Luxembourg
Luxembourg is a gem of a country sandwiched between France, Belgium, and Germany. It’s landmass is tiny (under a thousand square miles) and its population is smaller than that of most medium-sized American cities, but what it lacks in physical stature it more than makes up for in political impetus, natural geographic beauty, and a culture as unique and fascinating as any in Europe. These three factors make it one of the most welcoming and interesting countries in Europe to visit and attend college.
Because of its location “on the cultural divide between Romance Europe and Germanic Europe,” Luxembourg is an interesting amalgam of both (www.en.wikipedia.org). This situation is mirrored in the official languages of the country: French, German, and Luxembourgish are all spoken widely, though each for different reasons: “Luxembourgish is generally preferred for spoken use, but is superseded by both French and German for written purposes. French is the language in which most government business is carried out. German is the language of most media and of the church. In addition to the three native languages, English is taught from a young age (mostly 2nd grade, i.e. at the age of 13 to 14 years), and most of the population of Luxembourg is proficient in English” (www.en.wikipedia.org). (Now don’t you feel silly about all that difficulty you had learning Spanish in high school?)
Culturally, Luxembourg rewards the adventurous traveler. After all, its geographic location means that it has some absolutely breathtaking scenery, especially around the Moselle Valley, which produces some of the nicest white wines in Europe (the German Mosel Valley is internationally renowned for its Rieslings) and is simply gorgeous to tour through. Bicyclists also flock to the Luxembourg’s Ardennes region for some of the most beautiful bike rides on the Continent (www.visitluxembourg.com).
And for those who prefer the city life to the rural one, Luxembourg City, the capital, offers all the excitement and rewards of capitals many times larger. “The arts, classic and contemporary music, theatre, entertainment of every sort: this multi-cultural environment is bursting with opportunities. There is never a dull moment; there is never a neglected corner, there is never a visitor who cannot find what he or she likes best” (www.lcto.lu).
Yes, the capital of Luxembourg is tiny, and at fewer than half a million people, it has approximately one-sixteenth the population of New York City. But that doesn’t mean it’s a backwater. Quite the contrary. In fact, “The economy of Luxembourg is largely dependent on the banking and steel sectors. Luxembourgians enjoy the highest per capita gross domestic products in the world. [And] although Luxembourg in tourist literature is aptly called the "Green Heart of Europe," its pastoral land coexists with a highly industrialized and export-intensive economy. Luxembourg enjoys a degree of economic prosperity almost unique among industrialized democracies” (www.en.wikipedia.org).
And as if that weren’t enough, Luxembourg also is home to “more Michelin stars [the highest honor that can be given to a European restaurant] per square mile (or per head of population) than any other country” (www.world66.com). And even if the average college student can’t afford to eat high-end haute cuisine every day, the culinary culture of the country is such that you certainly will not go hungry.
Studying in Luxembourg is appealing for several reasons, though perhaps the most telling is the 2005 Economist survey of quality of life in the countries of the world: Luxembourg ranked 4th, ahead of the United States, France, the U.K., and Italy. Indeed, perhaps it is the peaceful existence of the country, the stable political life, and the high employment rate that contributed to it in mathematical terms. But in the ways that will most directly affect students, only a few of them matter: Peace, prosperity, and great food and beer.
