They come from across the United States – Washington D.C., California, Louisiana, Ohio and Idaho. Their names include Neal Frager, Becky Reynaud, Amy Glancy, Alexis Herrington, Meaghan Teitelman and Jaime de Brebisson.
All are members of the American Club of Lyon, “founded in 1987 to bring together American expatriates and share their cultural heritage and traditions with members, families and friends in the Rhône-Alpes region”, the club states.
“That is one of the things I like most about the club. Diversity is what this is,” said Adam Falk, the Kansas City-born, newly-elected president. “Add the age spectrum and variety of career paths to that,” he added.
The club has 500 registered members, mostly Americans. Membership is also open to non-US citizens who have lived in the United States for at least a year or have family ties to the country.
“What also surprises me is how much the new and long-standing members actively try to integrate into French society and learn the language,” Mr Falk said. “There’s a real sense of community here – a willingness to share and help others with any questions.”
The club is not an English school, nor is it a nanny-finding service, as its detailed FAQ makes clear. Instead, it provides a setting to maintain links with the US through conversation and events, while offering guidance on French life, visas and administration.
Regular activities include a weekly Tuesday morning coffee chat, monthly happy hours and a monthly book club, alongside cooking classes, family hikes and guided tours.
Being an American club, many gatherings revolve around US traditions, such as Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July, Easter and Halloween.
The Easter egg hunt, for example, is far smaller than the White House Easter Egg Roll and takes place in Lyon’s Parc de la Tête d’Or – without Sean Spicer in an Easter Bunny suit.
Members enjoying the monthly happy hour get-togetherAmerican Club of Lyon
Halloween, however, is another story. In the US, children go door-to-door in suburban neighbourhoods; in France, they trick-or-treat in apartment blocks. Mr Falk said the celebrations in his in-laws’ lotissement (housing estate) came closest to his childhood experience.
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Thanksgiving is the main draw, attracting more than 200 members each year.
Sports remain the hardest American tradition to replicate in France. Mr Falk, a Kansas City Chiefs fan, lamented the time difference. “You have to stay up until 4:00 and go to work five hours later,” he said.
He recalled one Monday morning when, after watching the Chiefs play, colleagues at the coffee machine asked if he had seen “the game”. He said yes – only to discover they meant handball.
As president, Mr Falk’s priority is to grow the club’s membership. “Hopefully, everybody will find their place here,” he said.
There is a monthly book club for membersAmerican Club of Lyon
The club’s WhatsApp group is also expanding. It now hosts a tax advice thread to help newcomers navigate visas and French bureaucracy. Recent discussions have focused on US politics, particularly Donald Trump, his administration and policies.
Since Mr Trump’s re-election, the club has noticed more Americans moving to Lyon.
“Many feel the United States is heading in the wrong direction politically,” Mr Falk said. “The key driver for immigration is the unmanageable cost of health insurance back home.”
He added: “And, of course, the cultural appeal of France.”
The American Club of Lyon also offers a non-resident membership, granting access to its private Facebook group and newsletters.
