Today, May 12, 2016, we were "warmly" welcomed to Iceland by both the not-so freezing temperature and the hospitality of the hostile at which we will be spending the next few nights. I wasn't quite sure what to expect as we walked out of the airport and into our vintage, but most unique form of transportation known as our bus! However, I was pleasantly surprised by the windy, but manageable weather that we were able to experience today.
As we were cruising along in our bus, one of the first features of Reykjavik that striked my interest was the unique architecture. The buildings were unlike anything I have ever seen before, with the vast amounts of colors and buildings types! In certain areas of the city, smaller houses of a large variety of colors were built in close proximity to each other, while in other areas, large apartment buildings could be seen that reminded me of what I picture the future to look like. These apartments were primarily white, with large windows to allow maximal light to enter, and built in perfect, symmetrical shapes that showed a little perfectionism. What grabbed my attention eve more was the beauty of the inside of the houses that cannot be seen from just looking at the outsides of these buildings. It appears to me, that the people of Iceland take great pride in the furnishings and decor of the house because from the two that I was able to see, I was left in awe and shock at the beauty of the designs. Chairs were placed in exact positions to allow conversations to flow smoothly, beautiful paintings were hung all around the rooms to add to the admiration factor, and trinkets of all sorts were positioned to show enhancement and pride that the homeowners have in their house.
The main activity that we did today was a trip to a geothermal heated swimming pool, which is apparently a very common practice for the people of Iceland. However, something quite unexpected and culturally shocking was brought upon me as I entered the woman's locker to change into my bathing suit... I was greeted with the presence of several nude ladies of all different ages, taking showers... IN THE SAME ROOM! I've always known that Europeans don't have the same mindset as Americans when it comes to privacy of one's body, but this was totally overwhelming and a little embarrassing. The girls on the trip, myself included, were a bit in shock and not quite sure what to do. Should we show respect and follow the norm of completely undressing and taking showers before we enter the pool? Or do we stick to our own believes and shower with our bathing suits on? We were all quite confused and stood staring at each other for several minutes, waiting for somebody, anybody to take charge and tell us all what to do. As time passed, we figured that since we were experiencing a new culture, we should really "experience a new culture" and go along with whatever obstacles are thrown at us along the way. We successfully showered, changed, and made it to the pool... the Icelandic way. If I have gained anything from this experience, I have definitely gained the trust of my fellow classmates who endured the same, embarrassing task as I was forced to conquer. We have grown a closer bond because of this one experience and it's only the first day!
We had our dinner at an EES alumni's house and got to experience true Icelandic food for the first time. We were served deliciously prepared hotdogs (with the meat of our preference), Rye bread, different types of flatbreads with toppings, some sort of fish in the form of a chip, and many, many other options. The list goes on forever! Hotdogs have never been one of my most treasured food choices, but I must admit that the chicken hotdog that was prepared for me was desperately needed and provided me with enough energy to make it back to the hostile and climb into my bed. Let it be known that I have not fallen into a deep sleep in the past 48 hours! On our trip back the hostile, a BEAUTIFUL sunset could be seen, setting over the snow-covered mountains. The picture of the sunset that is seen along with this blog, was taken by me at 10:15 PM! My eyes were telling me that it was only 7:00 PM, but my brain was telling me it was 2:00 in the morning and I needed to go to bed. Luckily, we will be able to sleep in for a bit tomorrow morning to catch up on some missed sleep. This makes me happy knowing that I will be fully functional to conquer the plans that will be in store for me soon!
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