Although Spring break fast approaches, I find myself heading toward even colder weather. I recently applied and was accepted for a study abroad trip to Iceland for about a week over Spring break. As someone who has been to a total of two countries, it still doesn’t feel real. Even back in the Fall, I was asked “Are you excited for Iceland?” to which I replied “No, it’s several months away” as if I could use time as an excuse. But now that Iceland is just a few weeks away, I can confidently say that yes, I am excited to go. While it still feels unreal, the excitement has finally kicked in. And while I understand that the assignment given to me is asking for something that I am most excited about, I couldn’t pick just 1. So, I made a list (in no particular order):
- I am excited to see different kinds of animals in Iceland
- Whether it’s wildlife or livestock, I love seeing animals out in public (my cover picture is of me and a bunny). I am really hoping to see the puffins. Obviously here in Pennsylvania we don’t have any Puffins. These birds are incredibly unique. They can fly well, but have to flap their wings very fast to do so, and I find that fascinating. A few other creatures I’m excited to hopefully see include the arctic fox and the icelandic horse. Both of these creatures seem beautiful in pictures, and I’d love to see them in person. With that, I will be over the moon when we visit the Perlan museum.
- I can’t wait to see the scenery
- As both a cynic and a skeptic, I typically think nature is overrated. I see pictures and feel nothing, so that doesn’t motivate me to travel. But I do a complete 180 once I’m actually there. The landscape looks incredible in pictures. Also, I have only seen one waterfall in person before (in Ohio so it doesn’t count). So even if we visit multiple times, it will never get old to me. Iceland has beautiful feats of nature that I will never see anywhere else. From the black sand beaches to the glaciers, Iceland has many unique sites.
- I genuinely can’t wait to see the geothermal power plant
- One of the things I am most excited for on this trip is visiting the geothermal power plant. I think their ability to transfer hot water to neighboring cities is really fascinating, and I’d like to learn more about the insulation involved. I’m also looking forward to the professional setting in general. I can’t wait to see the power generation turbines in action and hopefully gain a deeper understanding of the engineering and math behind it. As someone passionate about engineering and math, this will forever influence my perspective on both the professional industry and my career. I’m hoping to gain valuable life experiences from visiting.
Swanson School of Engineering 