On Saturday morning, I stood on the Í slendingur, a replica of the Viking ship which sailed from Iceland to North America in the year 1000. The Í slendingur made the voyage at the turn of the twenty-first century, honoring a millennium's passage since the initial voyage. Professor Stephen Mitchell, Professor of Scandinavian Languages and Folklore at Harvard, stood at the center of the ship, discussing the ship’s history and Iceland’s Viking past. I took a moment to look around at the rest of the Ví kingaheimar Museum - the maps adorning the walls showcasing regional landmarks, the placards detailing the nation’s early history, and the artifacts allowing visitors to envision life in the Norse World. As I turned my attention back to Professor Mitchell, I was filled with a sense of excitement at what the rest of the trip would hold.
The Harvard Alumni Association, a global network of alumni and friends, organizes travel opportunities for students and alumni to connect and grow. This year, HAA organized more than 30 trips, bringing together past and present Harvard community members to discover new places, learn new cultures, and connect with each other. Two trips occurred over Harvard’s spring break - The Harvard Spring Break in Greece for Students and Alumni and The Excursion to Iceland. Both trips offered full scholarships to eligible students. All that was required was an explanation of your interest in participating in the specific program and a copy of your Harvard College Transcript. After submitting the fellowship application in early January, I was notified of my acceptance by the end of the month; my spring break plans had been secured!
After completing the required travel, health, and orientation forms, I was ready to embark on my journey! I was incredibly excited for the trip - as an avid nature lover, I was thrilled that I would see Iceland’s unique geography. Situated on the border of the North American and European tectonic plates and beneath a hotspot, Iceland’s ethereal geography has been shaped by powerful forces of nature such as volcanoes and glaciers. However, I was worried as well - the trip would coincide with Ramadan, a holy month in the Islamic faith characterized by fasting from dawn till sunset, and I wasn’t sure how I would be supported through my observance. There was no need for worry; Erin, the trip’s coordinator, ensured I had everything needed. Erin also organized two meetings prior to the trip and provided numerous resources to ensure that everyone was more than prepared to travel. On March 14, after weeks of anticipation, I was off to Reykjavik!
Upon landing in Iceland at 6:00 am, my co-Fellow, Isabelle, and I met our guide along with the other alumni and their family members in Iceland. After visiting the Ví kingaheimar Museum, we travelled to our hotel for a brief rest before our first evening lecture! During this time, Isabelle and I explored the capital of Reykvick and indulged in local sweets! In the evening, we enjoyed a lovely Cod dinner at the hotel’s restaurant and turned in early in preparation for the packed itinerary the next day.
The next morning, we began our exploration of south west Iceland, an area famous for its geographic attractions. First, we visited Þingvellir National Park, the site of the world’s oldest democratic parliament (founded in 930 AD) and site of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (the tectonic plate boundary). It was truly an amazing experience standing on two continents at the same time!
After, we stopped by the hot springtown of Laugarvatn for a taste of rye bread that has been naturally baked in the geothermal heat of the ground. Next, we visited the Fontana Spa, a naturally occurring, hot geothermal spring; my skin felt refreshed and baby-soft after the experience! Before dinner, we visited the beautiful Gullfoss or “Golden Waterfall,” one of the most beautiful waterfalls on the entire European continent and one of my favorite views of the trip. I saw my first erupting hot spring in the Geysir area. That night, we travelled north in hopes of seeing the northern lights. Admittedly, after half an hour of limited success, I returned to our bus to nap - but some of my brave and tireless comrades were able to see some lights after a few hours!
The next day, after a morning lecture, we embarked on our trip to the south shore! We visited LAVA Volcano & Earthquake Center and learned Iceland’s unique location—on top of a fault line and magma hotspot—to frequent volcanic eruptions. Iceland is one of the few places on earth whose land mass is actually increasing - by about one square inch each year! From the LAVA center we could see two famous volcanoes - Mt. Hekla, Iceland’s most frequently erupting volcano and Eyjafjallajökull’s, whose eruption in 2010 halted international air traffic.
In the afternoon, we visited two waterfalls - the Seljalandsfoss and the Seljalandsfoss - and traveled to the Skógar museum, viewing art, buildings, and artifacts showing life in the Icelandic countryside over the last few centuries. Some of the homes, buildings, and churches in the outdoor museum had been in use until the 1970s. It was here we learned about Iceland’s past as an under-developed nation and the rapid transformation the country has experienced in the last century to become one of the wealthiest countries in the world. We continued on to Reynisfjara, a beautiful black sand beach with thundering waves (a few unlucky folks close to the shore were drenched after failing to run faster than the incoming wave) and intimidating rock formations that stretched more than 200 feet above sea level! We ended the day having a wonderful lobster dinner at the Við Fjöruborðið restaurant. The following morning, we ended our trip at the Hellisheiði Power Plant, learning about Iceland’s sustainable energy production from geothermal energy, before heading to the airport and saying goodbye to everyone.
At the beginning of the trip, I had no idea what to expect - I was embarking on a journey to a place I’d never been and with people I did not know. However, at the end of the trip, I found myself sad to leave - the once unfamiliar faces had become companions in adventure, conversation, and reflection.
In just four days, I witnessed Iceland’s breathtaking beauty and formed strong connections with an intergenerational Harvard community. What made the trip truly unforgettable was the meaningful conversations I had over meals, the moments of bonding with students and alumni on long bus rides, the stories and insights shared throughout the trip which reinvigorated my love of learning.
Surrounded by people from different generations, disciplines, walks of life, left a lasting impression and reminded me of the strength of the Harvard community - within its four walls in Cambridge, Massachusetts and beyond. I left Iceland with a renewed opportunity to explore, learn, and most of all, connect.
