Studying abroad in France has been a goal of mine since before I entered my freshman year of college. Three years of high school French courses introduced me to the language and culture, which allowed me to develop a strong appreciation and fondness for the country. Growing up in an international household also exposed me to global travel from an early age, when I would fly to Europe each summer to visit family. The continuous exposure to international travel fostered my internal desire to continue exploring new and unfamiliar places. Luckily with the Language & International Business program at Clemson, studying abroad in the country of the chosen target language is required for all students. I decided to complete my international studies in the spring semester of my junior year. After narrowing down the choices of where to study, I picked my new home for the first half of 2022 – Lyon, France. 

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Before I flew out in January, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I landed. Initially, I didn’t experience much culture shock because of my previous travels to Europe. I found that for the most part, the area looked similar enough to what I have already seen, so I was never overwhelmed with the new environment. It was only when I began settling into my new apartment and city that the reality of living in another country set in for me. I had never lived this far from my family in my life before, so this was definitely the hardest for me to adjust to. During my stay in Lyon, I chose to reside in a university residence hall with another student in the USAC Lyon program. Living with another girl from America definitely helped me lessen the shock of living alone on the other side of the world, as we were facing the same reality. I did my best to avoid dwelling on homesickness because I did not want it to overshadow my new and exciting experiences in Lyon. 

 

With time, I was able to observe and experience differences in French culture compared to what I was used to back home. One of the first differences that I noticed was the amount of time that was spent at the table when going out to a restaurant. In America, it is very common for people to order their food, eat it, and leave soon after finishing and paying. Dining in France was not the same. When my friends and I visited restaurants, it became clear that this was a social event rather than just a meal. After eating, we would spend much more time in each other’s presence, conversing with one another and enjoying everyone’s company. It was not uncommon for people to spend over two hours at a table in a restaurant. Another difference that I needed to adjust to was the fact that most stores and restaurants were either closed on Sundays, or closed early in the day. I was used to having the option of visiting a store late in the day almost every day of the week, so while this wasn’t a huge difference, it was one I needed to get used to. For these reasons, I realized that the French culture was a lot more relaxed than America’s. Compared to my experiences in several cities across America, the French seemed to be much less fast-paced than Americans. They spent more time engaging in activities for their pleasure and were not as work-oriented as individuals living in the United States. This can be explained by their prioritization of their work-life balance. In France, the workweek is 35 hours, compared to 40 hours in America, and workers have a minimum 5 weeks of paid vacation throughout the year. Workers are also legally protected from having to answer phone calls, text messages, and emails relating to work once they clock out for the day or when they are on vacation. This is a pretty big difference compared to America, as I know many people who always carry their work phones with them in case anything is needed from them. Additionally, French law prohibits workers from eating lunch at their desks, and many companies allow their employees to take lunch breaks lasting between one to two hours. Once again, this is a huge difference when compared to the American workplace, since many workers quickly eat their lunches at their desks during breaks in their schedule. Living in a country that had a slower pace of life compared to what I was used to because it allowed me to appreciate everything more. I was able to sit down and see how everyone around me was enjoying their time, and I also had more time to explore the city and spend valuable time with my friends. Overall, I had a pleasant and refreshing experience seeing such a lifestyle difference firsthand. 

 

There were many similarities to the culture I came from too. In general, both societies seemed to function the same. People behaved and interacted with each other in a similar way as in America. Both countries, specifically in cities, are heterogeneous with a mixture of people from different cultural backgrounds. French fashion also seemed pretty similar to that of America, but the French always made an effort to look their best wherever they went! Going to the stores, there were always clothes with American state names or other locations on them. I even saw a Clemson sweatshirt at a store in the mall! Seeing things like this was always heartening. 

 

When I told my friends and family about going to study abroad in Lyon, I heard many comments and horror stories about the French not liking Americans. I was very apprehensive that when I landed, we would be treated poorly for simply not being French. Luckily, my experience with the locals was quite the opposite. In the beginning, I was not as confident in my ability to speak and understand French. I remember my first time ordering at a boulangerie, and the woman working clearly noticed that I was not a native, and instead of criticizing or putting me down, she took the time to help me out with ordering in French. In bars, locals we befriended wanted to help us improve our French while at the same time, we helped them with their English. When we visited Paris, we were praised by the local vendors for learning French and using it to communicate with them, rather than resorting to English. All of these experiences helped me become more confident with myself in terms of speaking and understanding vernacular French, as well as interacting with French natives. There were other instances as well, where people would give us strange looks for speaking English out in public. This usually occurred on public transport and in stores. I tried not to let it bother me, but I took note to try and blend in more with those around me to avoid it happening again. Each interaction, whether good or bad, made me more aware of the environment I was in. I grew more confident in my ability to adapt to different cultures and situations, and I also became more self-assured when socializing with others. 

 

Initially, my learning goals for study abroad mainly pertained to what I learned in the classroom. My focus was to improve my French speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills. The amount I learned in Lyon and other cities around the country surpassed the amount I have learned in the classroom back in America. Being in French-intensive classes four days a week for four hours a day allowed us to spend more time focusing on the specifics of the language that would often get skimmed over in courses in America. Over the course of the program, I realized my goals were shifting. I was always wanting to learn more about the culture I was in and I also wanted to become more self-reliant. One of the best ways I accomplished these goals was by traveling by myself and with my group of friends. Traveling alone throughout Lyon, although it sounds simple, was pretty daunting to me at first. The more I did it, the more confident and self assured I became. I was able to trust in myself and my abilities of succeeding in this new environment. Traveling to new cities within France also helped me achieve these goals. Being in new cities that I had never stepped foot in further allowed me to see different sides of the country’s culture. Spending one weekend in the city, another in the countryside, and socializing with people in both gave me a well rounded view of France that I did not plan to see before setting out for my program.

 

Studying abroad enhanced my general academic experience by helping me learn in more ways than I could have ever imagined. From the point when I first stepped off the plane in January until my last moments in Lyon, I was learning something new each day. I was constantly being pushed out of my comfort zone, which is something I grew to appreciate. Having such a change in scenery and academic environment was a wonderful experience. I was surrounded by students from America that shared similar goals and interests as me. They helped me develop my skills both inside and outside of the classroom. By the time I had to return back home, I had become so much more passionate about France and the French language. This program fueled my desire to continue pursuing my education in French and International Business, and opened my eyes to the possibilities of living and working abroad. 

 

One of the best things about my study abroad experience in Lyon has been the friendships that I have made with other students in the USAC program. I made friends with people that I consider to be some of my best friends today. Between January and May, we took many trips together, including Grenoble, Paris, Nice, Geneva, Venice, Florence, and Aix-en-Provence. I will remember stories from each of these travels very fondly. After visiting so many different places, I began to feel excited about the unknown. I was no longer afraid of exploring new places and trying new things. This is definitely something that has stuck with me since my time abroad. While I had many positive experiences, there were also times where I had to face some challenges. Having a group of friends that were in the same situation as I was in definitely helped me overcome some of these challenges, especially if they already faced the same challenges in Lyon. However, there were times where I had to face my own challenges head on. There was one distinct issue I remember having to deal with on my own, and it was with the phone carrier I switched to while I lived in France. I was never taught technical terms concerning phone plans, so this was very different for me. In this situation, like with many others, I did my best to prepare ahead of time before I went to address the problem. I looked up technical terms and devised the best way to explain my exact issue to the associate that would help me. Such preparations eased my nervousness going into situations I wasn’t too familiar with. I am thankful for each and every one of my experiences during the five months I spent in Lyon. I truly believe that this trip has allowed me to develop into a more well rounded student and individual.