Studying in France was an ambition of mine for as long as I can remember. I’ve been studying French since middle

school and grew up learning small phrases from my dad and his Cajun relatives. Because of the pandemic, a semester abroad seemed to fade further and further from view. In the Spring of 2022, after two long years, I was finally able to take my long-awaited trip to France, and I spent my last semester of college living and studying in Lyon.  
          I felt that study abroad was a fundamental part of my education, not only because of the significant improvements I’d achieve in language proficiency, but also because I knew I’d discover fresh perspectives and worldviews and become a more well-rounded person. For the first several weeks after stepping off the plane in Lyon, I felt like I was drinking from a fire hose as I was learning new things every second of every day about life in France. For example, immediately upon arrival, I had to learn how to use the public transportation system, which was a foreign concept to me considering at home I exclusively drive my car to go anywhere. I also needed to learn the lingo for eating in a restaurant: how to order food in a crowded cafe, expressions of politeness, whether I wanted my food to go, and how to communicate my preferred method of payment. 

         An early element of culture shock was realizing that the ‘classroom French’ that I’d been learning for years was nothing like speaking French in real life! It was humbling to recognize how much I still had to learn. In the beginning, I was discouraged, because I lacked confidence in my ability to communicate properly with French people. I was anxious even to ask for a baguette at the boulangerie! One of my major goals for my semester abroad was to gain self-confidence and explore beyond my comfort zone. Growth happens when we’re uncomfortable, and I knew I’d never learn French if I was too afraid of locals judging me when I spoke with them. One day I decided it didn’t matter what people in Lyon think of me, because I’ll likely never see them again. That realization was incredibly freeing, and after that I was able to enjoy going out in public and speaking French in my daily life so much more. Contrary to the stereotypes, in my experience, French people are very friendly if you make the effort to communicate in their language. I encountered lots of French people who were patient and kind when I spoke with them, even though I often made errors. 

        Classes in Lyon were fairly dissimilar than my classes at Clemson. Along with about thirty other American students, I was part of a program called USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium). We were all enrolled in an intensive French language program at the Catholic University of Lyon (UCLy) and took French courses with other international students. Thirteen different nationalities were represented in my class – what a wonderful way to see into other cultures! French classes were four hours long, four days a week, and comprised of a mixture of writing, reading, speaking, and listening activities. Being in class for so many hours was challenging, but in stark contrast to the US, we had virtually no homework. Our grades were based on participation and our midterm and final assessments. Without the burden of work outside of school, we were free to explore Lyon in the afternoons, something I took full advantage of.  

         An integral part of French culture is their emphasis on leisure time and the organization of the clock. The French are famed for their long lunch hour, shorter work weeks, and more weeks of vacation than many other countries. For example, we had three full weeks off school during the semester, as compared to only one in the US! During the week, most businesses don’t open until 10AM, usually close while employees take an hour or two for lunch, end the day around 5PM, and are never open on Sundays. To promote family time, almost everything, even the grocery store, is closed on Sunday. Adjusting to this was hard for me because I’m used to being able to run errands whenever I have the time. Instead of treating Sunday like a mad dash to run errands before the week started, I learned to treat Sunday as a day of rest and time with my friends. In Lyon, it's easy to find a farmers’ market on Sunday, and I loved walking by the Rhône River in the spring and buying fresh produce from local farmers. One day, after several of us were late to class, our professor shared with us that people in there run on “Lyonnaise time,” meaning everybody was usually fifteen minutes late to everything. She wasn’t bothered at all that were late! People in France don’t often hurry, everyone takes their time. For example, when sitting in a French restaurant or a café, waiters will never rush you through your meal. You might start with an apéritif (cocktail) or a plate of fromage, followed by a salad, main course, dessert, then a coffee. The French value quality time at the table, and I valued these slower, more meaningful meals. 

      I think as an American, I could stand to learn a little bit from the French about the importance of leisure time, and prioritization of self-care. During the week in the US, I’d spend several hours per day doing homework, and disregard my personal needs completely, never taking time to relax. My weekends therefore are packed full of both leisure activities, errands, and even more schoolwork. In France, without the extra burden of homework, I had plenty of time during the week to pick up groceries or do my laundry for example, instead of saving those tasks for the weekend. Thus, I was able to enjoy my days off much more. A common attitude in the US is “time is money,” meaning Americans generally work long hours during the week and therefore don’t have any free time until the weekend. It seems to me that shorter work weeks in France translate to more time during the week to do chores or run errands, leaving the weekends open for family time, traveling, and relaxation. I think it would be beneficial for Americans to adopt a similar time structure and aim to prioritize personal time during the week a bit more. In my opinion, this small reorganization of our schedules could save time for the weekend to be used intentionally for rest, family, and friends. I’m certain this will make work weeks a little less stressful and lead to a better work-life balance and improved personal health. 

       Another important cultural aspect of Lyon is the food – the city is known as the gastronomic capital of Europe. The standard for excellency in Lyon is high thanks to famed local chef Paul Bocuse, meaning scrumptious local dishes were always available! Classically known as the symbol of French identity, baguettes were present at almost every meal, often accompanied by wine and cheese. One of my hobbies at home include baking, so it was a real treat for me to taste and learn about French patisserie. The French are very proud of their country and their long-standing culinary traditions, which have been proliferated all over the world. 
       A beautiful and historically rich city, Lyon was the perfect place for me. It’s just big enough to ensure there’s always things to do, but small enough to walk most places. I enjoyed spending time in the park, shopping, riding bikes, and going to cafes and restaurants. Each area (arrondissement) of the city has its own unique personality, so it was easy to find my place and feel at home. My friends and I also took advantage of the high-speed train system and were able to see some fantastic cities around France and in neighboring countries. For a girl who loves to travel, that was a dream come true!

Despite the challenges of moving to a foreign country alone, my semester in Lyon was well worth the wait. I gained a lot of confidence in my French speaking abilities and grew to welcome conversation with locals even if it was awkward sometimes. I learned how to appreciate the little moments in life, like taking some time for a coffee after school with a classmate. My semester abroad provided space for tremendous personal growth, both in maturity and independence. I learned it was acceptable to make mistakes and that I needed to stop taking myself so seriously all the time. My time abroad allowed me to taste the pure joy of learning and taking in perspectives that are different than mine. I believe traveling offers a window into the lives of people outside of my home country, and broadens the mind, allowing space to welcome novel ideas and experiences. While abroad, I was pushed far out of my comfort zone, constantly interacting with people from all over the world and achieving resiliency in challenging situations. I’m confident that my time in France will enrich my professional life as I step into my career, and I’ll carry this experience forward for the rest of my life. I’m endlessly grateful for my time in Lyon, it’s a place that will always hold a special place in my heart. 

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