The Trip of a Lifetime Jammed into a Life-Changing, Awe-Inspiring 10 Days Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The lectures at Reykjavik University and the facility (hydroelectric and geothermal) tours were phenomenal - presented by experts in their respective fields, I found these aspects of the program quite informational. The behind-the-scenes access and in-depth knowledge were invaluable to my engineering background and the hands-on, immersion-like experiences are beyond comparison to any classroom setting.

On-site administration of your program

Our Icelandic guides mirrored the overall sentiment of everyone we met in Iceland. They were helpful, knowledgable guides that entertained us with their Icelandic customs and language, stories and jokes. As a whole, the people of Iceland are a warm, welcoming bunch, always up to share in a good laugh. Their passion and pride for the beautiful country they call home shines through in their enthusiasm as nature guides and teachers.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I enjoyed the variety of housing arrangements - We spent the first four nights in family-style housing units, 2-4 people to a room, with shared living room/deck areas. The next two nights we were "roughing" it, only in the sense that we were in camping in tents. 3 to a tent was a bit of a squeeze for the night, but it was worth if for the surrounding environmental escape. The next two nights were at a different farm house/hotel situation similar to earlier. Close quarters and very small bathrooms. While a bit more privacy would have been nice, one important benefit to all of the housing arrangements was that we were forced to socialize and get to know each other on a different level than I think we would've normally in just 10 days. By the end of the trip, I wouldn't have had it any other way because I feel as if I was able to connect with some really cool, intelligent, creative, and environmentally like-minded people that came to this program from all corners of the globe. The last night we stayed in a similar, yet different townhouse, farmhouse like accommodation. All of our residences were about a 40-60 min drive from Reykjavik, all with breathtakingly gorgeous surroundings.

As a vegetarian, I was a little worried about what my food options might be. While there were some repeat meals, the hospitality of the Icelandic people shines through in their food as well. There was never a shortage of good food and a decent veggie option was always provided. My favorite meals has to have been the soup and bread spread at Kjöt go Kúnst, a restaurant that uses geothermal energy to cook!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

My only complaint here is that I wish we had had more time to spend in the city of Reykjavik- on the last day, we were given a few hours to explore a portion of the city before leaving for the airport. However, we jammed so many unbelievable experiences into the other 98% of the time we were in Iceland that I feel as if I did see the real Iceland emerge in our adventures. The majority of Icelanders know english, so there was no language barrier and they are eager to meet and speak with you. Having the opportunity to learn more of the history of this truly unique country added another layer of enjoyment to my experience.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There was never a question of safety. We didn't get much time in the city, but I'm under the impression that by and large, there is very little crime or safety issues.

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

Once we were in the program's hands, there was no need to buy/spend much of anything. I chose to buy a few icelandic snacks/souvenirs here and there throughout the trip.

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• Other

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• Americans
• International Students

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• Americans
• International Students

• Feeling as if I was a part of the untouched beauty of nature that never ceased to amaze on the grandest of scales
• Snorkeling between tectonic plates and spelunking in the same day!
• A like-minded community of Icelanders and the GREEN program focused on the future of sustainability

• Organization/info in preparation of the trip