First Week

A five-hour plane ride filled with other exchange students goes by fast.

A pitch black, snowy climate is magical, even at 6:00AM.

Withdrawing 50,000 of any currency is nerve-racking, no matter the exchange rate.

If customs is the only guide, Iceland is a laid-back country.

Friends are easy to make when everyone is in the same boat.

Ask for help; it’ll save you from unknown cold and confusion.

Icelanders are not into clearing sidewalks:  mind your step.

If anything is worse than packing it’s unpacking.

A sunrise at 11:15AM throws off one’s internal clock.

Always wear a watch, or hang around a friend who does.  (I choose the latter).

Icelanders are really not into clearing sidewalks; seriously, be careful.

If the immigration office is the only guide, Iceland is a strict country.

The Icelandic language is nowhere near anything I’m familiar with, especially English.

Food is slightly more expensive.

Alcohol is way more expensive.

Tip included makes everything better.

Electronics literally blow up when they have the wrong voltage.

Waking up on time without sunlight or an alarm is difficult, if not impossible.

Always carry a pen.

The kennitala (Icelandic personal ID number) is God; God takes two weeks to process.

Humour is universal.

No easy access to the Internet is both freeing and crippling at the same time.

Hot water is ever plentiful but smells like rotten eggs.

In the dorms, company is only a door knock away.

A frozen lake looks a lot like an open field when it’s covered in ice.

A foreigner’s attempt at Icelandic pronunciation is comical. (Or at least mine is.)

Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

You learn a city best when you walk it.

Expectedly, Iceland shopping malls have a lot of cold-weather clothing.

Unexpectedly, clothing, and most consumer goods, are very expensive.

Making plans without cell phones or the Internet is oddly rewarding.

It’s sad to say goodbye to a friend, no matter how long you’ve known them.

Waking up to pitch darkness at 9:30AM is unsettling.

Coffee isn’t bad, the amount they give you is.

When in doubt, watch the locals.

Don’t go directly into the hottest hot tub; you body will rebel.

That rotten egg smell is because the water is volcanically heated in the presence of sulfer.

Never say no to an adventure; the cost will always be worth it.

The best plans are those that are flexible.

Un-traversable roads mean a completely different thing to those on vacation.

Like snowflakes, ice-scapes are endlessly different and breathtakingly beautiful.

Icelandic horses only look like they are going to kill you, they’re actually very friendly.

Nothing replenishes the spirit more than nature.

Geysers are a mystery of nature:  don’t over think them.

Know your vice in everyday life and indulge it every once and a while. (Mine is sweets.)

Nothing brings people together faster than driving cross-country.

Driving manual transmission is fun; everyone should learn how to do it.

Good company is hard to find, but great company seems effortless.

Toast and peanut butter is the only breakfast a person needs.  (Or maybe Havre Fras.)

90kph is only a suggestion, even in icy conditions.

The sun is fantastic; cherish cloudless days.

The body can handle ice cold water, the feet can’t.

No matter what coast you see it from, the ocean is hypnotic and peaceful.

Never-have-I-ever will always turn sexual.

Icelandic gas station hot dogs have to have something illegal in them:  so good.

Driving clutch is an art form; some people will never get art.

All good things must come to an end.

Rain and ice aren’t a good combination, carefully slide your feet and you won’t fall.

A lot of young Icelandic people are hipsters.

Unexpectedly running into people you know is always a pleasant surprise:  take advantage.

Pizza is the best post-drinking food ever, hands down, no matter the country.

Sometimes even if you slide your feet you will fall.  Get back up and power on.

Too many pictures?  That’s not a thing.

When you can, drop what you’re doing and be social.  If it’s important, you’ll find time later.

Show guests a good time and remember to be generous.

Make lists.  They make it harder to forget things you want to remember.