Reflection Time:)

So long farewell Land of Fire and Ice. You sure do know how to put on a show. As we fly back home, I still can't quiet believe these past couple of weeks actually happened. The wide variety of landscapes blew me away (literally and figuratively!) This trip made a meaningful impact because it wasn't just a trip to see some sights, but a trip to really learn about how these landscapes form, grow closer as a group, and experience a taste of a different way of life and culture. This is the longest I've ever traveled, so I was not sure what to expect. I am a person who likes a schedule and a plan, but I enjoyed the exploration and "go with the flow" aspect of this trip. Things do not always go as planned or have to be planned, and most of the time that is for the best. Iceland helped me rediscover my love for art. I enjoyed sketching the landscapes of rocks we saw right in the field. It is a calming and peaceful experience to observe the tiny details of the landscape. Learning about geology made me appreciate the landscape so much more because I now have a better understanding of why the land looks a certain way. The beauty of Iceland comes with a dark side though. The Eldheimar Museum put in perspective the destructive power of volcanoes, and the reality that the landscape we have been seeing formed through extreme processes. Nature is powerful. However, nature is also fragile. Seeing the glaciers helped me concretely grasp how the warming of the earth has dramatic effects on the landscape. Hearing and seeing where Langjökull glacier had been only 76 years ago, and learning the ice cave we stood in would most likely be gone in 100 years is extremely sad. Something so magnificent that has thousands of years of history preserved in its ice will melt away, and be gone forever. This how's how important sustainable living and practices are for our world. Lastly, this trip would not be as meaningful without the people. Being with the same people for 21 days gave me the chance to spend time and get to know some people I do not normally see around campus. The past few weeks gave us time to bond whether from communal pool showering, conversations on hikes, or playing Bananagrams. I think it is so important to learn about others interest, likes, dislikes, and how they think about the world to understand a person. We all have different perspectives on life, but we can come together and be in total awe of all that Iceland has to offer.