Live a Little: A Taste for Travel and Experiencing Life Abroad

It will rain.  But, not every day as many legends hath prophesied.

Rennes is a beautiful “ville” with much to offer.  Although the first week or two you may find yourself taking the time to settle in with your “famille d'accueil,” allow yourself the grace to safely get lost in the city and explore with the friends you make in the program.  Hopefully, you’ll find that your group is as incredible as mine has been.  A melange of personalities, prénoms, and principals of study (from French to political science to chemistry majors) get to share their “histoires” and perspectives.  (For reference, I’m double-majoring in political science and sociology with a writing minor.)  The very best thing you can do is be yourself and challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone even more. Asking a friend to lunch, reading to children, hiking in the Parc des Gayeulles, or taking day-trips to Saint-Malo are all excellent and potentially bonding adventures.

Moreover, the pace of the course, regardless of your placement, takes you through each subject, committing to the idea of knowing a little bit about everything.  The professors in the program are extremely kind and excellent at teaching a foreign language, allowing us to indulge in off-topic tangents and slowly-formed inside jokes in our efforts to learn more.  Excursions to museums (Beaux-Arts), châteaus (Fougères is incredible!), the inspiration for the castle in the movie Tangled (Mont Saint-Michel), as well as a lesson in crêpe-making, are fantastic experiences.  I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting the cities and regions surrounding Rennes with my group.  Furthermore, taking day or weekend trips to Paris or other parts of France or Europe (B&Bs are amazing) are great opportunities to discover more subtleties in French accents as well as see historic sites such as the Eiffel Tower and the Musée d’Orsay.

Ensuite, the must-eats in Rennes include: galettes, any dessert with apples, and of course, baguettes!  I’ve found boulangeries to be pretty affordable (3 euros to 12 depending on what you get).  Normally, there are discounted prices for purchasing a meal, dessert, and drink together.  However, the food at the supermarkets has also been surprisingly good.  The boulangeries surrounding the school have all been great, and I highly recommend trying all the different cafés.  Keep in mind that I don’t like coffee, but I don’t mind the espressos where I’ve tried them.  Also, breakfast is pretty light for most students, eating some type of bread with confiture and water, tea, or coffee.  So, I’d highly recommend buying snacks such as protein bars for in-between classes in case you get peckish.  Pro tip: Take your group to eat lunch in the Parc du Thabor for beautiful scenery and sunshine, but don’t forget a beach blanket or jacket to sit on the grass.

Importantly, living abroad can get a bit overwhelming.  You know yourself best, but if you get overwhelmed, homesick, anxious, or other difficult emotions, know that it’s perfectly normal.  Know that you are not alone.  The program directors are really nice, as well as the professors, and they truly are there to help you.  Also, talk to people in your group because you are all sharing this unique experience. Two months will feel like all the time in the world until week six.  There’s a lot to do in Rennes, so sometimes, distracting yourself with fun local activities is a good thing!  Many people shop vintage stores, so there are a lot of great thrift stores, but also some beautiful boutiques. 

Finalement, packing for a study abroad can be tricky, but definitely bring any medications or anything you use at home if you get headaches, get sick, or other.  If you have a camera, I’d bring it.  A portable charger will come in clutch on the excursions, so invest in a good one. Sunscreen, good walking shoes, an umbrella, and anything you use regularly are also things I’d highly recommend bringing.  You can buy a lot of stuff here, but it’s not 100% guaranteed. 

So, overall, I’d say this has been a profound experience where I’ve been able to challenge myself in the best ways, and if you (like me) are taking too many credits and don’t have the time during the school year to go abroad, a summer abroad is perfect for you.

Emma Silver  

Westmont College

CIEE-Rennes Intensive French Language (Summer 2024)