Eatting Lyonnais Food and Walking Past Review
By Dee S (history/anthro, University of California - Merced) for
University of California EAP (UCEAP): Lyon - Language & Culture Programs, University of Lyon
I dont want to be cliche, but i guess i have too. It did change my cultural awareness. How i struggled to have people understand me in french. I never really had that to this extreme before. Going four months in a country where majority of people dont understand you, can be hard but also extremely rewarding.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The grading is a bit different, but one will adjust to it extremely fast. I went over to Lyon with only basic french, and the course was set up to help students like me and students who had been taking french since high school. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They set us up with opening bank accounts and getting french phones. They didn't hold our hands exactly, but they gave us a push in the right direction. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was really sweet. I didnt need to buy anything except my own personal ideas. The streets of lyon are pretty safe and the bus/metro system there is superb. So getting to point a to point b shouldnt take that long. |
| * Food: |
There is this hole in a wall madagascarian cuisine near the university. It's right in front of a church about a block away from the rhone. It's between the university and the block/street with kebabs. If you go there try the national plate. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The fete du lumiere was amazing. I really enjoyed my art history class for we got to go on field trips every week. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Everything was safe. I never felt in danger. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practice french everyday with my host family and with the local people in lyon. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Dont be afraid to talk to the locals and go on trips. |
