1. The Community—The people of Sólheimar have been warm and
welcoming to us newcomers from day one. It’s been great getting to know them
over lunch and at the numerous community events. In addition to the homepeople
and staff, we’ve also had the chance to meet long-term volunteers and interns
who come from all over the world! I have never lived with such a diverse and
tight-knit group of people, and it truly is a wonderful experience.
2. The Food—Bread from the bakery, veggies from the
greenhouse, lunches in the community canteen, and cooking dinners with the
group…it’s all been so delicious. I’m learning lots of new recipes and enjoying
higher quality and more nutritious foods. I’m hoping to learn more about the
greenhouse and agriculture while I’m here!
3. The Pace—Each day that we’ve been here has felt like a
full day, in a very good way. We are doing lots of different things, but it has
been very low-stress. I feel like I have time for the coursework, meeting
people and exploring, and personal time. Every day is a good mix, and I usually
go to bed wondering how we managed to fit so many great things into one day.
4. The Coursework—We’ve only been here for two and a half
weeks, but already we’ve gone on a four-day hiking trip, visited Reykjavik,
been to a sheep round-up, started learning Icelandic, picked potatoes at an
organic farm, read and discussed interesting articles, met an author/activist
and a geologist, watched a few documentaries, and visited a geothermal power
plant. Plenty of hands-on learning coupled with very interesting and relevant ‘typical’
classroom work. We’re only just getting started, but we’ve learned so much
already!
5. The Group—Our CELL group is full of positive energy and
eagerness to learn. I’m really enjoying getting to know everyone and learning
from them. And we are very lucky to have such great instructors! It’s going to
be a great semester with a solid group of people.
6. The Socks—Back at school in Minnesota, I prefer to go
shoe-less when indoors, be it the campus center or music building. In
Sólheimar, everyone takes off their shoes when they enter a building, even the
canteen. It is great. It’s a small thing, but it makes me feel more at home.
7. The Adventure—This is my first time abroad, and my first
time travelling alone. This is such a beautiful country to explore, there’s
something about the Icelandic landscapes that creates a sense of adventure and
a deep history. We’ve been doing plenty of travelling and having such unique
experiences…I don’t remember the last time I felt bored. I feel very lucky to
be here and to experience it with the people that are here with me, I’m sure it
won’t be easy going home.
-Katie
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