It has taken me a long time to tell you all this: I have severely underestimated the value of sunglasses and an eye mask. Living in Seattle there is little use for such things, but out here it is a completely different ballgame. One of the definitions for the arctic is that the sun does not set on the summer solstice, the longest day of … Continue reading Sunsets at Midnight
While abroad, I make it a point to eat food that I wouldn’t normally find back home. Sure, a pack of sour patch kids can be a welcome reminder, but while I have the opportunity I wouldn’t dare pass up the chance to try something new. That being said, I’ve found the Icelandic equivalent for sour patch kids, although they aren’t sour and they appear … Continue reading Salt to a Sweet Tooth: A Short Essay on Candy
I’ve often heard the phrase ‘be bold and start cold’ in my experiences backpacking. Here in Iceland, you usually have to start pretty dang cold! As soon as you get moving though, you generate far more body heat than is comfortable. By that same token, as soon as you stop moving you also lose all that heat. It’s a fine line to balance. Our first … Continue reading A Love Letter to Layering
“How long will you be staying?” A stocky Icelandic immigration official examines my passport intently. “Six weeks” I reply. “And what are you doing in Iceland?” She compares me to the photo. I pull down my mask and beam at her. “Studying abroad!” Iceland is a beautiful country. My first week was punctuated by volcanoes, lava fields, geysers, and waterfalls. It’s very challenging for me … Continue reading Of Geysers and Gyrfalcons
A good part of the fun in studying abroad seems to be in telling people where you will be going. The reactions I have garnered from a simple answer to the question, “What are you doing this summer?” assures me that I have made a solid choice. Of course, a couple sentences really offer no explanation of the weeks of planning and preparation that have … Continue reading From Homeland to Iceland
Redhawks Abroad 