Menu
Expat.com

What's life like for an American family in Lyon

Last activity 03 October 2010 by yoyomama

Post new topic

zozojuju

Hello all,

we live in the bay area in CA and will be moving to Lyon France. I would love to hear feedback from American families that have relocated to France- likes, dislikes and general ability to assimilate into french culture---I'm concerned about my son who is in 2nd grade and how it will affect him-I've heard of the sterotypes regarding French teachers and hope that someone can shed light on how their family is doing in France.
Thanks
M.

Christine

Welcome on Expat-blog zozojuju! :) I have moved the topic on the Lyon forum, enabling Lyon expat active members to communicate easily with you.

You might read some Expat.coms in Lyon. :)

All the best,
Christine

taffy

zozojuju,
There is a really big american community in Lyon so you would not be short of people to turn to for support and advice if you need it, every year the american society organises a day to welcome newcomers who are english speaking and you would get all answers to your questions there;
Specificaly regarding your children, if they go to a french speaking school I have no advice, but if you send them to an international school, you will find that the teachers are all nationalities themselves, american, english and french. In comparison to the english system which I know, the french system is tougher and there is a lot more work, but there is also a lot of support for kids and I think the system has a lot in common with the american system. My own kids have had no trouble settling in and after two years are almost bilingual, also if they follow the international baccalaureat they will switch from french to english anyway - in short this is a beatiful country and i would qsay it's worth the move. I understand completely your fears about your childrens education but if that is all that's holding you back - stop worrying and go for it!!!
Taffy

yoyomama

Hi, im new to the site! I feel like im snooping haha. So i read that the international schools are pretty good, and the Ombrosa school i read was one of the best in Lyon. My question is what age does Nursery still go to? My daughter will be 4 in June and they accept new applicants for review in Dec and hopefully enrollment in Sept. Thanks!

Articles to help you in your expat project in Lyon

  • Working in Lyon
    Working in Lyon

    Lyon, France's third-largest city, sits at the crossroads between northern and southern Europe. Bordered by a ...

  • Accommodation in Lyon
    Accommodation in Lyon

    Lyon is a vibrant economic center that is important both nationally and across Europe. The region offers lots of ...

  • Study in Lyon
    Study in Lyon

    Lyon, situated between the sea and the mountains, is renowned for its rich two-thousand-year history and ...

  • Apartment Hunting in Lyon
    Apartment Hunting in Lyon

    It is very difficult to find an apartment in Lyon, even more so if you are a foreigner. I looked frantically for 3 ...

  • Things to see and to do in Lyon
    Things to see and to do in Lyon

    Lyon is a prominent city in France, renowned as the country's gastronomic capital with a number of highly ...

  • Getting around Lyon
    Getting around Lyon

    Lyon is readily accessible from Paris via the TGV, France's high-speed train network. Once in the city, you ...

  • Working Holiday Visa in France for Australians
    Working Holiday Visa in France for Australians

    A true love affair has developed between Australians and France. The reasons for this are numerous but often ...

  • Working Holiday Visa in France for Japanese nationals
    Working Holiday Visa in France for Japanese nationals

    Are you Japanese, and have you always dreamed of exploring the length and breadth of France for several months ...

All of Lyon's guide articles