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Home / Alexika News / Reflections on Returning to Lyon

Reflections on Returning to Lyon

Oct 28, 2024 | Alexika News

Reflections on Returning to Lyon

From our Translations Manager Liam

During my university studies, I was lucky enough to spend the third year of my Modern Languages degree studying abroad in Lyon. I lived there from September 2013 until June 2014 and had an amazing time in France’s third-largest city, which is known for being the country’s gastronomic capital and the birthplace of cinema. Having only been back once, in August 2017, I recently returned for a long weekend. It was of course great to be back in a place that holds such special memories, but it was also a strange feeling too. It felt like it’d been a long time since I was last there because, well, it had. But also, because everything was exactly as it was and I knew my way around so well – had it really been so long? Had I really only spent about three days in this place since June 2014?

I can’t recommend Lyon enough for a short break. It’s a great city, with a really relaxed atmosphere and way of life. It was great to be back in the magnificent (and enormous) Parc de la Tête d’Or, walking along and having a drink on the Rhône river as the sun goes down, strolling through the narrow streets of Vieux Lyon and overlooking the city from the spectacular Basilique de Fourvière. For mid-October, the weather was also excellent. One thing I will never understand, though, is how some locals were wearing jackets and scarves at temperatures of 23 degrees – I was annoyed with myself for not packing a couple of pairs of shorts!

Even if they’ve got too many layers on, something that I do love about the French is the respect with which they talk to each other. No matter how brief, any interaction between strangers in, for example, shops, restaurants and boulangeries will always contain “madame”, “monsieur” and either “bonne journée” or “bonne soirée” at the end – I think it’s great.

At Alexika, I read translations either into or from French near enough every day. However, since my studies it has been hard to keep up my spoken French; I hadn’t been to France at all for seven years. I was intrigued to see how my oral skills had held up. I worked so hard throughout my education – from school right until my Master’s in Translation – to obtain what is such a rare skill for a Brit that it never ceases to amaze new people I meet (“wow, translation, that’s different! What languages do you speak?”). It would have been a little demoralising had it not gone well, but I am pleased to say that it did and I pleasantly surprised myself. You of course know that you’ll need to communicate with hotel staff, bar and restaurant personnel etc., but the instances you can’t prepare for are the most satisfying – for example, a Rhône Express (the train which takes you from the airport to the city) staff member asking you questions for a survey about your experience with the service. That was certainly a case of going straight in at the deep end, especially after around 3 hours’ sleep!

A couple of people in bars and restaurants tried to switch to English after they heard me and my wife speaking English to each other but, no, sorry, I was on a mission to speak French. They probably get chance to practice their English every day. Let me speak French while I’m here! Gladly, they happily reverted to their native tongue after I replied in French to their English. I wasn’t going to lose that battle.

At Alexika, we are passionate about other languages and cultures, and we have been translating your content into French for over 25 years. All translations are done by highly qualified French professional linguists who only translate into their mother tongue and are experts on the subject matter in question. All French translations are diligently proofread by myself before delivery to you. Get in touch today to discuss your requirements.