Seattle-area writer, Mike McQuaide, is excited when his wife accepts a job that requires his family relocate to Luxembourg. But he has a few questions. Like, where the hell is Luxembourg? And, what’s the difference between Luxembourg and Lichtenstein? Perhaps most importantly: do they have crunchy peanut butter in Luxembourg? Nonetheless, in early 2013, the McQuaides, including 14-year-old son Baker, pick up and move 8,000 kilometers east to the world’s only Grand Duchy. (‘What’s the hell’s a grand duchy?’ Mike wonders.) In time, all of Mike’s questions are answered as he discovers that Luxembourg is truly the green heart of Europe, a magical land of castles, epic cycling spots and a super-welcoming citizenry able to speak just about any language that’s thrown at them. He discovers too, that Luxembourg is a place he just might never want to leave. This amazing book features McQuaide’s quirky take on life in Luxembourg, a country he fell in love with.
From the book:
“In February 2013, my family and I moved to Luxembourg because my wife got a job with a German-owned insurance company based here. We’d always thought it’d be fun to try living in Europe for a while and, so why not Luxembourg? We didn’t visit beforehand and looking back, I think we knew maybe only three things about Luxembourg. One, it wasn’t a city in Germany. Two, it wasn’t Liechtenstein; that’s the other tiny European country that starts with ‘L’. Third, we knew about the Schlecks, Fränk and Andy. As avid fans of pro cycling and the Tour de France, we, like many Americans, were big fans of the Schleck brothers. Though maybe not as big of Schleck fans as my Seattle cycling-obsessed friend, David, who was forever posting cycling-themed photos on social media of his two cats, which he had named Fränk and Andy. My wife’s employment contract was open-ended and we had no idea how long we’d be here. I thought a year, maybe a year-and-a-half at most. Then again, it could be less. Maybe we’d hate Luxembourg and Europe, and in six months, we’d turn tail and head right back to Bellingham. There was no way of knowing.”
- “French might be the language of love, but only Lëtzebuergesch is the language of ‘dat ass’.”
-"... if you’re not sure of a Luxembourg man’s name, you can’t go wrong in assuming it’s Claude. Most men in Luxembourg, I’ve found, are named Claude.”
-"'Je goudrais grouss gär parler chocolate oui oui,’” I manage in fluent Frankenbourgish nonsense.”
Praise for the book:
“Mike McQuaide, better known as an ʻAmerican in Luxembourgʼ, has become a true phenomenon on social media. While Mike travels through Luxembourg sharing his discoveries with his numerous followers, he also offers insight into the process of becoming a Luxembourgish citizen. He amuses his followers with interesting and humorous reviews, such as to raise interest among visitors, expats as well as locals who rediscover their country through his eyes. The winner of the #letzgocycling contest rides his bike through our beautiful landscapes and promotes the undiscovered face of our small country in an rather unconventional and funny way. At the same time Mike points at some of our nation’s peculiarities while mastering our language and becoming familiar with our habits and customs.”
Francine Closener, Secretary of State for the Economy
The author:
Mike McQuaide is an expat from Bellingham, Washington State. His popular Facebook page, An American in Luxembourg, features his quirky take on life in Luxembourg as well as his photographs throughout Europe. McQuaide also teaches English and writes humor columns for the Luxemburger Wort’s English-language website. In America, McQuaide was an outdoor reporter and photographer for The Seattle Times and Bellingham Herald, and is the author of six books on travel and outdoor recreation.
A presentation with the author will take place on October 11 at 5:30 pm in the Luxemburger Wort’s principal office in Luxembourg-Gasperich, 2, rue Christoph-Plantin
Mike McQuaide: An American in Luxembourg. Paperback, 13,5 x 23 cm, 184 pages.
Price: 20 €. ISBN: 978-99959-2-015-9. Available in bookstores and on www.editions.lu
