Lille or Lyon to live for a year for a 23year old girl?

Question

I am applying to work as an English teaching assistant in France and to study French at a French university. Wherever I apply to study is where they'll place me to work. I desided that Paris is too expensive, but I still want lots of fun, beauty and young culture around me. Lyon is more expensive to both live and study, but it's bigger and I hear it's livelier, and it's near the Alps. Lille is also beautiful and it's on Eurostar fast tracks to London, Amsterdam, Paris and Brussels. Is Lyon accent more prestigious? Where are there more fun young people with lots to do? Keep in mind that I wont have much money. At any rate, I'm so excited!

Answer 1

I like Lyon better mainly because of the nearby Alps. Great snowboarding. The city is really nice, too, with a great atmosphere and a lot of things to do.

Answer 2

My French friend says Lille. Although Lyon is a lovely place too, it's true that lille is a good place for students. Also, I think Lyon is quite far in-land... it's good to be by the coast.

Answer 3

I will say Lyon  (because I'm from Lyon)

Lyon is a very beautiful city, and for some years it's even more beautiful. Many enhancements were brought these last years : Velo'v (bike location system 24 hrs), restored Rhône riverbank,

2 rivers, some hills, italian influenced architecture, little cute streets, pubs and nightlife, various stores, big music and sport events, parks and nice riverbanks to walk, jog or ride.

You should visit Fourviere hill and its cathedral, Vieux Lyon district (refered as UNESCO World heritage site).

That's the place where cinema was created.

And you can appreciate each day good food without spend too much.

I agree Lille is also beautiful, but North accent may sound difficult for stranger ... n'en déplaise à Dany Boon

;;;;;

Answer 4

Lille is a student city close to Belgium, and Lyon is closed to the Alpes and the sea so it is a gig advantage when you have days off and you want enjoy it.

Answer 5

Lyon is like a little Paris, but its also a town close to its own countryland : Paris without the noise and the crazy rhythm...  I'm french, live in Paris : I'd choose Lyon if I were you, but you'll have a nice experience of France if you go to Lille too.

At any rate, enjoy France !

Au revoir

Answer 6

Lille definitely, i`m from Newcastle and i tell U, Lille is rocking, much nicer people, everybody talks to anybody.

Opportunity to visit many northern  countries, Belgium clubs are best in Europe, Amsterdam, fly to Pragua, Germany.

Lyon is a conservative and pretentious place to be. If tou haven`t be to school with those, they won`t look at you, the city still pretty and Alpes close but remenber the TGV train is cheap and takes U from Lille to Povence in 4 or 5 hours...France is a very small country but maybe the most beautiful, you can find all americans landscapes in a bonsai size

Answer 7

Well, I am from Lyon and moved to the US when I was 14.  I miss it very much.  Lyon has all four seasons, I found the weather quite nice.  The food is excellent, it is the capital of gastronomy.  Nightlife and entertainment for students is plenty and very lively.  A big mall ( La Part-Dieu) and lots of shopping around to do in the older part of the city.  You can go skiing during the winter because of the Alps nearby or ride the train to Annecy and swim in the lake there during the summer.(I spent my summers there)

Actually, with the TGV you can pretty much travel anywhere, nothing seems too far anymore.

Lyon has two rivers crossing thru and it is beautiful and relaxing to stroll around during the summer, check out the fireworks on july 14th shooting from Fourviere.  ;)

I guess I am very bias but despite its cost of living, it is well worth it.

Answer 8

i'm from lille so as you can imagine i'll say go in lille....

effectively, lille is closed to Belgium, Amsterdam, London.

I think lille is less expensive than Lyon. Lille by night it's quite super !! people are friendly and helpful.Concerning the weather it's not sunny and hot but like a french singer  say people from north of france have hot blood it means that maybe it's cold here but we are very friendly. An other man (humorist) says : when you arrive in Lille you cry twice. The first time it's when you arrived because the weather is bad and then the second time when you cry it's when you are leaving lille ...... it's so true.

Answer 9

Lille of course ! Close to London, Brussels, Paris, Amsterdam.

You'll spend a wonderfull time there, no doubts.

Lille is known to be the most exciting city of France for students.

http://www.pbase.com/fohoizey/lille_metr...

