My Experience as a Summer Alumni Intern in Rennes

When I first accepted the position of Summer Alumni Intern in Rennes, France, I was nervous because I wasn’t sure what to expect. I studied abroad in Rennes the year prior in the summer of 2024, and I had such an amazing experience in such a beautiful and lively city that I was excited to return to. 

Within my first few days of arriving in Rennes, I met the CIEE office staff, program leaders, and students who were all wonderful to talk to. The staff showed me the ropes of the office, where I typically worked Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a 2-hour lunch. When in the office, I posted Instagram posts to the CIEE-Rennes Instagram account, worked on weekly newsletters that were sent to the HSSA families, and wrote blog posts, such as this one. It was easy to befriend office staff, program assistants, and program leaders, so it made the experience so much easier. After 6 p.m., I was free to venture out into the city, specifically going to shops and eating at restaurants that I hadn’t been to before. I would often collaborate with the program leaders to make plans for after work and during the weekends. 

The first week consisted of student orientation and getting situated into a different environment. I had the amazing opportunity to watch the Bastille Day firework display in Rennes, celebrating France's biggest national holiday. Their firework show is like nothing I've ever seen before, and it is such a treat to watch!

At the end of the second week, I traveled solo to Vannes, where I discovered the beautiful ramparts, colorful half-timbered buildings, and quaint harbor! I had never been there before and had always heard it was a must-see when traveling to the Brittany region of France.

During my third weekend, I had the opportunity to join the HSSA Language & Culture students’ excursion to Mont Saint-Michel, where we saw the village and famous abbey, traversed the bay at low tide, and played in the quicksand.

Afterwards, a few program leaders and I travelled to Dinard, a beautiful city on the northern coast of Brittany! We enjoyed the fresh coastal breeze and amazing views of the water.

My fourth weekend was reserved for some last-minute site-seeing through Rennes and preparing for my flight home. Overall, doing this internship with CIEE-Rennes was such a great opportunity to use and improve my French in a work setting, help students, make friends (and connections), and explore!

Interested in gaining hands-on experience abroad while immersing yourself in local culture? Explore CIEE’s many high school-oriented opportunities and see how a program like this one could shape your own global journey.