Interesting, unexpected experiences in Rennes

I always knew that visiting a foreign country included culture shock. I love learning about new traditions and cultures, so I was ready to step out of my comfort zone. I also knew that my time away from the United States would change my perspective on myself and the world around me. When preparing for this CIEE program in Rennes, I hoped that I would have experiences that would cause me to make changes to my life at home. Now that I am near the end of my time in France, I can say that I definitely learned a lot. I learned through my professors in class and my host family in daily situations. I also experienced a lot of culture shock because every minute I stayed in France, I was out of my comfort zone. 

I encountered various food habits, such as eating cheese and butter with almost every meal, taking only one bottle of water from its packaging at grocery stores, and the sun setting at 10:00 PM. However, the thing that shocked me the most was the hour-long lunch break during the school day. I had heard of lunch breaks in France being 1-2 hours for students in high school, but I did not expect the same for college students. I thought we would have 3 courses a day and only have time to eat a late lunch afterward. In the United States, it is common for college students to have short breaks in between classes. So they do not have time for more than a coffee and a small pastry that is often brought to their next class or job. 

Even though having a longer lunch break seems like a small difference, it had an incredible effect on my day. It was a great time to meet my classmates. At the beginning of the program, we introduced ourselves and did activities together, but we still felt like strangers. Our lunch breaks built the foundation for us to truly know each other. During that hour, my classmates and I had time to sit at a restaurant (Crêperie Sainte-Anne), talk, and eat together. Sometimes, we would choose small meals and walk around the center of Rennes so we could familiarize ourselves with the roads around our school. I firmly believe that the lunch breaks between classes contributed to the friendships I have with each of my classmates. 

The longer lunch breaks were great for my mentality as well. Sometimes I would be very tired in the morning. I had a few problems with public transport and difficulty with the time zones when I first arrived in France. So showing up tired and having to sit in class for a couple of hours was not ideal, but when it was time for lunch, I could eat lunch and rest for the remainder of the break. I had a chance to walk around and get fresh air before attending the last class of the day.

Recently, I reflected on my time in France and myself. In the United States, I was used to moving at a fast pace and feeling the day pass me by. I found that I have created wonderful relationships with my classmates, teachers, and host family that I want to keep. These are relationships that I would have never formed if I hadn't allowed myself to relax. By letting myself experience life to its fullest potential, I no longer felt like I was in a rush to finish my day. I have amazing people in my life and a new approach to living that I will never forget, all because of 1 extra hour of free time.

I guess I was really hungry.

Sharmayne Gambrel 

Rochester Institute of Technology

CIEE-Rennes Summer Intensive French Language