• The educational odyssey...
  The educators at MEI have researched the best interactive teaching locations and methods and have integrated them into the Golden Age curriculum. Imagine studying ancient history in the very spot it was born - the ruins in Greece and Italy. 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

  This course explores the beliefs and achievements of the classical world that have laid the foundation for modern Western civilization. By delving into ancient mythology, literature, history, art and drama, students will gain a well-rounded perspective of ancient Greece and Rome.

Itinerary

• Important Dates
  
  • Course Begins: June 27, 2012 (Tentative)
  • Departure Date: July 3, 2012 (Tentative)
  • Return Date: July 28, 2012 (Tentative)

• Online: Begins June 27, 2012 (Tentative) (Day 1-4)
  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 3, 2012 (Tentative) (Day 5)
  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, 2011.
• Athens (Day 6-10)
  Our study of classical civilizations begins in Athens where we delve into the birthplace of democracy and Western philosophy. Our classroom will be among the ruins of the Acropolis and Agora, and along the columns of the Temple of Zeus. We will visit the National Archaeological Museum to witness the chronological 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.
• Tolo (Day 10-16)
  From Athens we will travel to Tolo 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, historical 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 16-17)
  Continuing through the Peloponnese students will reside in Olympia for two nights, touring the ancient birthplace of the Olympic games first held in 776 BCE. Here we will examine the interconnectedness of religion, sport, and war in the ancient world.
• Overnight Cruise from Patras to Bari (Day 17 Evening)
  We take an overnight cruise across the Ionian Sea under the same stars that guided Odysseus on his ten-year voyage.
• Rome (Day 18-25)
  Our journey ends in Rome where the ghosts of Etruscan Kings, Hannibal, and Julius Caesar will come alive in the ancient 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. Students will relive Rome's influence on the Western world, as they wind through the corridors of the Vatican Museum. Students will also visit the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps, taking in the great works of ancient Rome and its rebirth during the Renaissance.
• Florence (Day 25)
  Next, students will arrive in the legendary heart of the Renaissance, Florence. Students will explore the architecture and rewnowned markets and piazzas that were once home to both legendary art patrons and devout religious figures, while being challenged to analyse how these two opposing forces interact. Our focus will turn to investigating the stories and messages behind both the historical and contemporary motivations for creating art and architecture as students visit the Duomo, the Uffizi and the David at the Accademia.
• Venice (Day 25-30)
  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 Rome Airport July 28, 2012 (Tentative) (Day 30)

• Meals
  Eating is a sacred art at MEI. Breakfasts and dinners are held in relaxed settings, providing students an opportunity for meaningful discussions revolving around the day's events and insights discovered through their daily journeys. Dinners are held on site and meal time offers students diverse culinary options. Whether sitting down at a local restaurant or preparing a picnic in the park, students will enjoy some of the most delicious and delightful international cuisine. Students should be prepared to enjoy the best gelato, pastas, moussakas and gyros of their lives!
• Accommodations
  To ensure an authentic and enriched cultural experience, students stay in top rated hotels that are centrally located in the very heart of each city.

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