Wann Ech Glift

When I arrived here in the Grand Duchy to study, I was most excited to visit all the famous places around Europe...just not really to visit Luxembourg....

Well, travel is exhausting, and I'm trying to do a lot of it on a college-kid, no-income budget. Ultimately, that means I have spent some unexpected time in my home-away-from-home, but I have never been happier with my circumstances.

1. Jérémy introduced me to Luxembourgish soccer and all the craziness that comes with it. For the first time in my life, I didn't care who was playing; I was on the side of the ref!

2. MUDEC helped local Differdange children celebrate Halloween. Every year, our campus turns part of the chateau into a haunted house, and local children come to experience American Halloween and trick-or-treat at the offices around the castle.

3. My marketing class went on a tour of Bofferding brewery. Bofferding is the national brewery of Luxembourg, and the owner is actually a graduate of Miami. We were taught all about the brewing process and even had a tasting of their most popular products.

4. I tried a delicious Luxembourgish Christmas treat called a good man. It's like a dense doughnut with chocolate chips in it or sugar on top. 10/10 would recommend!

5. I helped represent Miami at a college fair at the Lux Expo Center. We were one of only two American universities there!

6. Hannah, Preston, and I observed the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day (the end of WWI) at a ceremony held by the U.S. Embassy at the American Cemetery in Luxembourg. The entire ceremony was very moving, and I am very glad we found a way to mark this momentous occasion.

7. Four weeks after being sent, my care package from home showed up with all my leggings!

8. MUDEC Thanksgiving! Since we are away from home and our families over this important American holiday, the chateau puts on an event for all the students and some community members to celebrate what we are thankful for and to give us the chance to stuff our faces with turkey, potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Jérémy got to celebrate his very first Thanksgiving (even with American football playing in the background) and all the chaos that comes with it. Pumpkin pie was not his favorite, but he did do really well on the Thanksgiving trivia!

9. The school took us on a day-long discovery tour of Belgium. We toured the Han cave and then took a chocolate tour all through Brussels. I didn't know that Belgian chocolate is specifically referring to pralines (similar to American truffles). We tasted chocolates at all the best shops from all the best chocolatiers. The weirdest flavor was lime and basil. The best was the praline called pleasure from the original inventor of the Belgian praline. And 100% cocoa chocolate and cocoa beans were not as bad as you might think!

10. We briefly visited the thermal baths in Amneville, France, as a way to unwind and relax. Saunas are apparently a regular family activity here. It was interesting and very rejuvenating!

11. I have FINALLY picked up on some Luxembourgish. I now know that the train conductor saying "Wann ech glift" means "please." I can also say that I am happy, which is very, very true. And today, just before I started writing this post, the check out woman at the gas station responded back to me in Luxembourgish. Ech si ganz frou!

Earlier today, my family landed safely in London, and I can't wait until Tuesday when I get to show them around my home and Europe's hidden gem.

More Luxembourg? Yes wann ech glift!