Speaker 1 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast by the host and guests may or may not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Miami University.

Student 

I'm a senior. I'm about to graduate, and I've done a lot of cool things in college.

Student 

I never thought that I was going to be an intramural curler. I never thought that I was going to be the student body president.

Student 

These four years have been the biggest amount of growth I've seen in my entire life.

Student 

It's not just about the academics, but like, what kind of person you turn into, which is super cool.

Michaela 

Is that a little women shirt?

Parker Green 

Yes.

Michaela 

Did you make it?

Parker Green 

I did make it.

Michaela 

Stop, oh Parker, you're so much cooler than me. It looks awesome, like, cool and vintage.

Parker Green 

Thank you.

Michaela 

I'm a fan.

Parker Green 

I learned how to hand embroider myself for it. So it was, it actually is, like, hideous if you look at it close.

Michaela 

No, well, I'm obsessed with it. I've actually never seen Little Women. Which is, like, a gag. I'm like, I can't, can't even believe myself.

Parker Green 

I think I've seen it maybe five times this year.

Michaela 

Maybe, Parker, I'll watch it today.

Parker Green 

You should.

Michaela 

Maybe you've inspired me. Are we good? All right, perfect.

Michaela 

Hello, everyone. We are in the studio today because we are going to be talking about our new campus correspondent, Parker Green, hi, Parker.

Parker Green 

Hello!

Michaela 

So Parker's going to Luxembourg next semester. And I got back from Luxembourg, actually, one year ago today, which is kind of crazy. I like, cannot even believe it. So we're just kind of be chatting about what she's going to be up to there, how she's preparing, and maybe some of the things she's looking forward to. We're going to do a little debrief. And also, just so you guys know, that we will have someone in Luxembourg who will be chatting with us periodically throughout the semester, which I'm so excited about.

Parker Green 

I'm so excited.

Michaela 

Yeah, to start off, why are you going to Luxembourg? Like, why studying abroad? Kind of, yeah, maybe, what's your reasoning behind that experience?

Parker Green 

I knew that I wanted to study abroad in college. It was one of the things I would say, like, top three on my bucket list for checking off what I was looking for in a school. So when I got here, I heard about this Luxembourg campus, and they were like, yeah, all of your scholarships are gonna roll over. So many students go, it's all Miami professors. You don't have to worry about any like, credit transfer. So it was on my radar. And then when I committed, I was like, okay, like, now I need to find a place to go. And it was just Luxembourg. I love that it seems to be as like, close to the heart of Europe as possible. I want to travel. It's like ...  food is the most important thing to me.

Michaela 

As we were just discussing, I asked Parker what I'm getting for lunch today, and she's rating every single restaurant in our college town. So I'm like, This is awesome.

Parker Green 

Yes, it is absolutely my priority. So I was like, Where can I get to the most food? Luxembourg just made sense. But also it is so affordable for me to go, which is a priority for me, and it works really well with my majors, so that's kind of why I was like Luxembourg, that over everything.

Michaela 

Yeah, I agree. And honestly, the perks are insane. To have such a community, even when you're all the way across the world, is something that I think is so underrated about the program, because not only are you around all of kids that go to Miami at home, but like, Miami professors, people who really know how to support you when you're going through kind of such a big transition. And there's something so wholesome about like, everyone going to class from 10 to 2, and like, having lunch together at a big, 50 person lunch table. Like, it's really sweet, and so I'm just so excited for you. Like, truly, I could talk about Luxembourg forever. Everyone knows that. They're like, Okay, we got it. You went abroad, but I think it's going to be such a great fit, and you're going to love your life. I cannot wait.

Parker Green 

Thank you.

Michaela 

Yeah, what do you think, like you're expecting? And maybe, what's something that's more like, exciting, intimidating? What are you kind of maybe nervous for?

Parker Green 

I am definitely nervous. So I speak like, like, kindergarten levels of French. And it's kind of just like, this embarrassing thing, like, Oh, I'm so American. I don't speak anything but English. So I'm just like, I'm nervous about appearing like, stupid, I guess.

Michaela 

Like falling for the stereotype?

Parker Green 

Yeah. Like, I don't want to be the obnoxious American tourist, but the same time like, that is what I am

Michaela 

That's me! I'm identifying as obnoxious American tourist. Yeah.

