Nathan Philoxene

Study Abroad

 

Lyon, France

January - May 2022

 

I spent the spring semester of 2022 studying abroad in Lyon, France, attending l’Université Catholique de Lyon through a program with the University Studies Abroad Consortium. Although Lyon is the third largest city in France, I had only ever known of Paris and Nice until I began researching my options for study abroad. It did not take me long, however, to fall in love with this beautiful city. Founded by the Romans in 43 BC, Lyon is filled with ancient history, cobblestone streets, delicious food, and beautiful scenery.​

 

One of my main goals before I went abroad was to improve my French speaking abilities. The USAC Lyon program had intensive French courses and the opportunity to live with a host family, two very important factors in my decision to study abroad with this organization. I spent approximately 18 hours in class each week with 20 other students from around the world, including Colombia, Japan, El Salvador, China, and Israel. I had never previously experienced such a multicultural classroom, and it proved to be an amazing asset. Besides not allowing me to use English and forcing me to address my classmates in French, each student brought different perspectives to our conversations, especially in our history, economics, and culture classes. All of my classes were run through the Centre International d’Etudes Françaises at the university and focused on various elements of the French language, including reading comprehension, listening skills, and writing competencies. Although the fact that all of my classes were taught in French was incredibly daunting at the beginning of the semester, each of my professors were wonderfully kind and understanding, and I can truly say that my language abilities improved exponentially during the duration of my semester abroad.

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Another aspect of my time spent in Lyon, France that had a huge impact on me was the people I met and the experiences we went through together. Starting with some of the French natives I had become close with, was essential to my transition in France but also helped me enjoy the city of Lyon even more. Through UCLY, the university I attended, I was matched with a french buddy that helped me not only practice my conversational french but introduced me to other french students. we would meet multiple times a week and do a wide array of activities such as taking a boat tour, walking through the beautiful streets of Vieux Lyon, or simply teaching me the cultural differences. A key difference that stood out to me was the work-life balance the people in France had incorporated into their lives. Offices were closed for 1-2 hours so co-workers could have time for a proper meal and be able to digest and relax. Conversation topics were on life, and family but never about work. the same thing applied to my university. we were given time to grab a coffee or a snack and during that time, we could decompress, enjoy the moment and enjoy the people around us and we still were able to be just as productive if not more productive. compared to here in the United States where it's constantly works, work, work. The people of France work to live and not live to work and it's one thing I'm grateful I learned through my friendships with french natives. 

 

My time abroad did not just improve my linguistic and cultural competencies, it changed me as a person. The transition was incredibly difficult at first. I was separated from my full support system by a 6-hour time difference and the entire Atlantic Ocean. I already had a pretty good grasp on the French language but hearing only French every minute of every day was highly overwhelming. The food was different, the clothes were different, and the shops were different. But these challenges proved to be blessings in disguise. Pushed out of my comfort zone, I had the opportunity to develop new habits and routines. I learned how to be more flexible and adaptable, to not rush past the simple day-to-day joys of life, and that I am capable of great things. I found new coffee shops, took public transportation to school, experimented with new foods, and did homework by the river. I also took advantage of every possible opportunity to travel around Europe, visiting new cities both alone and with friends. At the end of my six months abroad, I had visited 3 different countries, including Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Each country brought its own set of unique challenges: Where do I go? How do I get there? Does anyone here speak English? Despite the difficulties, traveling around the world and experiencing a variety of different cultures was absolutely one of the best aspects of my study abroad experience. I would not trade these four months for anything, and I am beyond grateful to have had this incredible opportunity.