Lyon is easily one of the most beautiful and interesting cities in France. Walking down a street can sweep you back through time: up on the hill there are the ruins of Roman Lyon and the 19th century basilica of Fourvière, down in Saint-Jean (Vieux Lyon) you can get a glimpse of Medieval and Renaissance Lyon and cross through buildings using the ancient traboules that connect streets and were so useful to the Resistance. In fact, perhaps some of my best memories are of exploring Lyon's old neighborhoods. Lyon's universities, theaters and museums offer a variety of cultural experiences, and I had the opportunity to hear talks by people such as Pierre Bourdieu and the Rodin Museum's Conservateur, Antoinette Romain. Of course, there were also all the great and affordable restaurants (it is, after all, known as the culinary capital of France), theaters (opera, ballet, drama, etc.), cinemas (showing new, old, and foreign films), wonderful museums (including a silk museum), and the city's annual Fête de la Lumière, when all of Lyon is lit by candlelight and people play music, dance, sing, eat, and drink vin chaud in the streets.

At the Université Lumière, Lyon II -named after the fathers of cinema who were from Lyon - I taught a variety of courses, including English for Art Historians and for Historians, Thème (French to English translation), and an American Civilization recitation. These courses gave me the opportunity to broaden my teaching experience and to explore new subjects and teaching techniques.

Nathalie Charron
Graduate student