• What is a Semester Abroad?
  MEI offers a Second Semester Program that takes students on an educational odyssey of a lifetime. Students will begin the program by delving into modern European history and philosophy as we conduct our lessons in locations like Paris, the Swiss Alps, Venice and Siena. During the second half of the program, students travel to Rome, the Peloponnese, Athens and the Greek Islands to study the history of ancient civilizations. The English and Human Dimension courses integrate the history lessons with literature, writing assignments, philosophy and physical activities.

• Why Take a Semester Abroad:
  There are few opportunities in a lifetime when you have the time and space to think about what you really want to do.
  Our MEI semester abroad is the best way to see the world in a safe environment while getting into the best physical and mental shape of your life.
  A full semester with MEI is designed to lay the foundation for a lifetime of living and learning and to empower you to become a citizen of the world.

Courses

Students will select from the list below:

• Semester Course OPTIONS

• Students Choose ONE English Course:
  English - Grade 12
  Studies in Literature - Grade 12
  Writer's Craft - Grade 12
• Students Choose TWO Humanities Courses:
  World History: The West and the World - Grade 12
  Classical Civilization - Grade 12
  Philosophy - Grade 12
• Students Choose ONE Physical Education Course:
  Human Dimensions: Interdisciplinary Studies - Grade 12
  Healthy Active Living - Grade 12

Itinerary

• There is no typical day at MEI, and we take great pride in designing each day to be an inspiring and adventurous learning experience. We take advantage of our 12:1 student-to-staff ratio and disperse activities and lessons throughout the day, so that rather than sitting in a lecture hall, the world is our classroom. Students will utilize laptop computers to assist with research, assignments and communication with those at home. All of the courses at MEI are accredited through the Upper Grand District School Board and are recognized by individual school boards throughout Canada and the United States. Students are required to write exams, tests and essays and complete an Independent Study Unit for each course.
• Dates
  
