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, which keeps my weeks interesting and memorable.

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 in the kitchen with my host mom. I usually have some 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 and volume loud for being before 8 am, but it helps me to wake up and get in the mentality for my classes. I transfer to the metro line and head straight to my classes.

Because each class only meets once per week and is each 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! The windows in the host institution building are partially stained, and I love how on sunny mornings, rays of pink and red light are cast into the classrooms.

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. The price for a full meal (including a different dessert every day) is less than four euros. 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 can use for my schoolwork, studying, or any other personal work that needs tending to. If I have another class after lunch, I will head to the Bibliothèque Universitaire, where I like to cozy up next to a big window and tackle my to-dos. Though I prefer the city library, Les Champs Libres, which is nearly always open to the public and has a lot of open work and study space. On the higher floors of Les Champs Libres, 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 at the bakery by my homestay.

At the end of my day, 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.

My irregular commitments during the week include teaching an English lesson to a class of first graders, volunteering at a local retirement home, singing in the host institution choir, and spending a night on the town with my friends on student night. What is consistent, however, is that each day has a different pocket of fun and connection to look forward to!

Megan HAAS

St. Olaf College

CIEE-Rennes Liberal Arts Spring 2026