Living with a host family in Rennes : finding home abroad

Adjusting to a different style of life is overwhelming at first. In our home countries, we interact naturally with people every day. We speak our native language with ease. We walk the same route to school without consulting our GPS. We understand, communicate, and we crack jokes without thinking twice. This no longer the case when you’re immersed in a different language and culture. Suddenly, everything requires reflection. Instead of functioning in autopilot, you find yourself in a state of hyper-awareness. You are constantly left wondering if what you said made sense, if your pronunciation was correct, or if you correctly used the subjunctive (if you’re me, the answer is probably no).

When my host family picked me up shortly after arriving in Rennes, I remember feeling a bit paralyzed. There was so much I wanted to say to them, but I couldn’t quite express myself. When I did speak, I thought it sounded awkward. When I didn’t speak, I was worried I was being too boring. The next evening, I talked to my family about these challenges. My host mom reassured me that it’s normal to feel uncomfortable, and that this is a necessary part of the learning process. She gave me one piece of advice that really stuck with me: «Il faut oser» / “you have to dare”. I think about this often when I have an idea that I don’t think I can articulate quite right, or when I rehearse «Est-ce que je peux avoir un pain au chocolat, s’il vous plaît? » ten times in my head before finally asking the person behind the counter. Speaking another language takes courage, and yes, it feels clumsy at times. But making errors allows us to learn! If you don’t dare to express yourself and speak even when it feels unnatural, progress will feel slow.

Living with a host family means constant language immersion, experiencing a new way of life, and growing as a person along the way. If you want to grow, you need to dare. One of the most rewarding aspects of my study abroad experience so far is watching things get easier each and every day. After a few short weeks, I began to speak with more confidence, which allowed me to develop meaningful connections with my family. I can finally follow the conversation at dinner, and I no longer need to be prompted to chime in. Most importantly, I have developed relationships with my host family that I am sure will last. And even though I am so far away from everything that is familiar, there is some part of me that feels at home.

Adeline Johnson

St. Olaf College

CIEE-Rennes Liberal Arts Fall 2025