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| Home / College Guide / The Adventure Continues |
| Posted on Thursday, August 22 @ 00:00:08 PDT |
“If it excites you and scares you, then you should probably do itâ€
Well, the dream I had dreamed long ago came true and everything was set to work smoothly. My housing was figured out, I had a friend for the first day, I was excited about the classes, and I loved the country I was moving to. But no matter how much I told myself how prepared and ready I was for this new adventure, the courage that I once had was gone. The voice in my head kept saying, “You can’t do this.â€
Taking a quick picture of Eyjafjallajökull (Ay-yah fiat-la yo-koot-la) which translates to Island Mountain Glacier. This name makes sense as the volcano is also a glacier causing for unique eruptions like the one in 2010.
It’s been over a month since I’ve moved here to ReykjavÃk, Iceland and I am loving it. The people, the excursions, the food, the culture. But how did I get from my state of defeat to this utter joy I feel now? For that let me update you on the past month.
Family photo at the Seljalandsfoss waterfall which is next to Þórsmörk.
July 10th the journey started when my family and I left America to enjoy some Icelandic adventures around the South and Southwest region of the country.
There were places that I had seen before, but there were still some that were brand new to me. And while I’d love to go through each day individually, this post might get a little too long for most audiences. Well, excluding my mother who would absolutely read every. single. word. (insert my mother pumping her fist and saying “YES SWEETIE!â€) But given that she was on the trip with me, instead, I will make a list of the places we went and put a star as to where I had been before. If you aren’t interested in the nitty-gritty, please skip to the picture with my disappointed face below.
Day 1: Golden Circle Þingvellir (Thing-vah-leer) This is where you can truly see how the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are moving apart. It also marks where they started the national Parliament in 930 AD and has served as a cultural and historical site since. Laugarvatn A city between Þingvellir and Geysir that is home to Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths which draws water from the hot spots beneath the ground Geysir (Gay-zear)* Similar to what you would see in Yellowstone National Park in the US, these geysers erupt at differing times from every 25 years to every 5 minutes.
Here is a video to learn about how geysers work ( How Does A Geyser Work? ) Gullfoss (Goal-fahss)* Shaped like a three-step staircase, this waterfall moves massive amounts of water making it the largest volume fall in Europe. Around the beginning of the 20th century, there was speculation that the waterfall could be used to generate electricity. However, due to lack of money and support the project was never put into action and is now protected by the Icelandic government. Day 2: Sólheimajökull* This glacier is a small part of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier and is placed in between the volcanoes Katla and Eyjafjallajökull. The glacier is melting at an alarming rate due to increased temperatures. Here is a video to show the melting in time-laps ( Solheimajokull Retreats ). VÃk This city sits close to the Mýrdalsjökull glacier and has a future threat of intense flooding caused by the impending eruption of Katla (which is not too far from the city as well). Katla erupts around every 100 years and hasn’t erupted since 1918 Black Sand Beach There are multiple black sandy beaches in Iceland but the one we visited was Reynisfjara Beach. This spot contains unique rock formations such as the basalt columns similar to those seen at Giant’s Causeway.
Here’s a video to learn more about it ( Basalt Columns ). Skógafoss* Located on the other side of Eyjafjallajökull, this waterfall is one of the most famous in Iceland. There is a legend that the first Viking settler Þrasi Þórólfsson buried a treasure behind the waterfall. Day 3: Nauthúsagil This hidden waterfall is near Þórsmörk contains glacier runoff water as do all of the streams in Iceland. This makes it totally fine to fill up your water bottle in the stream. (Don’t freak out, I haven’t died…yet) Þórsmörk* Named Thor’s valley, this area provides pristine views of the neighboring volcanoes and glaciers. When Eyjafjallajökull erupted, this land was flooded but has since grown back. Gljúfrabúi Another hidden waterfall right next to Seljandsfoss which is great for pictures. Seljalandsfoss This waterfall is really cool because you are able to walk behind it and take a picture from underneath it. Just be sure to bring a good rain jacket. Day 4: Strandarkirkja On the coast in Selvogur, this church is a beacon for all those traveling at sea. Many miracles have been associated with this church which eventually made it one of the richest churches in Iceland despite it being so small in size.
Grindavik A city on the coast and not far from the Blue Lagoon, here you can find good fish meals and amazing views. KrýsuvÃk A prime example of geothermal activity in action, the hot spots here are so high in temperature that the mud boils releasing sulfur gas. Reykjavik* This is the capital and most populated city in Iceland but most notably, my new home. Day 5: (repeat day) A repeat of Golden Circle Kerið This is a volcano crater that is dormant and makes for an excellent photo with the vibrant colors. Blue Lagoon One of the more popular spots in Iceland, this geothermal spa has healing effects and is great for your skin. You should really learn more about how the lagoon is formed so here’s another video ( Blue Lagoon ) Day 6 – 13: (I won’t give descriptions for these but look these up!) Harpa Church of HallgrÃmur Whales of Iceland The Settlement Exhibition Perlan (THIS IS AMAZING!) Sun Voyager Volcano House Aurora Reykjavik
AH! You have finally arrived at my disappointed face which means now I get to answer all the fun questions I know you’re asking.