Parker Green 

So I don't want to bring, like, shame upon my country where I'm like, hey. So that's what I'm intimidated about. But I'm also excited, like, I love an adventure, I love a side quest, and also my roommate speaks fluent Spanish, so I'm like, Okay, if we can go together ...

Michaela 

Yeah, well, I think something about Lux also is everyone speaks English. So, granted, it's not like the best to be like, you know, you can't assume always. But they were so incredibly accommodating to us, because right there, in Differdange where, like, you go to school, they know that Miami kids come and, like ... sometimes we're a lot of their business too. Like one of the cafes there, he genuinely is, like, I hate when you guys leave, because you come in every day and get a latte or whatever it is. So for the most part, they do speak English, but the average Luxembourger speaks five languages, which is like, genuinely, when I heard that fact, I was like, what? But typically it's like, French, English, Luxembourgish, German, Dutch. It really depends. But I'm like, You guys are far more impressive than I could ever be. I'm like, That is a crazy statistic, but to give you some kind of comfort, they will absolutely .... like they will not judge you, for the most part. Yeah, I promise, even if you fall for the stereotype, it's okay, you'll be totally fine.

Michaela 

I have so much insight to give you about this experience.

Parker Green 

And I want it all.

Michaela 

So much advice, I would say, really lean into the experience holistically. I think like I ... so, unlike you, you've had this plan to go abroad for a really long time, right? But I was like, I don't know if this is something I want to do, a whole semester seems daunting. I don't want to miss out on whatever it is that I would have been... But once I, like, really committed to going, I was like, Okay, it's gonna be good. I just encourage you to really, like, seek out other friendships than what you came with, because I feel like something about MUDEC is, you're with 150 kids, right? And I only came with two girls I knew. So we really were, like, we got to make friends, because our trips are going to be looking real boring soon. And we really put ourselves out there, and, like, leaned into that process of what it is, because it really is like a cohort, like, you'll call yourselves the MUDEC 2026s, maybe, I don't know, the MUDEC spring 2026 you feel like such a close knit community, if you, like, make the effort to do so, and they are seriously my best friends. Like, there's 25 of us in a group chat that still talk every single day and like, support each other. Like, it truly is such a community, and when you go through the trenches with someone like you do abroad. So I just recommend that you really put yourself out there in terms of, like, building relationships, because there's some of the best I've ever had.

Parker Green 

Oh my gosh, when I hear you talk about it just makes me so much more exciting.

Michaela 

Yeah, and like, in terms of travel, like, a lot of things are just a learning curve. Like, you're gonna figure it out, because you have to, like, there's ... but I would also say, roll with the punches. I learned so much about myself when I was abroad because I found myself getting so frustrated at like these little inconveniences. I'm like, Michaela, nothing is going to change right now, so you just kind of have to let it be like, yes, it sucks that you just missed your bus, but you missed your bus. So now you got to wait another hour. Like, it's gonna be fine, like, nothing bad happened. It's just ... so I feel like rolling with the punches is something also to remember, because there are tons of difficulties and snafus that will happen and travel problems, but like, you guys will get through it, just more so making sure you keep, like, a level headed, rational mind, because that's really, like, what saved our relationships as well. It was like, not crashing out on each other, like, we're like, "Oh, this isn't your fault. It's not my fault. Like, we're gonna figure this out." So yeah, really, just kind of being like, chill. Like, okay, I'm gonna go with the flow. Okay, I guess I'll kind of ask you how you're preparing for your semester abroad. Have you started packing? Have you started thinking about what classes you're taking, that kind of thing?

Parker Green 

So I have been scheduled for all of my classes. So I know my schedule. I just got added to my Lux 101 class, which is ...

Michaela 

Oh my gosh, who do you have? Do you know?

Parker Green 

I do not know that. So I know my classes, but I haven't started packing. I have to move completely out of my dorm, so we're just bringing all of my clothes home.

Michaela 

Parker, didn't even think of that, yeah, you literally have to, like, move out, move out. Not winter break, move out.

Parker Green 

No, it is, like, fully ... we have a storage unit down here so that when I move into the house that I'm living in next year, I can just kind of migrate all the stuff, but all my clothes have to come home, all of like, you know, just like curling irons and stuff. So I haven't started packing at all, but I am going abroad with my two roommates, and we have started prepping. None of our birthdays are in the spring semester. But we are doing birthday weekends.

