Today
I landed in Reykjavík, Iceland, to begin my adventure into the land of fire and
ice. This was the first time that I have been off the continental North
America, so I was filled with excitement and slight anxiety. We landed in a place
that looked like the moon: barren and rocky. But, somehow life sustains here.
You
may be wondering why I am here. Other than the cool geology and intriguing folklore,
I am here on a mission. Over the next 10 days, I will be participating in the
GREEN Program (Global Renewable Energy Education Network) with about 30 or so
other student. We will gain exposure to Iceland’s renewable energy and
sustainability systems, as well as complete a “capstone” project, a business
model for some form of sustainability.
The
program officially begins tomorrow, so in order to burn off some jetlag, a few
of us explored Reykjavík. We got to see the famous church, Hallgrímskirkja, and
the statue of Leif Erikson out front. There
is an interesting juncture of traditional Icelandic culture and modern/western
influences. You may be walking by cafés and shops with puffins and Icelandic wool
sweaters, and then come across a Dunkin Donuts or Chuck Norris Bar. It makes
you shake your head a bit in amusement. I must say, though, the food here is
wonderful. Mushroom soup is very satisfying!
Flying into Keflavík, Iceland
Hallgrímskirkja and Leif Erikson
Fusion of cultures
Great soup!
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