• The educational odyssey...
  The educators at MEI have researched the best interactive teaching locations and methods and have integrated them into the Ancient World Odyssey curriculum. Imagine standing in the sands of the Colosseum, studying on the steps of the Parthenon, or walking the cobblestoned streets of Constantine's ancient capital. At MEI, there are no walls, no desks, and no blackboards - just the world.
• MEI adventure days...
  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.

Courses

Courses offered for grade 12 students:

• Classical Civilization - Grade 12 &
  English - Grade 12

  (Students have the choice between English or Studies in Literature)
  This program explores the Golden Ages of the great ancient civilizations. Through their study of classical literature, philosophy, art, architecture, and ancient history, students will enhance both their research skills and their ability to think critically and creatively.

Courses offered for grade 11 students:

• Classical Civilization - Grade 12 &
  English - Grade 11

  Students who have completed English, Grade 10, Academic or Applied have the pre-requisite to take the Classical Civilization course. These students who have this pre-requisite will take the Classical Civilization - Grade 12 credit and English - Grade 11.

Itinerary

• Dates:

  • Odyssey: Online Coursework Begins: June 28, 2012
  • Odyssey: Travel Dates: July 5 - August 8, 2012

• Online begins: June 28, 2012 (Day 1-5)
  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 5 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 adventure that awaits them.
• Departure from Toronto (July 5th - Day 6)
  Our North American departure hub is Toronto's Pearson International Airport. Five hours prior to our departure, a short meeting will be held at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Terminal 3, to distribute course packs and maps and to clarify travel procedures. All students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to the Sheraton Gateway Hotel. Students making alternate arrangements must contact MEI before March 31, 2012.
• Istanbul-Troy-Pergamum (Day 7-12)
  Our discovery of the ancients begins in Istanbul, the glorious seat of the Eastern Roman Empire and home to Constantine, Justinian, and Theodora. Here we embark on our exotic exploration of the last bastion of ancient Rome and witness how the traditions of the Western world meshed with those of the East. Our first stop is the Theodosian Walls that protected the city for over a thousand years where students will begin to consider the implications of Constantinople's role as the cross-roads between Europe and Asia. No exploration of this Byzantine city would be complete without savouring the sights and smells of the Grand Bazaar, the perfect venue for a discussion of the nature of ancient trade and culture. Our consideration of the great architecture of the Western world begins with the Haghia Sophia before paying homage to the Blue Mosque, once considered a sacrilegious shadow of Mecca. Turkish baths, palaces, mosques, and Justinian's mysterious Basilica Cistern, make this city the perfect location for beginning our exploration of all that the ancients have left us.Before leaving Turkey, students will travel along the Western coast visiting the famous walls of Troy where Achilles and Hector fought to the death,and the spectacular mountain-top remains of Hellenistic Pergamum.
• Athens (Day 12-17)
  After a beautiful sail across the Aegean, our study of classical civilizations engages Greek history as we visit Athens where we delve into the birthplace of democracy and Western philosophy. Our classrooms will be among the ruins of the Acropolis and the Agora, and along the columns of the Temple of Zeus. We will visit the National Archaeological Museum to witness the development of Greek Art and see the findings of Heinrich Schliemann from ancient Mycenae and Troy. No visit to Athens is complete without a student performance outside the theatre of Dionysus and Greek dancing on a roof-top patio looking out to the Acropolis.
• Peloponnese (Day 17-23)
  From Athens we will travel to Nafplion and take a reprieve on one of the most tranquil beaches in all of Greece. Leisurely day swims will balance our academic work on Greek mythology, historic Sparta and Athens. Mycenae will be the backdrop of our academic classroom as students retrace the legendary tales of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey into the tombs of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra.
• Olympia (Day 24-25)
  Before leaving the Peloponnese, students will reside in Olympia for a day, exploring the wonderful birthplace of the Olympic games first held in 776 BCE. Here we will examine the connections between religion, sport, and war in the ancient world.
• Overnight Cruise to Italy (Day 25 Evening)
  Leaving the Greeks behind us, we take an overnight cruise across the Ionian Sea under those same stars that once guided Odysseus on his ten-year voyage.
• Rome (26-34)
  The Eternal City will be our backdrop as the ghosts of Romulus, Caesar, Nero, and Augustus come alive in the visible ruins of this imperial city. As students explore the social structure of Rome they will come to grips with the use of gladiatorial combat as a form of entertainment and social control. Students will relive Rome's influence on the Western world as they wind through the corridors of the Vatican Museums and the ruins of the Forum. Students will also visit the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps, taking in the greatest works of ancient Rome and its rebirth during the Renaissance.
• Venice (34-40)
  Our final stop is in the enigmatic city of Venice, home to the longest lasting republic from the ancient world. The romance of its endless maze of canals, the Piazza San Marco, and the ever present gondolas, will be the perfect setting for students to prepare for their final exams and ISUs. As the launching off point for many Crusaders, including those that sacked our first city of Constantinople, Venice is the perfect bookend to our 40 day Odyssey as students say their farewells to the ancients and head back home to waiting friends and family.
• Departure from Venice (Day 40)

• ODYSSEY
  In ISTANBUL, students will reside within the city walls in the heart of the old centre just a stone's throw from Topkapi Palace, the former imperial residence from where the Great Ottoman Empire was ruled. Students will have much to explore between the spectacular Byzantine Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, one of the largest in all of Istanbul. They will also have an opportunity to wander through the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar, grabbing a bite of Turkish Delight or baklava, to experience first-hand what day-to-day life is like in Istanbul.
• 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.
• 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.
• Once in Italy, students will make their way to ROME, where 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!
• Students will make their way to picturesque VENICE, where they 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.

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 credit(s) upon successful completion of the course(s)
  • Custom course pack
  • Student Login
  • MEI journal
  • Digital yearbook
  • Fall reunion