How are you doing? I’m doing well. Thank you for asking. Haven’t fallen off a cliff or blown away yet so those are all pluses.
But in reality, I feel that to answer this question you should really read through everything after this to gain a better understanding of where I’m at.
Taken from the top dome of the Perlan which is a museum all about Iceland’s geological and natural history.
What are you studying at Reykjavik University? I just graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Environmental Engineering and a minor in Sustainability. Now, I am doing my masters in Sustainable Energy Engineering. But what does that mean? Basically, it means that I’m looking at renewable energies and how they work. I’m learning more about how they operate and how to increase the efficiency of the system. This year I’ll be taking courses on various subjects and then next year I’ll be working on my thesis. (I’m fine…everything’s fine)
The freshman class at Reykjavik University which includes exchange students and masters students. I am kind of hidden and hard to find so just play Where’s Waldo and I’ll tell you if you’re right.
What classes are you taking this semester? Recently, I just finished my first course which was Field School which started on July 22nd and was just for first-year masters students.
For this class, we learned the basics of each renewable energy sources here in Iceland and completed two presentations. The first presentation was about the country (or state) you come from and its energy production and consumption. (See link here ) The second presentation was on an energy solution and my group looked at reusing old car batteries. The best part of this course was that we went on three super fun excursions around Iceland.
At the ON Geothermal Power Plant which draws energy from the Hengill volcano.
Right now, I am taking 6 courses this semester but I’m not taking them all at the same time. Some start later and one of them is a 3-week course that doesn’t happen until November. Here is a list of the classes I’m taking:
Energy Technology Energy Economics Linear Dynamical Systems Research Methods Specialized Engineering Materials Environmental Impact Assessment
So what did you do on your excursions? The first excursion was all about geothermal hot spots. We traveled to KrýsuvÃk to see some hot spots then took a tour of Svartsengi Power Station which provides water to the Blue Lagoon. We got lunch in Grindavik and observed Gunnuhver, a geothermal hot spot that literally spews water.
We then got to do some fun hiking around Reykjanestá which provided beautiful views of the coast and cliffs that I definitely didn’t go to the edge of and take pictures to scare my mom.
A group picture that I literally RAN to be in on the first excursion.
The second excursion pertained to geothermal power plants. We visited the ON Geothermal Plant and learned about how they are starting an algal farm there to produce sustainable food . Then, we hiked the Hengill volcano area which had breathtaking views but maybe took many nats flying around. I may or may not have fallen 3.1 times while hiking. The jury’s still out there.
Before the start of the hike down into the Hengill volcano valley full of hot spots and pristine nature.
The third excursion was about hydropower plants and wind farms. This trip was 3 days which meant overnighting in the highlands of Iceland. The first day we participated in a reforestation project near Hveragerði, visited Þingvellir once more, then stopped by Ljósafossstöð (a hydropower plant). The second day we went to the Lava Museum, learned about research being down on local streams near Hvolsvöllur, saw the placement of a proposed wind project, and hiked around Þjóðveldisbær, Gjáin, and HáÃfoss.
I honestly had never been so happy as I was hiking around those three areas. The third day we drove to Landmannalaugar (which has the most popular backpacking trail in Iceland), explored the highlands and visited Sólheimajökull glacier once more.
Happy bee planting trees! Looking at wind farms. I fell mom! Just kidding. A hike in the highlands.
What’s unique about this program in Iceland? I mean why did you move? The best answer to this question is told through a story so settle in. If you didn’t know, I went to Iceland in Spring 2016 with the GREEN Program on a whim to learn more about renewable energy and sustainability. While there, we took classes at Reykjavik University and I fell in love. I loved the country, I loved the classes, I loved the school, and I knew I had to come back. They shared information about their graduate programs and so I set my goal on returning. As I got more into my major at college, I realized I wanted to work in the renewable energy field but I didn’t know which renewable energy I wanted to study. This became a determining factor in choosing Reykjavik University. While most graduate schools only looked at one type of renewable energy, this university provided a broader scope.
This would allow me to truly learn about all the different types of renewable energy so I could find which one I really liked.
Having a little too much fun on the Hengill volcano hike with my friend Keith.
How’s the weather in Iceland? Well, currently the weather is quite enjoyable. It’s been in the 50s (˚F) almost every day with only a couple rainy days. I like to think of this as late fall weather in Nebraska. When the sun is out it gets hotter here and by hotter I mean it gets up to 65˚F. While this might not be alarming to non-Icelanders, this is concerning for Iceland as it is considered a heat-wave here. This heat-wave has ultimately caused the demise on a glacier in Iceland which has been all over the Iceland news the past few weeks. Winter is just around the corner and with that comes strong winds and snow. Updates to come on this kind of weather but I’ve heard it doesn’t get below 0˚F so bless.
