As an international student, I found Lyon to be a welcoming and charming place, with some of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen.

Lyon’s optimal position between the North and South, not far from the coast or the Alps, gave me the perfect excuse to travel at any chance I got, exploring Montpellier, Avignon, and the gorgeous Annecy, with its winding canals and unforgettable views. During the summer, I even decided to travel further throughout Europe with some of the friends I’d made in Lyon, which was a fulfilling and exciting experience.

The most challenging part of the year was, of course, the studying itself. At first, I found it very difficult to keep up with other French students, particularly when it came to lectures, where it sometimes felt like the lecturers were going at 5 times their regular speed. However, every single day it got easier, and my level of French is now so much higher because of it. By the end, hearing and interpreting French quickly felt almost second nature. My studies at Jean Moulin University also allowed me to expand my horizons past French studies, studying about history, culture, geography and art.

For lovers of food, I can’t recommend Lyon enough. I’ve never seen the amount of respect and love of food than in this city. What struck me the most was that I didn’t have to go to fine-dining restaurants to find high-quality food: stumble into any marketplace or on any food-truck in Lyon and you’ll find something made with unbelievable amounts of care and love. Nor did it matter that I was slightly put-off by the look of Lyonnaise quenelles – fish dumplings – since Lyon is a multicultural city boasting almost every food under the sun.

Lyon opened up so many opportunities for me, both linguistically enriching – such as interacting and studying with native French speakers daily – and personally enriching opportunities. The international community in Lyon is rich and diverse and there were many groups organising all sorts of events, from meals to nights out and trips (thankfully, at an affordable price!). One of the highlights of this was a ski trip to the alpine town Chamonix, which truly brought me out of my comfort zone.

My year abroad overall gave me a sense of independence and confidence that I couldn’t have imagined two years ago. I’ll treasure the memories of Lyon forever, and certainly won’t be able to stay away from it for long!

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