Answer 10

Hi,

I do not have all the answers to your questions, but coincidence makes that I am writing some observations on life in France for Americans travelers and workers. I managed to put on this list most important things and recommendations unlikely to be found in usual tourist books, owing either to omission, or to political correctness. I did not make any concession, as you shall see.

But that’s precisely why I believe that this list is likely to b very useful to all Americans who plan to go to France for sometimes. So, read it attentively.



First basic rules:

Most French people don’t speak English but a few words pronounced with a strong French accent. Most of those who are able to speak English have been taught to keep a French accent or, at worst, to use the British accent (American accent is not admitted during English language courses in French schools, anyways).

Show your money when in a luxury shop and you'll have a nice welcome. Don't do it everywhere else.

Don't show sizable amounts of cash in popular stores (never more than a hundred of Euros in small currencies). Not that the odds to be robbed are that high, but it hurts French feelings. French are badly paid and treated at work in most cases, nowadays. And most of them are craving for money. A bit more than 70% of French workers make 1,500 Euros or so a month. French executive, engineers, and scientists earn from 1,700 to 3,500 Euros a month. Beyond 3,500 Euros a month is an exceptionally high salary.

Never loudly criticize socialism and green activism. Just avoid the subject if ever you disagree.

Be prepared for unexpected strikes when using public means of transportation.

If ever you find a job, then wonder why. In most instances you need connections to get a job in France, nowadays; and skilled professionals may wait for months, and even years sometimes, before getting a job. The French job market is undergoing a serious crisis. So if ever you get a job without difficulties, then it means that maybe someone is expecting something from you at some point.

Avoid conversations about George Bush and Iraq, and be evasive about that. Shift to other topics.

Never ask a cab driver to bring you to bar or a night club where there are easy going girls (or, it might cost a lot for very little in change, in the end).

Beware in the subway. Once there, watch your pockets and don't let your backpack on your back. Keep it in sight. Hide your camera if it is an expensive one.

Always keep a one Euro coin in your pocket or you'll find yourself unable to use a cart when going to supermarkets.

Plastic bags are not free in French supermarkets (except in Geant supermarkets) and there are no paper bags. Do not expect employees are going to fill your bag at the cashier. There is no such service in France but in many Asian stores, in revenge.

Big foots, beware! It's very hard to find a pair of shoes in France beyond 12.5. Exceptions are to be found with Timberland shoes, some sports shoes, and luxury shoes whose price goes over $200. Bring you shoes with you, if you size more than 12.5.

If you have a car, then beware of the “gendarmes couchés” which are to be unexpectedly found in many small towns. Those are purposefully built road bumps aiming at forcing you to slow down. You may easily break something on your car when rolling on it as slowly as 20 MPH, and no claims will be receivable!

There are numerous unexpected police and gendarmerie routine controls on French roads when compared to the U.S.; and there are numerous automatic camera equipped radars with on roads.

It is impossible to find cigarettes after 9 PM. Hard, if not impossible, to find a store still open after 7 PM (but some supermarkets stay open until 10 PM). No stores open past 10 PM, anyways. Beware! All French stores, but very few little groceries and some bakeries on morning, are close on Sunday (!?!). There are few liquor stores. They close at 7 PM and they don’t sale cigarettes. Cigarettes are legally available in some cafés and some bookstores and nowhere else. The exception to this rule is to be found with big gas stations along highways where you can buy food, beverages, and even cigarettes, 24/7.  

Beware of the French healthcare system. For, pharmacists will ask you a prescription for nearly all medications but aspirin, wholesome. So, if ever you get a cold or a throat ache, then you’ll have to see a physician first. The good news is that French physicians are not expensive at all (Euro 20 only for examination and prescription!) and that medications are not expensive too. French citizen don’t pay anything, but a few symbolic coins.

Beware of stores and places prominently displaying U.S. flags. In most cases, this does not mean that those places are owned and/or managed by Americans living in France (most authentic Americans are rather discreet with that, owing to common French anti-Americanism). Actually, such places are the more often owned by French police informers. The same applies in the case of certain associations and clubs promoting activities such as country dance, collectible American motorbike and cars, etc.

Things you won't find or are hard to find:

American style bacon,

Big turkeys,

Peanut butter (available in certain supermarkets, but not everywhere),

Hot-dog buns,

American wines (beware, good French wine are very expensive, but strong alcohols are cheaper, in revenge),

Dough for Pizzas (you can order it in nearly any bakery, in revenge, and dough is available per pound and frozen in Picard stores),

Pepperoni is unavailable in France and so are pepperoni pizzas.

