To ease into the program, students have access to the course website where reading lists are posted. Course preparation is spread out over three weeks: our first two-week preparation session begins in early May, focusing on novel studies; the second one-week session starts in late June, focusing on completing research and small assignments. These online sessions are designed to connect students with their teachers and classmates, to help complete short tasks, and to alleviate the workload during the summer. Students are required to complete all foundation work before leaving to ensure they are ready to hit the ground running while overseas.

Our study abroad departure hub is Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. Five hours prior to departure, a short meeting is 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.

As we arrive in one of Europe’s most important cities, Paris, we jump right into course material. Home to revolutions, invasions, monarchs, philosophers, and continent-conquering emperors, there are few places where the roots of history run as deep. Students question the role of kings at Versailles, investigate the causes and consequences of revolution at the Bastille, and question the true nature of humanity beside the tombs of Voltaire and Rousseau, all while soaking in the breathtaking art and architecture of the City of Light. Novels like Fahrenheit 451 provide us with insight into the dynamics of control and the motivations of revolution. Visits to cafés, restaurants, parks, and of course the Eiffel Tower, balance out an intense first week of travel with the beautiful culture this city has been offering its visitors for centuries.

Leaving the tastes and colours of Paris behind, students make their way to the top of Europe for a stay in the quintessential Swiss village: Gimmelwald. Residing in this quaint, peacful town, our respite in the Alps allows students to focus on academic writing as we consider whether the First World War was avoidable and if blame can ever lie at the feet of a single nation. Hikes through the mountains during the days, and roaring fireside fun at night refresh and invigorate the group as we reflect on all we have seen and learned in the first half of our journey.

Heading north, we pass through Germany and make our way into the Netherlands to explore how the Second World War impacted the world. Our study of international conflict and the deprivations of unbridled racism bring us face to face with Anne Frank and the sacrifices made by ordinary people at places like Groesbeek Cemetery, where local Dutch school children still tend the graves of the Allied soldiers buried there. Reading Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century brings current political trends into sharp focus as students discuss the problems of ignoring our past. Rembrandt and Van Gogh’s influence on the artistic heritage of the world is also on display as we make our way along the UNESCO World Heritage canals that line this city that was once the epicentre of trade.

An official world city of culture, politics, media, and science, Berlin is the perfect location to finish our travels as we trace the steps to the modern world. Though known most commonly for its wall and role in the Cold War, Berlin is also a city that can show the world the benefits of reconciliation and reconstruction. A full third of this city is comprised of forests, parks, canals, and lakes, while the modern energy of this ever-growing capital shows how nations can rebuild and refocus their energies for a better future. Our final stop provides an excellent location for students to prepare for final exams and reflect on how they fit into this complex world.

Departure from Berlin Airport (Day 25)