Rennes is the capital of Bretagne in France and has been my home for the past five months. Complete with its share of charming half-timbered houses from the middle ages, carefully manicured parks, sidewalks speckled with dog-dropping landmines, the aromas of boulangeries and crêperies, open air markets, and enough bars in the city for every staff and faculty member at Agnes to own at least two, Rennes is the perfect city to spend a year abroad. More importantly, with around 60,000 students at its different universities, Rennes has something for everyone as far as student life goes.

Ever since arriving in France last September, I’ve been on a rollercoaster of emotion related to my study abroad experience. Doubting the decision to stay for two semesters (shout out to my Scottie ladies – sorry you haven’t met me yet 2015), I often got on Skype with my parents with tears that welled from the back of my eyes and eventually became the snot-nosey sobbing that makes me nostalgic for my moody Dashboard Confessional years.