Before I left my home in Tennessee I didn’t have many expectations about what Iceland would be like, except that it would be cold and icy. I was certainly right about that, but I have learned and experienced far more than I ever could have imagined in the short time I have spent here. It has only been three weeks, but it feels like so much more and the connections I have made are deeper than I ever thought would be possible. Our group is small, composed of only 7 individuals including myself. However, there are a lot of strong personalities that all seem to mesh well together. We have shared in deep conversations, laughter, and tears. We all support one another and listen to one another in a way that feels more like a family than a school group.
I have lived in Tennessee my whole life, and I never really realized how this impacted my perception. In this group, I am the only southerner, and I have really enjoyed learning about different cultures and ways of life. In addition to the wonderful friendships I have made within our group, I have established close friendships with some of the interns here that are from very different parts of the world. I have become particularly close to a girl from Germany and a guy from France that have opened my eyes to totally different cultures and ways of life. Despite slight language barriers, we can always find ways to connect to one another. I expected to be immersed in Icelandic culture while being surrounded by other Americans, and I have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of culture that exists around me. In addition to these close friendships, I have talked to many other people from all over the world, and I have learned something from each. Above all else, I am grateful for the relationships I have found in Iceland. Each and every person I have gotten to know will impact my outlook on life for the rest of my life, and I hope that these friendships will last equally as long. I came here in hopes of deepening my connection to nature and the world around me, which I have undoubtedly accomplished; however, I never could have foresaw the even deeper connections I have made to the people around me.