Her Heart Led to Lyon

Posted on

17 May 2015

| Last updated on 19 May 2015

Her Heart Led to Lyon

Meet Aga Marchewka, a Polish Woman who's love for food and more led her to an expat life in beautiful Lyon

I’m living in:

Currently, I live in a beautiful city of Lyon, here in France. Aga Marchewka

A bit about me:

So, I am a cheerful and happy Polish girl who loves exploring different cultures, who loves traveling but mostly discovering new things and places. I love to be in the international environment and I feel good among people with different mentalities. It has always fascinated me, I have a huge respect for others cultures and I want to explore more. I lived over 6 years in London where I used to work in an online agency - affiliate network and loved it. Then I returned to Poland and spend couple of years in a beautiful Cracow where I worked for a voucher code site and I liked it as well as I am very savvy shopper myself!

Now I am settling in an amazing city of Lyon, in which I am totally in love! Before coming here, I did not know anything about France, French people and Lyon. So arriving here was a very nice surprise for me and I decided I want to explore more and I do also feel here like at home…as your home is where your heart is. And my heart is now in Lyon indeed! So now I am discovering the city, learning French and sharing my love for Lyon on my blog.

How long have you lived there?

I have come to Lyon in January this year. So this is really just few months but very intensive ones, on where I take part in local activities, started the French course and taking too many photos.

Why did you move?

Well, I felt in love with not only the city…

What are the summer months (Jun-Aug) like in your part of the world?

This is my first summer in Lyon, I heard its going to be hot and I said to myself OK I will enjoy it as I love when the summer is sunny and warm. But after seeing the spring season in Lyon I can only say that I am a bit worried now if I am going to survive this hot weather! We have already got around 30 degrees in May! But except of the heat, the summer season seems amazing. So, there is a lot of green and flowers, you get amazing clear blue sky, the reflection in the 2 rivers of Lyon. You get cooler mornings and warm and pleasant evenings, so many flowers and colorful trees. So its ideal for eating outside, for sunbathing by the rivers, for picnics!

Is summer (Jun-Aug) the best time of year to visit?

I think anytime of the year is good to visit Lyon. Summer and spring gives you nice weather to explore the city, the clear sky and good opportunity to take photos. So I would say, yes! But on top of that and additionally, I would also recommend coming over to Lyon in December. There is this famous, exceptional and spectacular event in Lyon called The Light Festival. I have attended last year and I am totally enchanted by it. It gets a lot of visitors already and has been duplicated in Dubai thanks to its unique and unusual idea.

What do you enjoy doing with your time in the summer?

As I mentioned summer brings many opportunities to enjoy the city. I love walking and resting by the riversides. I like picnics in the parks and especially in the Parc de la Tête d'Or . I like spending time outdoors and discovering more of Lyon and its surroundings. So each weekend I check what is happening nearby and take my camera and go… I enjoy eating dinners on the balcony with a glass of wine and my copain! Lyon Expat interview

What’s the highest temperature it can reach in your summer time (Jun-Aug)?

I heard its over 30 up to 40 degrees!

What do you love the most about this time of year?

I love flowers! So there are many of them around for me to admire. I love sun and the opportunities to spend time outdoors. I love the very blue sky of Lyon. I love seeing and enjoying time with others in parcs. It all seems like you are on holidays … when you compare this to the grey and rainy London …you feel like in heaven!

What do you like the least about this time of year?

I think it can get really hot and when this happens it is not pleasant anymore.

What do you wish you’d known before you moved?

Well, I wish I would have known French! I would love to be able to speak French straight away but I have never been given an opportunity to learn it (or I have never actively been looking for the opportunity myself, I have never thought my life with have anything to do with France…) Oh well, it seems all happens in its right moment and for the reason. Now I am in France and learn this beautiful yet very difficult language…and have the opportunity to be in the international environment and with people I care about…

Anything else you’d like to share with us about your expat experience?

Just that I really appreciate when people are understanding and respect each other. I have been very fortunate to came across all those good people and so I think that English are nice and French, Lyonnais mainly are nice and funny. I appreciate people who try to find their way abroad and I am open to meet & speak & exchange experience with them. And if anyone is planning to visit Lyon or Poland or London and have any questions, just give me a shout.