After being in Iceland for 2 weeks, I can firmly say that I am so grateful that I was able to come here but very ready to come home. There is nothing wrong with the country (unless you hate cold, wet, and windy weather) and the scenery is truly breathtaking. There is nowhere in the United States where you can see the things that are in Iceland. From black sand beaches to volcanoes to glaciers to the many waterfalls we’ve seen, there is beauty everywhere in this country. Without coming on this trip, I would have never been able to see these things.
I learned a lot through this program as well. We visited many companies including a power company, a sustainable tomato farm, and even the Blue Lagoon. Geothermal energy powers everything on this island nation, and several clever businesses have learned how to harness that to be friendly to the environment and produce a profit as well. Local Icelanders seem to either be in love with the country or hate it, not much middle ground. Those who do love it praise the beauty of the place while those who don’t emphasize the negative impact the lack of daylight has on mental health during the winter.
I had not really considered how sustainable Iceland was before coming here, so that was awesome to see coming from a place that prioritizes the economy over the environment in the United States. I was correct when picking this location because of the beauty of the land, as I am not sure I’ve ever been to a place as beautiful as this one. There is not a lot to do outside of seeing the natural landscape, so I am glad that this trip was only 2 weeks. Overall, this trip was very productive for me, and a great way to recharge after a tough spring semester.