The Öxaráfoss waterfall in Þingvellir National Park.
What is it like having sunlight for 24 hours? If you don’t know, during the summer months there are practically 24 hours of light. While, at first, I thought this would be difficult to get used to, it actually hasn’t been too bad.
Most places offer blackout shades or eyemasks to block out the light. Something else I discovered was that you still get tired at the same time. So put away your thoughts that you’d never want to sleep, it’s a lie. And already, the sun has been setting earlier and earlier. When my parents left on July 22nd, it was light all the time but now it starts to get dark around 10pm.
This was what it looked like at 12:30am one night as I was walking home.
So then is it dark all the time in the winter? HOW WILL YOU LIVE?! I’ve read that there are only like 3 hours of light in the winter so pray for me. I’ve been told that despite there being no sun, people still go about their business as usual including working, swimming, and eating ice cream. So I think I’ll survive, although I’ve been told I need to invest in a sunlight lamp to help with getting up in the morning.
I was enjoying Lava Soup until my dear siblings decided it tasted amazing as well.
What do people speak there? Do most people speak English? The language here is Icelandic but most people are willing to speak English. And I can hear the follow-up question from the back: am I learning Icelandic? Short answer: no.
However, I am trying to at least learn how to pronounce words here. So far, I have officially succeeded in saying thank you (Tak) and correctly pronouncing the name of the volcano that exploded in 2010, Eyjafjallajökull. ( I’m doing better than these people )
The Fem Fam (Female Family) of the graduate program as there are only 8 of us out of the 30.
What else have you been up to? With school having started, I haven’t done much adventuring around Iceland recently but I’ve been trying to get acquainted with my new city. My friends and I have gone swimming, enjoying some nights at the bars, had some movie nights, and, surprisingly, made some Ikea and Costco trips. Why you may ask? Ikea food is CHEAP and I’m poor. I did get to go to an Ed Sheeran concert which was AMAZING and also got to experience the Pride Parade and Concert downtown.
Picture taken before the Ed Sheeran concert started. The main road was just painted rainbow.
How is your living situation? Oh boy! Since I wasn’t allowed to move into my house until August 8th, I had to find other living accommodations from July 22nd to August 8th. From July 22nd to July 31st, I was living in Loft Hostel with six roommates and then, from July 31st to August 8th, I was living in Kex hostel with five roommates.
Does that sound hectic and crazy? Yeah, it was. While it wasn’t horrible, it wasn’t ideal. I was constantly sharing my space, I was never alone, I had nowhere to store food, I could only have limited items with me, and I felt very out of my element. The worst bit was when two roommates came back and were throwing up in the bathroom from being too drunk. At that point, I wanted to cry and call my mom but I couldn’t do either since I was surrounded by 6 other women who were trying to sleep.
At the Sólheimajökull glacier which is melting at an alarming rate.
HOWEVER, if I’ve learned one thing here, it’s that people are insanely nice and willing to help. Thankfully I made a friend (Rachel) before I moved into the hostel and she offered to store my suitcases for the 2.5 weeks. Additionally, while I was living in the hostels, I can’t even tell you the number of times I was offered food, warm hugs, a place to hang out, and venting rights. And when the day came to move into my house, my friends helped move me in including putting away my clothes for me. I can’t say thank you enough for their kindness and positivity through it all.
A little going away party for our friend Peter from Australia.
Of course, we had to take a picture to mark the occasion.
My living situation now is a lot better. I’m living with 5 other women in a house near downtown. My room has a king-size bed (yes, you heard me right) which is all I have ever dreamed of. Let’s just say that now all my friends want to come over here for movie nights because we can ALL fit on my bed.
Movie night in my king-size bed is so much better with friends.
Are there any Vikings there? um……depends on who you ask.
I may be a Viking, I may be an elf. I honestly don’t know after viewing this photo.
What about the elves? Are they a real thing? Yes. Hahaha! There are a bunch of legends and stories pertaining to the elves of Iceland. They are embedded in the culture so much that they even build random houses for them. Also, there’s even an elf negotiator. Don’t believe me?
I’m not joking about the tiny elf houses. They are a real thing!
So really, Tenley, how are you doing? Coming back to this question, I’d say I’m doing great. Once my living situation improved and I found my groove, I’m a lot more comfortable with where I’m at. I knew this was scary when I signed up but I knew I had to push myself or nothing would change.
But the main reason I’m doing better now is not due to anything I did, but what everyone around me did. The people who have friended me on Facebook “in case I need anythingâ€, who have offered a helping hand, who have listened with an open heart, who have FaceTimed me often, and who have supported me every day: they are the reason I’m doing great. Thank you. I’m so happy with where I’m at now and I can’t wait to see what the next month brings.
Photo by Iznat Images
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