• Online Coursework Begins: February 13
• Travel Dates: March 25 - June 12
• Online: Begins February 13 (Day 1- 20)
  Student preparation and a strong knowledge-base are vital for an enriched educational experience. To ensure students get the most from their on-site learning, each MEI program begins with a preparatory online component. For 20 days students will get started on course material in the comfort of their own home. Through this process of readings, short assignments, and online chats, students will get a better understanding of the course material and make connections with classmates. This allows students to hit the ground running as soon as they arrive overseas and dive straight into the culture and history that awaits them.
• Toronto Hotel (March 25 - Day 21-22)
  Our adventure begins in Toronto where we will become acquainted with one another and settle into the structure of our program. This location will provide us with an opportunity to conduct activities and complete foundational course material before setting off to Europe.
• Departure from Toronto (March 26 - Day 22)
  Students will travel by private coach to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport for an evening departure for Paris. Parents and students will have an opportunity to meet at the airport for final farewells.
• Paris (Day 23-31)
  The journey abroad will begin with nine days in the "City of Light," the perfect location for studying the Age of Enlightenment, the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Era and World War I. Students will be immersed in the culture of a city known as the epicentre of literature, music and fashion.
• Strasbourg/Heidelberg (Day 31-35)
  The unique culture and location of these fascinating cities makes them the perfect regions to explore Franco-German relations and their effects on the modern world. The quaint, provincial town of Strasbourg has quickly become the hub of the European Union, making it the ideal location to examine the new-world order. Our day trip to Heidelberg takes students along the western front of the Rhine River and into Germany, where they will discuss the dynamic events of WWI.
• Swiss Alps (Day 35-39)
  As the course delves into the inter-war period and explores the many attempts at international peace, students will enjoy an excursion into central Switzerland. They will experience the fresh and dynamic view of the Alps, as well as the uniquely neutral perspectives of Swiss politics and culture. Hikes will give students the opportunity to venture through the mountains as they discuss and contemplate both historical and contemporary issues. The home base for this Alpine adventure will be the beautiful village of Lauterbrunnen.
• Munich (Day 39-44)
  Our studies of WWII will take us to Munich, where students will experience firsthand the scars of modern warfare. Our lectures and activities will guide students on an emotional journey as they trace the impact of the economic collapse of the 1920's, and how Munich became fertile ground for Adolf Hitler's National Socialist movement. Students will visit the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau and examine the ruins of the city that lay in ashes by the war's end. Topics of discussion will range from the Jewish holocaust, to the military tactics of the Third Reich, to nuclear warfare and war crimes. Students will witness how Munich has evolved into a cultural and economic centre during the postwar era. Students will roam the streets of the old city and perhaps enjoy a traditional meal of schnitzel, sausage and sauerkraut.
• Venice (Day 44-50)
  This unique city on water is a wealth of Italian culture and art history. The Age of Discovery and Byzantium art come alive amidst gondolas, lagoons and street markets. We will reside on the island of Lido in a quiet Venetian neighbourhood close to the beaches of the Adriatic Sea.
• Siena/Florence/Tuscan Countryside (Day 50-59)
  Siena is a fascinating medieval city that is still endowed with the grandeur of the 13th century. It is also the perfect location for exploring medieval history. Day trips to Florence will bring the Renaissance to life, and the modern history course to a close. Students will complete their first of two Independent Study Units and the West and the World final exam will be written here.
• Tuscan excursion (Day 59-63)
  This adventure in Tuscany is a welcome break and an excellent preparation for the second half of the journey into the ancient world of Rome and Greece. Students will have the opportunity to relax in the ancient Roman hot springs of Saturnia, investigate Etruscan tombs, hike the Tuscan hills of Montepulciano, and swim in the Mediterranean Sea.
• Rome (Day 63-72)
  Upon our arrival in Rome, students will be mesmerized by the layers of history that exist throughout this ancient city. From Roman mythology to the intrigues of the emperors, students will explore the many sites and ideas that make Rome one of the world’s most historically significant cities.
• Ostia and Overnight Cruise (Day 72)
  After investigating the preserved ruins of Ostia, ancient Rome’s harbour city, students will travel to Ancona and embark on an overnight cruise across the Adriatic Sea to dock in Patras, Greece.
• Peloponnesian Excursion - Olympia & Nafplion (Day 73-79)
  Travelling through the Peloponnese will offer students the opportunity to take a step back in time to the ancient world of Greece. From the mainland we will set out on a five-day excursion in which we will examine the ruins of Olympia, hike through the Lousios Gorge, and explore the ancient city of Mycenae.
• Overnight Cruise to Santorini (Day 79 Evening)
  Students will spend the day in Athens and then journey to the Port of Pireus where they will cruise the Ionian Sea to Santorini under the same stars that guided Odysseus on his ten-year voyage.
• Santorini (Day 80-88)
  Students will land in the Port of Fira where, they will witness firsthand the legendary sunsets of Santorini after hiking along the caldera of an extinct volcano. High above the black sands of Kamari beach, students will uncover the secrets of Akrotiri and the lost Minoan outpost.
• Mykonos (Day 88-96)
  From the idyllic island of Mykonos, students can sail to the sacred island of Delos and explore the ruins there, or enjoy an awe-inspiring view of the Cyclades atop the island’s summit.
• Athens (Day 96-100)
  Among the ruins of the Acropolis, the Agora and the Temple of Zeus, students will complete their culminating assignments on Western democracy and philosophy. Here they will enjoy their last dinner together and graduation ceremony under the ancient Acropolis of Athens.
• Departure from Athens Airport (Day 100)