Michaela 

Obsessed! So you're like, we're gonna make birthday!

Parker Green 

Yeah, it's we're just picking a random weekend that's gonna be our birthday, and the birthday girl gets to pick the country, and they get to plan it out exactly how they want it, and it's just like their dream weekend. So we've talked about what our birthday countries are going to be.

Michaela 

Love. What's your birthday country?

Parker Green 

I think I'm going to do Copenhagen as like my birthday city.

Michaela 

So jealous Parker, I want to go to Copenhagen for your birthday trip. I know I'm gonna be like, Guys, I'm sorry I have to go. Parker's there. Oh my gosh, that's amazing, and such a good idea, to be honest, because then, like you all kind of get to feel special. I will say another piece of advice is, like, itinerary wise, our best trip, by a landslide, was Amsterdam, because ... not even necessarily where we were, like, people enjoyed other cities more just because of what they were. But we planned it to a T, and it was, like we had almost like a schedule. And I'm not normally one for that. I'm like, I would just like to go with flow, but when you have no structure, then you're just like, laying in your hostel, like, where do we go next? Like, we didn't do any research. Do your research and make sure when you're planning trips. Like, for example, Amsterdam was the Anne Frank House, we really wanted to go to it. But if you look into it, like we did for the first time ever, we were planning ahead. You have to book them ... the tickets go live a month prior to when you want to go. I think it's a month. So we were on that, and then we were able to get tickets. They sold out the next day, so we wouldn't have been able to go. So then that was cool, that we could experience that. And, like, we just had, like, a canal tour booked, I would say, definitely do your research -- even if it's just a week before about the city you're going to so you have all the dinner recs and you have the cool museums that you should be visiting if you're in these certain cities. Because sometimes we go places and people be like, Oh my god, did you to that ...? And we're, like "What, that was there? Oh shoot."

Michaela 

Do it!

Parker Green 

So that's what I'm thinking.

Michaela 

Like, "yes, it was, we did go. It was awesome" So I would recommend, yeah, just like, doing your research a little bit before. But yeah, you'll be totally fine. And also packing wise, like, you'll figure it out. You can buy everything there. And are you living with a host family?

Parker Green 

That's what we requested. We don't know yet, but I requested host family.

Michaela 

Okay, so that's even a different experience than me, too. I lived in, like, the apartments, but anywhere that you live, you'll be close to, like, this big store called Aushan, and they have everything, and it's for, like, so cheap, like, I remember I bought shoes there for $14 and I wore them all semester. I mean, I wore them to Oktoberfest, I wore them to school. I was literally ... and my friends were, like, Dude, are those your Aushan shoes? I'm like, yes. They're quite durable. So, yeah, you can buy everything there. So if you forget something, don't fret.

Parker Green 

I didn't know. Like, people are, like, you don't buy a shampoo, you don't bring your own anything, that you just buy it all there? I mean, I'm a particular girl.

Michaela 

Yeah, it depends. So like, I personally am not very picky. Like, all of my friends will tell you that, like, if it's shampoo, it's shampoo for me. But I do know people that have a very particular like, hair routine, or even, like, a skin routine -- make sure you're, like, bringing that side of stuff, that you know you'll be missing, like, important things for your face and all that.

Parker Green 

Like, randomly, I'm super picky about my toothpaste.

Michaela 

Yes. Oh yeah, bring that for sure. But they have, like, the coolest pharmacies abroad, too. So like... and their pharmacies have like these, like huge shelves of skincare. And you're like, What is this? So you also could have some fun in there.

Parker Green 

I'm a little nervous that I didn't budget enough money for this trip. I plan on draining the bank account.

Michaela 

That's exactly what happens. Just so, you know.

Parker Green 

Perfect. All right.

Michaela 

Yeah, I know I'm, like, working overtime at the pizza place at home. Like, "do you guys have any more hours? Because I ..." but worth every single penny. Like, seriously, no regrets. You're gonna love your life, and I can't wait for you. Like, I'm so excited. I feel like it's such, like a transformative moment too, especially because you're only a sophomore, so like, now you'll get two full years back in Oxford too, post abroad. But why did you make the decision to go this year, as opposed to maybe, like, junior, or senior year?

