Studio Apartment Living in Rennes

Why I chose to live in a studio apartment:

I had a difficult time deciding on housing for my two-month summer French intensive program in Rennes. I had heard so many great things about homestays, but I ended up choosing to live alone in a studio apartment because of the opportunities for more independent living and being able to grocery shop and cook for myself. I’d like to share some of my experiences living in an apartment that hopefully will help you decide which housing to choose or prepare you for staying in an apartment.

Food:

I have loved the opportunity to shop for French foods and local produce for myself. I typically eat a big breakfast (a combination of bread, cheese, eggs, ham, fruit, yogurt, juice, and tea) and lunch (usually pasta, a sandwich or baguette with butter, fruit, and veggies), and small dinner. Since there isn’t a refrigerator in our university’s building, I’ve been a little limited about what I can bring for lunch. I love trying new yogurts, cheese, bread, and more. The produce in the Carrefour has signs saying which country it’s from, and I love buying strawberries, raspberries, cheries, carrots, cucumbers, and more produce grown in France.

Cooking is a whole other situation. The kitchenette has a stove, small fridge with a mini freezer, microwave, lots of cabinets, and cooking supplies (2 small pots, 4 plates, forks, knives, spoons, 2 bowls, glasses, cutting board, etc.). However… the kitchen doesn’t actually have a prep area since it’s just the sink, drying area, and stove. This makes it very difficult to prepare and cook food if you want to do anything other than a microwave meal. I find myself very neat and I still find myself shuffling around things to find space. Now, this has been a frustration, but also a great opportunity to work on my problem solving and creativity! Who knew you could use a plate as a pot lid or put cooked pasta in a cupboard while you make the sauce! This situation definitely keeps me on my toes, but I enjoy the challenge.

Location:

The apartment building is a fabulous location. It is right next to a Carrefour City (grocery store) open seven days a week, a cute bakery, a pharmacy, a couple cafés/bars, and right across from the metro station. It takes me 10 minutes to get to class every morning compared to 15-45 minutes for my other program friends. The apartment is one metro stop from the center of town, so it has great access to cafés, stores, and more. Even as a woman walking around alone, I feel safe and comfortable in the neighborhood.

Community:

I was originally nervous about being isolated since I am the only one in my program living alone (everyone else has host families). However, often we do activities together or just hang out after class. However, since people live fairly far from each other, it can be difficult to meet up. Sometimes I find myself with a lot of extra free time while my friends are spending dinners or weekends with their host families. On the other hand, this gives me a good opportunity to work on exploring alone, call my friends and family back home, or read a book I bought in French.

I always bring a packed lunch, but I usually eat lunch with my friends two or three times a week as we often sit together in a park or in the town square. However, most of my friends buy their lunches every day, and sometimes they sit down in a restaurant to eat. This means that sometimes I eat lunch alone. Often, I will meet up with them afterward, though.

Learning French:

I think the only major drawback for me has been having less opportunities to learn about the language and culture than my peers. However, through talking to my program friends, I have learned about their experiences and what their host families have taught them. As well, I have so many opportunities to practice my French in real world experiences such as when I go grocery shopping (which is practically every day since it’s so convenient).

Overall thoughts:

If I did this program again, I really don’t know whether I would choose to live in a studio apartment or with a host family. I think it really depends on what you want to get out of the program. Both have great benefits and some drawbacks. Living in an apartment has been at times isolating and FOMO-inducing, but I have also grown so much in my independence. I get to have a life rhythm similar to people who live here. I get to see the same cashier at the supermarket and lean out my window to hear the sounds of the neighborhood. At the end of the day, either way you’re living in France. I have never had more opportunities to go out of my comfort zone, grow in my self-confidence, and learn French in daily life. Whichever housing you choose, you will certainly learn and grow. 

Bonne chance pour vos voyages et vos études !

Laura Bea

Hope College | Holland, MI

CIEE-Rennes Summer Intensive French Language