in Luxembourg, I believed that my future was to get a job and move back to my hometown, Cleveland. Since Miami (and graduate school at Case Western) I've lived for 3 years in the Bay Area, 10 years in Hong Kong and 6 years in Portland. Now I'm off to Germany (for 3-5 years). Luxembourg truly changed my perspective of the world.
– Keith Jacobsen, ’79-80, Finance major

My thoughts on MUDEC: A great way to not only learn about international business, but be immersed in it and visit places you read about in textbooks. Amazing international professors. An extended family away from home. --Dan Burke, ’01-02, Accountancy major

I found the Luxembourg Program to be very rewarding in several respects. First, I met new and wonderful people whom I probably would never have met if it weren’t for studying abroad. I came home from Europe with 120 new friends. Second, I learned a lot about myself and became more independent. I traveled alone for a week in Italy and was responsible for finding transportation, food and overnight accommodations. While studying in Europe I wanted to soak everything up like a sponge. I had a “desire and a want” to learn everything as opposed to being “forced” to learn here in Oxford. It was amazing to get a firsthand look at historical sites and structures that I have read so much about in school. Third, I enjoyed the Tuesday night lectures by ambassadors and highly respected representatives of the community who came to the château to speak about their life experiences. The receptions afterwards with the featured speaker and Dr. Stiller gave the students a chance to interact with the speaker on a personal level. Overall I returned to the States with a greater appreciation for my friends and family, cultural difference and life.
--Craig Motz, ’01-02 Microbiology major

One of the great things about the people of Luxembourg is that they are able to incorporate aspects of other European countries into their own culture while still staying true to their national identity.
--Paul Steinberg, ’01-02, Mass Communications major

The wonderful part about the MUDEC program is its adaptability. Through personal travel, outside activities, and by choosing from a variety of courses and languages everyone can form a study abroad experience that is right for them.
--Erin Tyler, ’01-02, Political Science and International Studies

Most people have doubts about going abroad, and before I went I was nervous, too, for all the unexpected. I can now tell you that you need to stop thinking about and questioning whether you should go our not -- GO. When else in your life are you going to get the chance to travel to over ten countries, make a hundred and some new best friends, meet a wonderful family, and learn more than you can imagine in one semester? The answer is never, so stop thinking and GO!
--Julie Knapke, ’01-02, with majors in Adolescent Education and English

Going to Luxembourg was so refreshing, like attending a totally different university for a semester, yet being able to share my experiences with people I’d see again at Miami. Living in a European culture was a learning experience in itself, and the time away gave me a new appreciation for my family and friends at home.
--Lexi L. Joachim , ’01-02, Speech Communication major

MUDEC has challenged me to reach new depths in my educational, cultural, and social experience. --Adrienne Skocaj, ’01-02, Psychology major