Getting hitched!

Newlyweds! Just kidding...Megan got married the night before I left. Congrats Meg!

One happy family!

Halló Iceland!

There are no words to describe the last 48 hours. I feel like the luckiest person in the world right now. So far, this has been the most relaxing trip I have ever experienced. I arrived with no problems and felt like I was actually landing on Mars. The landscape is unlike anything I have seen before. The air is fresh and the atmosphere calming.

I am staying with a writer at the National Theater in downtown Reykjavik in an adorable 1950s apartment with a view. Yesterday I travelled for hours through the countryside to Landmannalaugur with Icelandic friends from Minneapolis Vala and Gauti. At Landmannalaugur we enjoyed a picnic in sunny weather and then went to the hot springs I have always heard so much about. Gauti and Vala continued to spoil me the whole day as we made our way to his parents´ cabin. His family and I enjoyed a typical Icelandic Sunday dinner which consists of lamb and potatoes. Yummy! I was in disbelief the entire day.

Today I started class and it was so great to be back in the classroom. The other students seem really nice and I am looking forward to getting to know them. My teacher rocks too!


Typical landscape here



Vala and I during our picnic

The living room where I am staying



Lighthouse west of Reykjavik


Vala and Gauti after the picnic


Preserved viking settlement





Hot spring at Landmannalaugur

Hello Wisconsin!!!

At the cottage with family and friends is exactly
where I wanted to be before I leave for Iceland.

Classic sunset

Taking a break on the tramp

Yes, this is Wisconsin

Mom and I in Iceland...I mean Washington Island.

Don't worry...I did not risk my life for this shot.

Goodbye Minneapolis

One of my students decided to bake me a cake on my last day of work. No Daniel...I'll miss you:(

Takk!

Thanks to Maren for a killer farewell party!

Thanks to Jesse for a killer lazy eye!

SASSY!

We might have been born in the wrong decade.

Colorado

Last weekend I took a little trip out to Colorado to visit Mariah, a best friend of mine from high school. It was beautiful, which is probably needless to say. The weekend was filled with graduation parties, people watching, hiking, parks, and best of all...Mariah!

Lessons learned: Mariah still rocks and I have a lot more of the U.S. to see.