<p>I want to study abroad for a year. I am a French major, and I was thinking Lyon for a year, or Paris for one semester and Lyon for another semester. I wouldn't do a full year in just Paris, because I do want a relatively authentic French experience, and Paris is such an international city, I feel as if I wouldn't get a very good hint of what France is like as a whole. Is it wise to study abroad in two different cities over the course of a year?
P.S. sorry, I also posted this on another forum by accident. </p>
<p>Mate, first I just want to say that life in Paris is about as authentic as you can get. Once you get beyond the tourist attractions you see what Paris is actually like. Perhaps if you stay in 1-5 districts of Paris you get the opinion that Paris isn’t like France but if you stay anywhere else you will see a much more interesting side of Paris. In my opinion, Lyon is quite boring and far from anywhere interesting. </p>
<p>Depending on which school it is, I would 100 percent advocate for living in Paris for the whole year. If you’re worried about it being to fancy and not like proper France, visit Trappes or Les Mureaux haha.</p>
<p>Don’t split the year like that - you will make friends and then have to do that all over again. Paris is unparalleled, travel a bit in the summer to get an idea of France after a year in Paris. Lyon is nice, but I have never lived there. Either way, you will need to live in France a lot longer than a year to get a French experience. </p>