Coleslaw (nowhere to be found)

Saigon cinnamon (nowhere to be found, except some tasteless cinnamon available everywhere.)

Ranch sauce (nowhere to be found)

You’ll meet some difficulties while attempting to eat macaroni n’ cheese. For, it is hard to find Cheddar cheese in France, though some specialized cheese stores sale some.

There is no such thing as Dunkin Donuts or equivalent, but U.S. style donuts begin to be slowly introduced in bakery departments in certain supermarkets (I spotted some in Leclerc supermarkets).

There is no way to watch any U.S. TV Channels in France

American novels in English are available in small quantities in certain book stores such as Fnac stores and Cultura stores and there are two bookstores in Paris downtown in which you can find a much larger choice of books in English. Those bookstores are Galignani  (224, rue de Rivoli; very close to the U.S. Embassy in Paris), and Brentano’s (37, avenue de l’Opéra).

Particularly expensive goods and services (or more to much more expensive than in U.S.):

French restaurants (Asian restaurants are much less expensive), cafés and bars downtown in big cities;

Shoes;

Clothes;

Cigarettes ($7.14 for a Marlboro, everywhere in France)

Good French wines (hard to find a good French wine below 20 Euros a bottle.

Gas is very, very expensive to the extent of about $8 a gallon everywhere in France!

Insurance for cars may be very expensive if you choose an American car, regardless of the model and age.

Insurance for motorbikes is very expensive to the extent of about $4,000 a year for a big motorbike!

Housing is rare and expensive in Paris, and real estate agencies and owners are very, very demanding about guarantees everywhere in France. .

Electricity price is about the same as in United States but there is one state owned electric company only whose name is EDF.

Water supply price is relatively expensive when compared with U.S.

Possible little disappointments:

Pizzas are thin and of passable quality (the elementary Domino’s are much better in most cases);

Shopkeepers, waiters and waitresses and service personnel are often impolite and rude;

Frequent labor union strikes in means of transportation;

Many French don’t like Americans (not that they really have a personal grudge against Americans, but French media repeatedly tell them American are wrong, uneducated, and stupid);

Affordable French wines (5 to 10 Euros) are just c**p (you’ll be happier with Spanish or South-American imported wines for such range of prices);

European cars are very small and not very comfortable;

Too many people looking sad or stressed (it may gives you the blues);

Streets much too narrow for fluid traffic;

You’ll pay a lot for a tiny cup of café, and much more for a normal one with cream when going to cafés.

Beware! French restaurants are much more expensive than in U.S. That’s why numerous French go to McDonalds which are very crowded places at noon. So, consider about 20 Euros or so for a complete meal with a soda or a glass of cheap wine in the least expensive French restaurants. A good trick is to find Chinese buffets where you’ll pay 9 to 12 Euros for a meal.    

French television is deadly boring and all TV channels seem to say and do the same things at the same time. Good movies are rare and a rule decreed by the state say that there mustn’t be such a thing as a movie on TV on Saturdays and on some other days. So, don’t be surprised when noticing that all good movies of the week are on TV the same day at the same time!

All U.S. TV channels are unavailable in France.

Don’t b surprised when you’ll watch some TV reportages on the U.S. which seem highly critical toward the American society or fair exaggeration or generalization. This happens more especially on the channel 5. Equally, don’t b surprised to notice that most U.S. TV series are available on the French TV; even the Simpson’s.

Happy discoveries:

Huge choice of chocolates in supermarkets;

Very good bakeries;

Huge choice of good cheeses;

Large choice of potato chips, crackers, and similar salted things.

Good meals and wines in good restaurants (but it will be very, very expensive!);

Many nice castles and museums to visit;

McDonald’s everywhere!

Some Pizza Hut in big cities.

Some rare KFC in certain big cities.

Some good American and tex-mex restaurants here and there (very good American style pizza at Chicago Pizza Pie Factory, 5, rue de Berri, Paris 8).

Strong alcohols such as Whisky, Vodka, and even Cognac are much less expensive than in U.S.  

Some useful addresses are to be found at the following link I found on the website of the U.S. Embassy in France:

http://www.amb-usa.fr/consul/acs/guide/O...

I forgot some things, doubtless; but you'll be well prepared with all this.

Have a good trip!