Bienvenue à Lyon

It has been almost a week by now since I arrived in Lyon. After a 9 hour ride by my legendary car (it is well known as “The White Rider”) from Germany to France, I finally sneaked through the Lyonnaise traffic to find my accommodation. I stayed with Thierry Martinez, an active member from the Hospitality Club and Couchsurfing Project. If you don’t know what it is then you really have to check it out…because it an incredible good opportunity to crash somewhere for a couple of days and to meet interesting and very kind people.

My French course began on Monday morning 8.30h with and evaluation exam to check everybody’s level of French. I was put in the intermediate group which is totally okay. Obviously I don’t have too many problems when it comes to understanding, but it is the grammar which is giving me a hard time.

I have 4 hours of class every day and it is a mix between grammar (arrgh!), oral expression, listening comprehension and history. So far I am quite happy with my choice of the school….the teachers are good and the fellow students are great (Russians, half-Italian half-Vietnamese, half-Thai half-French, Kiwis, Mexicans, Columbians, US-Americans, Koreans, Chinese…).

On Tuesday I moved to Myriam, the French friend of mine from my Erasmus semester in Spain. So I live with her and her family (parents, younger brother Yannis and their huge dog!) outside of Lyon in a small but nice little Town called St. Quentin Fallavier. It is great living with them, they are very welcoming and helpful. I have my own room and working space which helps me a lot to take care of all the pending preparation which is still lying ahead of me.

To get to the school every day I have to drive by the White Rider to the closest metro station. From there on it goes more or less directly to the school. I use this almost 45 minute ride to read newspaper, which I think helps a lot to improve my French…even though I might look funny with the tiny dictionary in my hands.

Now…after the first week I am still optimistic concerning the benefits of my stay and so I am looking forward to the second week…with more French grammar and a planned international dinner party.

MGG Fabi