NickThinks.com

Me, Brianna, and Brandon chilling at the foot of a glacier.

Why Iceland?

• It’s a reasonably priced 6-hour flight from Maine. Comparable to a cross-country flight within the US.
• The vibe is enjoyably European, but without the typically associated language concerns or cultural haughtiness.
• For a country with a population of 320,000, Iceland produces a large number of world-class athletes. #training-secrets
• I love cold winters and wanted to experience the nuances of a foreign country’s winter.

Takeaways

Iceland is a great country. The people we met were polite, valued emotional intelligence, and had a collective work ethic aimed at promoting the country’s greater good. I got the impression that Icelanders have a healthy relationship between the past and the future – they preserve traditions such as hand knitting their own sweaters, while fully embracing technological advances like international commerce. I didn’t get the sense from Iceland that the past is competing with the future, but that both lifestyles can peacefully coexist.

Assorted Notes

The food was high-protein, high-fat; meat and dairy – large portion sizes (this made me happy). The temperature was warm for winter at 20-40º F, though the wind and rain were erratic and fierce. All building interiors were phenomenally clean and abundantly warm.