Michaela 

Honestly, the thought of having to find a sublease was so anxiety inducing for me. So I talked with my roommates, and we always were like, oh, like, we should just go at the same time. We were roommates last year, but we just signed a house for two years together after we go abroad. So we're like, what if we just all go together, not have to worry about any of the subleasing? So we said, sophomore year we'll move out of the dorm. Works out that way.

Michaela 

It does. It does. And what I will tell you is that was by far the biggest inconvenience of us going, because it was me... We lived in a house of eight. Four of us were abroad, one of us got a sublease. And, like, it was such ... my parents were like, literally. Michaela, this was the dumbest thing you could have done. Like, not actually, but they're like, I mean, why would you sign a house, like, knowing that? I'm like, I didn't know I was gonna go abroad. And, yeah, it's just such, such a waste. So I think that is such a great idea. And like to anyone listening too, make sure you consider that before you sign a lease, because it's a huge factor. I think that plays into a lot of people's decisions, but that is definitely a good factor that you considered before,

Parker Green 

What was your high and your low of going abroad? So, like, I can prep

Michaela 

Good question. I think my low, I'll start with that, so we can end on a high, I would say. So there's, like this, mid October, slump. And like, the initial adrenaline of getting to a new country and new countries and figuring everything out is gone, and like, you're missing your family, you're missing your friends. So I would just prepare to be a little bit homesick towards that time. And I don't know how you are, but I would just say, yeah, like, about a month and a half in, you're like, Wow, this is legit. Like, I'm alone in a different country, and I'm really missing my people. Oh, also the time change. I would really consider that. I, for some reason, wasn't even, like, thinking that would be an issue. But like, I'd go to call my mom and I'm like, oh my god, it's three in the morning for her. Like, this sucks. So I would just, yeah, if you do know that you're gonna want to talk to someone, like, consistently, I would make sure that you're, like, consciously making an effort to, like, talk to them at the same time every week, or whatever it is, so that you don't, like, go to call them impromptu, and it's like, oh.

Michaela 

My high is honestly, like, every day. I'm not even kidding. Like, that sounds so stupid, but we like, found something fun every single day. Like lunch was my high every day. Like getting to see everybody every day was awesome. This school is honestly fantastic. Like, I had one of my best classes abroad with ... Oh! I know my high, Parker, going to Poland.

Parker Green 

I'm going to Poland too.

Michaela 

You are? For your study tour? Oh, my god, stop it. Parker, that was, like, by far the most moving moment of my entire life. Like, to date, I was literally like, this is so surreal. And we had all ... we had no clue we were doing that until we got into the class. Like, I hadn't done any ... we didn't know anyone who went, so I was just like, oh, like, Let's do World Wars. And then ended up being Poland. And that is also good reminder of why education should be like you experiencing it too, because you read so much and you're learning so much, and you're like, whatever, but like to actually be there and to just walk around Poland and then being like, this is the spot "where," like, this was where the Warsaw rising happened, like, stuff like that. It's like, very ... it was surreal. So that was probably another high. Every day was a high. But I would say that trip was certainly a high in terms of like, the intersection of my education and my experience abroad, like I had such like, for lack of a better word, awakening there, just to really apply what we had learned for not only that semester, but for so many years. So anyways, I guess, what do you hope to get out of this experience, and kind of, what do you think you're gonna say once you get back from your semester abroad?

Parker Green 

I really hope that when I come back, I can say that I tried all the things, and even if I was not confident in it, or I felt scared to do it, that I just tried it, and that, like when I come back, I can be like, Look at all these cool experiences that I had because I said "yes" to things, instead of being like, No. I'm generally a cautious person, so I just want to be able to be like, no. Like, I'm gonna try it. It's gonna work out.

Michaela 

Yeah, like, you will have the best time ever, and definitely will learn a lot. So I'm so excited to hear about just everything you have to say when you get back. And I know we will be chatting with you from countries away on the other side of the world, which is so awesome. So yeah, Parker is going to be kind of tuning in once a month or so, and we're going to be getting some updates from her in Luxembourg while she's having the best semester ever, hopefully.

Parker Green 

Yay! I'm so excited.