A Day In My Life!

Welcome to a day in my life in Rennes, France! Different from my more routine college life in the States, each day in Rennes looks a little different for me, and includes various once-weekly commitments that together make my weeks here memorable and exciting!

I usually wake up a little bit before 7, which is when I actually need to get up and going! I get ready and prepare a light breakfast of toast and some sort of fruit to start my day. Next, I catch the bus which is conveniently located less than a block away from my homestay. On weekday mornings, the bus is usually full of school-aged kids, heading to different schools in the area. Their energy level is high for being before 8 am, but it helps me to perk up and prepare for my classes. I transfer to the metro line and head straight to the host institution building.

Because each class only meets once per week and is two hours long, my course schedule is a little different every day. I have anywhere from one to three classes, but have a relatively consistent start time of 8:30 am. My favorite courses are my two elective classes, on L’histoire de l’art contemporain and Le cinéma! After my morning classes, I hurry to get in line for lunch at the Cafétéria Universitaire. While the lines often extend out the door of the cafeteria, the wait is never too painful. Finding a seat is particularly challenging during this lunch rush, but possible, and I always look forward to the time to connect with students from my courses and other CIEE students.

After lunch, I have independent time, which I usually use to get a start on my homework! Though once weekly, I make my way to a local elementary school as a part of my English-teaching internship. Through my CIEE Teaching English as a Foreign Language course, I create weekly lessons on the English language, which I teach to a class of first graders. I have so much fun creating my own lessons and coming up with clever games and activities to support the students' learning. Best of all, I love being able to connect with the students and get a glimpse into a French elementary school.

If I have finished with my classes for the day, my favorite spot in Rennes to tackle my to-dos is hands-down Les Champs Libres, the city library. Les Champs Libres is nearly always open to the public and has a lot of open work and study space. On the higher floors, the huge windows look out to the city of Rennes and, rain or shine, give me a good view of the city. If my work for the day is not too extensive, I might head towards the Saint Anne city center to find a coffee shop. My favorite coffee shops in Rennes are Bluebird Coffee and Café 1802, both for their ambiance and selection of dairy-free milks (or lait végétal).

When I am done with my classes or personal study time for the day, I usually pick up some sort of treat or snack to hold me over before dinner! I have taken on the personal project of finding my favorite food spots around Rennes, and two months in, I have a slew of reliable spots to pick up a bite to eat. My favorite afternoon snack is a vegetarian spring roll I pick up around the city center or a warm pan au chocolat.

Once a week, I participate in a choir at the host institution where I work to prepare a showcase of French and English songs with a group of peers from the CIREFE community. On another day of the week, I head to a local retirement community to volunteer with the residents! Most of our activities include crafts and little games, and I love having the opportunity to get to know the residents.

After all of my courses and whatever activity I have for the day is over, I head back to my homestay and greet whichever dog my host family is currently taking care of. Before dinner, I either go for a run, watch a show, or read my book. Dinner time with my host family is one of my favorite parts of my day because I love getting to chat and hear about everyone’s days. Once a week, we have galette night, and I genuinely start looking forward to these galettes hours before dinner. Dinner always wraps with a little bit of bread and a choice of an assortment of cheese, which is something I will definitely miss doing when back in the States!

Megan HAAS

St. Olaf College

CIEE-Rennes Liberal Arts Spring 2026