Inspirational first trip abroad full of education, exploration and new friends Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The combination of minimal classroom work, multiple renewable energy facility site-visits, and a culminating capstone project succeeded in packing a lot of information into a short trip. There's also something for everyone -- all of the education was focused on sustainability, but each lecture we saw seemed to take a different perspective (politics, entrepreneurship, engineering, and geology, to name a few).

On-site administration of your program

Both of our guides for the trip as well as everyone we heard lectures from lived and worked in Iceland, so we were exposed to local language and customs as well as "insider" spots away from the well-beaten tourist paths. The combination of activities was also well planned, with a good balance of physical and intellectual exploration.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We stayed in multiple guest houses as well as a campground in the highlands. The guest houses were impeccable (good showers, good pillows, very clean), and the campground had running water and outdoor grills to cook on.

Pros: With the exception of snacks and beverages, all of the meals on this trip are included in the cost of the program package. The guides took us to a selection of local haunts (including a geothermal brewery/pizza shop!) and worked with the guesthouses to arrange meals, and they did not dissapoint. Cons: grocery stores and bars seem quite expensive if you're used to living in the U.S. (and I live in the Bay Area, which is expensive enough!)

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The guides did an excellent job of steering us away from touristy joints, and we met a lot of incredibly welcoming people. English is spoken frequently in Iceland, and although it will peg you as a foreigner that makes it easier to find your way around and ask questions.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't need any additional vaccines, but The GREEN Program requires you to obtain travel insurance (it's relatively inexpensive).

We didn't encounter any incidents at all, and from what the guides told us it seems that Iceland is an incredibly safe place.

The GREEN Program has several different locations with similar sustainability-oriented trips, and I would love to explore some of those places as well! However, I think Iceland was a good choice for my first trip abroad -- it's stunning and friendly.

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

Because meals were included in the program package, hypothetically you could attend this program without spending any additional money. However, there were plentiful opportunities to visit stores for food, drinks, or whatever else you might fancy, and Iceland is an expensive country relative to the United States.

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• Other
• Hostel

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• Americans
• International Students
• Other

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• Americans
• International Students

• sharing life wisdom with locals and fellow students
• seeing first-hand the impacts of climate change and discussing solutions with like-minded people
• excellent work/play balance

• it could be a few days longer
• having individual group advisors for the capstone project would have been helpful
• the group was a little bit too large to be hiking together (in my opinion)

The Avid Adventurer