It has been nearly three months since I stepped off the plane into the YYC airport, returning from the most incredible adventure of my life. Every day since then, I’ve been reminiscing about moments on the trip and wishing I could relive it. Going on a MEI trip was a truly extraordinary experience, and I will be forever grateful to be given such an amazing opportunity.
Despite my enthusiasm about the trip now, before I signed up for the program, I was hesitant. The cost of the program is no small sum, and since I already had plans to spend the summer working to save up for university, going on MEI and spending the equivalent of first-year tuition was kind of going against my goal. However, after careful consideration and weighing out the pros and cons, I came to the conclusion that going on the MEI trip would be a more valuable choice. I am extremely happy (and relieved) that I made that decision.
If you’re stuck in that spot I was one year ago — wondering if the MEI is worth it, or intimidated by the idea of leaving home for a month to travel with a group of strangers— this post is for you. Below I have compiled just a few of the many highlights of my trip, in hopes to convince those who are hesitating to press the “Apply Now” button, to just go for it.
Paris- So the adventure begins…
The minute we arrived at our Paris hotel and unpacked our bags, the teacher said, “Okay go get some food and meet us back here at 6.” I was taken aback from this comment for several reasons.
- I have never set foot in Europe until that day.
- The only words I knew in French were “bonjour” and “merci,” which I couldn’t even say without a heavy I-am-definetely-not-from-here accent.
- My classmates were still basically strangers, given that I didn’t know any of their names.
Taking all this into consideration, going out to “get some food” was definitely not as casual as they made it sound. However, I was certainly not opposed to the idea of wandering Paris, so we formed a group and we set off in search of a French bakery.
This level of freedom and independence stayed consistent throughout the trip. We were allowed to explore the cities we were in during our designated free time between lunch and dinner every day. It was the little adventures we had in these moments— where we were free to go as we pleased in an unfamiliar city of infinite possibilities—that made the trip truly memorable.
London- Doughnuts and Telephone Booths
Although every single location we travelled to was exciting and has a special place in my heart, London takes the prize of my favourite city of the trip. Maybe it was because of my childhood dreams of living in London, but I immediately fell in love with the city.
On our last day in London, we spent the entire day exploring and checking everything off of our London bucket list. It was days like these that made me so grateful to have gone on this MEI trip. There is nothing more fulfilling than discovering and experiencing the world alongside your closest friends.
Lake District- A Note about Morning Workout
Every morning of the trip, unless the weather prohibited, we would start the day with a morning workout. I know the word “workout” may cause you to cringe, especially when it’s paired up with “7:00 am,” but I could assure you that it will be okay. It not only wakes you up and gets you energized for the adventure-filled day ahead, but also provides a very special glimpse of the world, exclusive to only those who rise with the sun. Paris has a completely new face when it is stripped of the evening tourists crowding its streets, and the scenic lake view is made even more breathtaking with the morning sun is reflecting off the surface. If this is not enough to convince you, and you still despise the thought of 7:00 am workouts, how mad can you really get at ultimate frisbee in front of the Louvre, yoga with a picture-perfect view of Buttermere Lake, and hikes overlooking Edinburgh?
Edinburgh- Bittersweet Endings
Our journey came to a close at Edinburgh, Scotland. Knowing our days together were limited, we made sure to treasure every moment with the friends we have made. From creating a “Getting Lost in Edinburgh” video series (just to document the countless times we found ourselves lost in the streets of Scotland), to cooking gourmet Tesco pasta dinners, to obnoxiously singing “All Time Low” in our dorm kitchen, the final days in Edinburgh were spent wisely.
By the end of the three weeks, we have all created lifelong memories and friendships that will not be easily forgotten. MEI was more than an academic program, but an experience that helped us to grow more independent, confident, and willing to take more risks. I will, without a doubt, look back fondly at Summer ’17 for many many more years to come.
Remember, the world is your classroom, and it is waiting for you to uncover all it has to offer.
