What can I say about my trip to Iceland? I am eager to return home to the United States, but am also very anxious about how I will respond when asked about this excursion. I'll probably end up muttering something along the lines of "it was cool," but this certainly does not do the Arctic island nation justice. Of course, literally Iceland is quite cool, but somewhere amongst the puffins, scoria cones, pahoehoe lava flows, and glacial summits I realized how completely different this place is from anything I have ever experienced, or will ever experience. Iceland's geographic setting between two spreading plates above a hotspot in the North Atlantic is unlike anything else on Earth, and benefits the island with unlimited geothermal energy, unique biodiversity, and a livable climate in spite of the high latitude. The Gulf Stream current also moves warm seawater from the Gulf of Mexico north across the Atlantic, contributing to Iceland's relatively warm climate. Due to the high latitude, Icelandic days are much longer than those in the United States during the spring and summer months. I'll be singing "Hello darkness, my old friend" like Simon and Garfunkel as I fall asleep in my own bed with the sun's light completely gone from outside my window. Although the sun may set around 11:30pm in May in Iceland, I never experienced complete darkness here. I expected this to alter my circadian rhythm, but thanks to frequent hikes and consistently busy daily schedules, I was able to fall asleep with great ease!
"Totally sick, bro!" Is probably what I'll end up saying when my friends back home inquire about the trip. However, there is certainly more to tell about the unique scientific, sociological, and economic features of Iceland. Being a visitor here from a place as different as the United States accentuates variations to an almost-humorous extent. For example, the fact that the Icelandic banks, liquor stores, and police stations frequently share a building actually made me laugh out loud. Also, the restrooms are quite different from the ones back home: in Iceland, the room with the toilet is referred to as the "Water Closet" or just "WC." The toilets themselves feature two flush settings: one for liquid waste and one for solid, an example of the many sustainable aspects of this country. It is fascinating to me that a place blessed with an abundant source of renewable energy would place such an emphasis on environmentally-friendly living. Greenhouses and gardens are commonplace in Icelandic backyards and community centers, people frequently bike and walk to get from place to place, portions at restaurants are smaller and prices higher to more closely reflect the costs of resource consumption, recycling bins are just as prevalent as trash cans, windows are larger, buildings constructed of recycled and locally-sourced materials, and trees and plants are widespread in urban areas as part of an effort to sequester carbon and mitigate climate change. Global warming is a grim reality to the Icelanders, as they depend on the shrinking glaciers for their survival. The Icelanders strive to be excellent stewards of the Earth, rather than exploit it to feed their consumption-driven economy and maximize short-term benefits. This is very different than in the United States. I look forward to the opportunity to share with my fellow Americans the lessons we can learn from the Icelanders to make our own country a more sustainable, efficient, and environmentally-friendly place. America, like Iceland, is blessed with tremendous natural resources and incredibly innovative people. Shifting our nation's focus from consumption to conservation is already happening, but we need to work to ensure that this process continues.
Over and out,
-B
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