The Perks of Being a Wanderer Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

For the first four days of the program in Iceland, we spent about four hours in a classroom at Reykjavik University learning from esteemed lecturers who had studied at some of the world's most prestigious universities. The lectures ranged in subject matter from energy economics to biofuels to geothermal energy. What marks the Green Program's teaching strategies as exceptional is their ability to integrate course material into our adventures outside the classroom. Following our lecture on geothermal energy, we were immediately taken to the largest geothermal power plant in Iceland and taken on a factory tour to see how this heat from our Earth's core is harnessed to provide electricity to the countries residents. This same style of comprehensive learning was used not only for our studies of geothermal energy, but also for hydropower, biofuels, wind turbines, and even energy economics. Throughout the program students work on putting together a brief capstone project which is to be presented to, not only students peers, but also many faculty members at Reykjavik University. Students are given almost complete creative freedom when it comes to project choice and given the opportunity to present to such an intelligent audience creates a real sense of accomplishment upon completing a successful presentation.

On-site administration of your program

The Green Program staff was far more interactive with students than I anticipated them to be. The staff members I worked with were all younger than 30, but don't let their age fool you. These mentors are all very knowledgeable in their respective fields and can provide a thorough explanation for even the most difficult questions. I sometimes found myself sitting near them during meals rather than my peers because of their magnetic personalities and fun-loving attitudes.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The quality of living experienced on this trip is far better than that of nearly all university students. Throughout the Iceland trip, students reside in three different locations. The first four nights are spent in a very spacious bed & breakfast style complex, in which students all sleep in their own 4-6 person cabins. Then students will camp in tents for two nights at the foot of a beautiful mountain ridge. Following this camping trip, students will then move to another cabin style housing arrangement, but this time the cabins are much larger and can fit as many as 10 people.

On the Green Program students are able to enjoy delicacies native to Iceland, things that one would rarely be exposed to in their home country. Not only was the quality of food extremely high, but there was always plenty for students to have seconds and even thirds.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Although my time in Iceland was limited to only two weeks, I felt as though I had gained as much from this country as physically possible in that time due to such a jam packed schedule. Every single day's itinerary includes some sort of exploration. Whether it be exploring caves, glaciers, going hiking, snorkeling, seeing one of the thousands of waterfall, swimming in geothermal spas, or being introduced to Icelandic culture, we were always moving. Although I am still far from considering myself a local, we were able to learn and experience a lot of how the people of Iceland live and how they perceive American culture.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

All of the mentors that were a part of the Green Program session I partook in were a part of Iceland's National Rescue Team. What more can I say?

I never felt threatened once while in Iceland, even outside the program while exploring on my own. The people of Iceland were very welcoming and inclusive.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

All foods and activity costs are accounted for in the upfront cost of the program. Things such as alcohol and souvenirs are the only items that are not provided by the Green Program

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

The Green Program taught us basic components of Icelandic, but since I failed to meet on local who didn't speak English it was not a requirement to have any grasp of the language.

Select all that apply

• Host Family
• Apartment
• Hostel

Select all that apply

• Americans
• International Students

Select all that apply

• Americans
• International Students

• Outdoor Adventure
• The Staff
• Freedom

• The number of students was too great for certain activities

The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer