I'm finally back on my favorite rock, aka Oahu, aka Home, and now more than ever, I am so glad to call this place where I belong.
It feels so nice sleeping in my own bed again, showering in my own bathtub, not having to wear the same 4 sweaters that I've had with me for the past five months, and to see my family, friends, coworkers, and dogs again. My study abroad experience is not at all what I hoped it would be, but it was a great experience nonetheless, and for anyone who wants to study abroad at the Rennes School of Business... don't. HAHA. jk. but not really. Okay, it was a good school, but I can't fully recommend it to anyone. But, if you have your heart set on studying in the beautiful city of Rennes, home to the crepes, galettes, and kouign amann, here are a few tips: 1. Start your process as soon as you get your acceptance letter. I started my housing search and visa applications 5 months before the beginning of the term, and it was still not enough time. In order to get your visa, you need a housing certificate, but finding a suitable home, and a landlord who was willing to let me stay for such a short amount of time was EXTREMELY difficult. 2. Do NOT find housing through STUDAPART. The ESC Rennes School of Business partners with a student housing platform called Studapart, to help students find housing. However, unless you pay the premium €100+ fees on top of the €179 booking fees, your chances of finding an accommodation are little to none. I paid for my home two months before I left for France, but the housing platform messed up, and I was homeless for a week. They didn't do a background check on the accommodation they proposed after their initial mess up, and as a result, I was stuck in a home with a violent, mentally unstable man who physically and mentally abused his wife, invaded my personal sleeping space, had a gambling problem, and scammed me out of over €1,000. Furthermore, the platform didn't claim any responsibility for placing me in this accommodation, and refused to provide help. 3. Join the Facebook Groups and contact local agents Most people that had good homes during their time in Rennes told me that they didn't find their accommodation through STUDAPART, but rather saw ads in the RSB Facebook Groups, or contacted French agents, or heard from their upperclassman about open residences. Whoo is one of the nicest student residences that I've seen during my time in Rennes. It's a little on the expensive side, but you get your own room, wifi, a study area, laundry services, and gym in safe areas near the school. Carre Malo - my friend lived in this residence last semester and loved it, plus it's close to the school. They told me they don't accommodate students studying for less than 6 months, which I found strange, since my friend did the same semester program as me, but try reaching out to them as soon as you get your acceptance letter, and maybe they'll have spaces open. Airbnb - If you're studying abroad with friends, renting a house or unit on Airbnb is also an option. My five Indian friends all pitched in for an Airbnb, giving them the freedom to have their own living space on their terms. 4. Get a KorriGo card The KorriGo card is a public transportation pass that you can use for metros and busses in Rennes. You can get it at the Villejean metro stop or the Gare metro stop. You can purchase it by number of tickets (10, 30, 80, etc.) or by month, and this saves you from having to purchase a new ticket every time, and can save you quite a lot if you'll be studying for four months. 5. Reach out to people Studying abroad can get lonely, and if you let your sadness consume you, you lose. Don't forget that you have amazing friends and family back at home, and your friends in your new country also want the best for you! Don't be afraid to reach out to your school or UH. 6. Look for (Free) Events So many of my best memories came from events that I found on Facebook or flyers or billboard ads. There's a farmers market every Saturday at the Place des Lices in the city center, and I've made it my weekly activity - so much that some vendors started to remember me and give me free stuff! Every first Sunday of the month, there's a food truck festival at the Marche la Criee, and the Museum of Bretagne and FRAC museum of contemporary art have free admission.
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