Meals & Lodging

• Second Semester
  In PARIS, we will reside on the left bank of the Seine in the heart of the buzzing Latin Quarter. Known for its lively atmosphere and quaint bistros, the Latin Quarter is both an ideal hub to explore the sprawling arrondissements of Paris, as well as the perfect location to find and sample all that Parisian cuisine has to offer. From street crepes and fresh croissants to classic picnics shopped for in the local market and shared in nearby Luxembourg Gardens, students will have the opportunity to try some of the most delicious French food in all of Paris.
• From Paris, students will make their way to STRASBOURG in the Alsace region, historically fought over by France and Germany. While technically on French soil, much of the culture of the city is taken from its German heritage, so students will have the opportunity to try bratwurst, schnitzel and sauerkraut alongside classic French dishes in this quaint but modern town.
• From Strasbourg, students will make their way up into the Swiss Alps, settling in the picturesque town of LAUTERBRUNNEN nestled in a valley in the mountains. A reprieve from the bustle of the city, students will stay in an old-world style chalet and feast on Franco-Germanic comfort food in charming family owned restaurants. Students will also have the opportunity to do daily hikes and throw a traditional MEI Swiss Barbeque on an open-air grill under the snow-capped mountains.
• From the Alps, students will head north into MUNICH, the capital of Bavaria in Germany, situated along the River Isar. Despite it’s very rich Germanic history, modern Munich is very cosmopolitan and diverse, which is reflected in the culinary culture of the city. Residing just steps from the infamous Odeonplatz, in the heart of the old city, students will see the ghosts of history come alive as they begin their studies of World War II and the rise of the Nazi Party from the very streets in which they gained power.
• From Munich, students will north to the city on water, picturesque VENICE. Students will reside a short stroll from the water’s edge on the Lido, a 11km long sandbar in Venice. Students will spend their days exploring the winding streets, canals and lagoons of this infamous city by foot or gondola, stopping to grab an espresso or gelato from a local vendor or dining by candlelight in one of the city’s quiet side-street trattorias.
• In FLORENCE, students will stay in the trendy San Lorenzo district, just a short walk from Ponte Vecchio and Michelangelo’s David. They’ll continue their love affair with Italian cuisine in this vibrant city sampling local versions of risotto and carbonara and Tuscan style stews.
• In ROME, we will reside just beyond the colonnade that surrounds St. Peter’s Square in the centre of the Vatican City. Home to some of Italy’s most treasured architecture and art, including Michelangelo’s Sistene Chapel and the Pieta, students will reside just steps from Rome’s most exquisite treasures. Students will also have the opportunity to try all that Italian cuisine has to offer from small family owned trattorias, to bustling open air piazza restaurants and our hotel’s legendary neighbouring sandwich shop. From fresh pasta with homemade sauce to stone oven pizzas, local cheeses and cured meats, students will leave Rome with full bellies indeed!
• In THE PELOPONNESE, students will reside in the small beach town of TOLO. Overlooking a quiet bay, it is the ideal location for an early morning yoga practice or game of frisbee on the beach as the sun rises. Students will dine on traditional Greek dishes such as lamb and moussaka made from fresh local ingredients just steps from our hotel in this closely-knit village. From Tolo, students will continue west to OLYMPIA, the site of the famous ruins at the location of the original Olympic games. Students will stay a short stroll from the entrance to the site, in this quaint historic town. From Olympia, students will head to the coast and sail from Patras into the Adriatic across to Italy.
• In SANTORINI, students will reside up in the capital of the now dormant volcano island in the Cyclades. We will spend our days exploring the black and red sand volcanic beaches or hiking across the island to get the best views of the caldera. Students will share picnics of fresh vegetables, olives and feta cheese at lunch and come together for family dinners of fresh barbecued eel, souvlaki and moussaka while watching Santorini’s legendary sunsets over the gentle seas.
• In MYKONOS, students will make their way from the docks through the winding streets, only accessible by donkey, motorbike or pedestrian to our charming family run hotel. Situated above a bakery, students will enjoy fresh breads, pastries and fruits each morning before making their way to Paradise beach to prepare for their final ISU’s and exams. In the evenings, students will dine on the freshest seafood they’ve ever tried and perhaps smash a plate or two in the traditional Greek style!
• In ATHENS, students will reside steps from Syntagma Square and down the street from the charming Plaka district in the centre of the city. They will enjoy breakfasts on the roof of the hotel looking out over the Parthenon and after they explore the ruins of the city during the day, they’ll dine in local restaurants while live musicians play in the evenings. A lively, hot and bustling city, after a few days of hiking up the Acropolis and exploring the markets in the blistering heat, students will be ready for a reprieve in the exquisite Peloponnesian region of Greece.

MEI Gear

• Clothing and Accessories
  At MEI, we not only provide our students with the best possible education, staff and travel experience - we also provide them with the best in fashion and accessories! After years of experience, we understand that having the proper clothing is an important aspect of travelling. With that in mind, we have designed a number of clothing articles for all types of climates and activities so the student can be prepared for any situation. From hoodies and tees to windbreakers and flip-flops, MEI gear allows you to travel in comfort and in style! MEI gear includes other items as well, like our high-quality water bottles. Each student is also issued a beautifully bound journal for their travel writing and cultural observations.
• Health and Fitness
  Healthy living, exercise and active learning is a big part of the MEI lifestyle. Each morning students are encouraged to start their day off on the right foot by doing some exercises or exploring the city with a supervised jog. With our MEI workout gear, keeping in shape will be easy and comfortable. Healthy bodies equal healthy minds, and students who are in the best physical condition are sure to stave off fatigue and make the most of their experience abroad.
• MEI Gear Store Coming Soon
  Look here for ways to order exclusive MEI gear soon!

• Transportation
  
  • Return airfare from Toronto's Pearson International Airport
  • Transportation between hotel locations via private coach
  • Transportation for all listed program excursions
  • Transfers to all accommodations
• Trip Related
  
  • Hotels and accommodations
  • Breakfast and dinner daily
  • Entrance fees to all course-specific sites
• Course Components
  
  • Ministry-approved credits upon successful completion of the courses
  • Custom course pack
  • Student Login
  • MEI journal
  • Digital yearbook
  • Fall reunion