Going to France has always been a dream of mine, so I knew exchange was an opportunity I couldn鈥檛 pass down. During Winter 2025, I got to spend my semester abroad in Lyon, France through the ORA (Ontario Rh么ne-Alpes) Program!
ORA is perfect for intermediate French speakers who want to improve their French skills and fully immerse themselves in the language and culture. What I loved so much about my host institution, , was the wide variety of unique classes you wouldn鈥檛 find at Queen鈥檚, like sports classes! Taking a golf class in France was definitely something I wasn鈥檛 expecting to do, but it ended up being one of the most memorable experiences of my exchange. Although a full course load in French was difficult, it really pushed me to grow both academically and personally. I knew I was making real progress when locals stopped switching to English, it was truly the most rewarding feeling to know I reached my goal of becoming more fluent and being able to hold casual conversations.
Lyon itself is a lively city, stretched across two rivers, with beautiful and historical architecture. My favorite part was that you could always see the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvi猫re at the top of the hill. Lyon has an amazing metro and tram system, but it鈥檚 also very walkable, which made it super convenient to get around and discover new spots. On weekends, I took advantage of travelling, so FlixBus quickly became my best friend. I got to visit places like Paris, Annecy, Milan, and Barcelona!
Living in France taught me that slowing down doesn鈥檛 mean wasting time. Since Lyon is known as the food capital of France, I was able to appreciate taking time to really enjoy a meal (it also made me less of a picky eater!). Learning how to enjoy my own company was one of my biggest accomplishments, aside from improving my French, because my exchange experience was defined by me, and not by waiting around for others. After getting over the learning curve of French culture and the language barrier, I found a new sense of self-confidence.
Exchange was definitely a challenge at first, even the application process was a bit daunting, but since being back home, I certainly have no regrets in pushing myself in taking that step. It was the most fulfilling experience of my life. I found a sense of community and comfort with other exchange students; I made so many friendships with people from around the world who made Lyon feel like home!
My advice for Queen鈥檚 students thinking about exchange is to push yourself outside your comfort zone and to trust yourself! Exchange is all about embracing the unexpected and learning to be patient with yourself. Of course there will be moments that feel overwhelming, or things might not go as planned, but as the French say: C鈥檈st la vie!
