Which is it? You'd never think you'd find a home so fast as I did in Iceland.
I miss it more every day.
Reserved!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The Last Days
The last few days - Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Emotional and confusing don't even begin to cover it.
Reserved!
Emotional and confusing don't even begin to cover it.
Reserved!
Isafjorður
Isafjorður (Isafjorthur) (Pronounced: E-sa-fyor-th-er)
Post Reserved.
Independent travel with Kate-Noel to the north fingers of Iceland. I'm not to good at telling people how to pronounce these names on a computer.
Post Reserved.
Independent travel with Kate-Noel to the north fingers of Iceland. I'm not to good at telling people how to pronounce these names on a computer.
Hestaferðir Baka
Hestaferðir Baka (Horse Back Riding)
Post Spot Reserved.
We went horse back riding up a small mountain 45 minutes from Skalholt. It was amazing to be on the top of that mountain and see for at least forty miles in every direction.
Post Spot Reserved.
We went horse back riding up a small mountain 45 minutes from Skalholt. It was amazing to be on the top of that mountain and see for at least forty miles in every direction.
Karið
This will be the post about my experience in Karið (Pronounced: Care-ith)
The Caldera not far from Skalholt.
I was able to visit Karið twice while in Iceland. Its an amazing sight that takes my breath away every time I see it. I wish pictures could do it justice but as with all the natural wonders and beauties of Iceland pictures can't begin to do it proper justice.
I'm not sure if I stated this in an earlier post but I'll summarize it again.
During class one day we had a trivia challenge. No one was forced to answer but we were warned that those that answered incorrectly would have to suffer a 'punishment' when we went to see the mysterious natural wonder that day. Now I'm a bit of a go-get-'er and I'm not afraid to do something daring or challenging. If I was afraid I wouldn't have traveled to Iceland. So when I heard that there would be a 'punishment' I decided I'd see what that 'punishment' was. So I honestly tried to answer a question but ended up getting it wrong (the second question I got right). So I was all in now, time to pay the price.
So later that day we went out to town and on the way back we took a side trip to this 'mysterious' wonder of nature. Low and behold it was the large volcanic crater Karið.
I've never been one to be 'moved' my natural wonders. Granted the last natural wonder I saw was the Grand Canyon when I was about ten or eleven years old. And at that age you really can't comprehend much in that topic.
But when I saw Karið I was honestly moved and amazed. It was an amazing sight. I was nearly running down the path to the bottom where the 'lake' was.
The Caldera not far from Skalholt.
I was able to visit Karið twice while in Iceland. Its an amazing sight that takes my breath away every time I see it. I wish pictures could do it justice but as with all the natural wonders and beauties of Iceland pictures can't begin to do it proper justice.
I'm not sure if I stated this in an earlier post but I'll summarize it again.
During class one day we had a trivia challenge. No one was forced to answer but we were warned that those that answered incorrectly would have to suffer a 'punishment' when we went to see the mysterious natural wonder that day. Now I'm a bit of a go-get-'er and I'm not afraid to do something daring or challenging. If I was afraid I wouldn't have traveled to Iceland. So when I heard that there would be a 'punishment' I decided I'd see what that 'punishment' was. So I honestly tried to answer a question but ended up getting it wrong (the second question I got right). So I was all in now, time to pay the price.
So later that day we went out to town and on the way back we took a side trip to this 'mysterious' wonder of nature. Low and behold it was the large volcanic crater Karið.
I've never been one to be 'moved' my natural wonders. Granted the last natural wonder I saw was the Grand Canyon when I was about ten or eleven years old. And at that age you really can't comprehend much in that topic.
But when I saw Karið I was honestly moved and amazed. It was an amazing sight. I was nearly running down the path to the bottom where the 'lake' was.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Week Two In Iceland - Unbelievable
While this past week was extremely busy with trying to get the Laxdaela Saga read before leaving for the glacier, it was still a productive and event week just like the first. We had guests and adventures of all kinds.
Our first guest appeared on Tuesday afternoon just after lunch. Erlinger, the man who kindly sent emails to Dr. Novak to update him on the volcano’s activity, came to speak with us about many things having to do with Iceland and of course his famous cats. He taught us a lot about the saga such as; when it most likely occurred and when it was actually written down. He also gave us some information on Skalholt and Snorri the Priest. The information he gave us gave us the ability to relate to the characters of the Saga all the more because he also talked about the roles of women and men. My favorite part was when he talked about the Viking song/poem. I enjoy those kinds of things – poetry and writing styles.
Our second adventure was on Wednesday. We actually had a few things that happened on Wednesday, the first of which was another trip into Selfoss. We went into town in order to pick up some supplies and goods for the kitchen of the hostel since more people are choosing to stay behind for breakfast to catch up with work and readings (including myself). I picked up some Digestive cookies and a few other supplies. I tried to take it slow because I was starting to feel the effects of a cold and stomach bug (which was going around the students and professors). Me and Kate-Noel walked down the sidewalk and explored some shops. I greatly enjoy the calm and friendly atmosphere in Selfoss. Oh! We were also able to go to the famous hotdog stand and we found ourselves chomping down Iceland’s best hotdog ever (although I am still a loyal patron to Snoopy’s back in the States).
On the way back to Skalholt we made a stop at a natural wonder. It was a cold day and a lot of people weren’t feeling well so most of the students looked at the Caldaria from the edge rather than climbing down. But because I had answered wrong in the trivia in class earlier that day I was committed to serving my ‘punishment’ for it. As such I hiked down the Caldaria with Dr. Novak, Regan, Julia P, and Kate-Noel. Mine and Regan’s punishment was to stand knee deep in the water in the Caldaria. It would have been nothing any other day but that day was particularly cold but none the less we went into the water and stood for at least five minutes if not more. The water was freezing but once you got over into the numb stage it was fine. Although no matter how numb your legs and feet got you could still feel the sharp rocks beneath your feet. The hike down was easier than the hike up but it was still worthwhile and one of the greatest adventures I’ve had here in Iceland so far.
That evening, after we ate dinner at the dining hall, we went over to Kristen’s house for the evening get together he and his wife were hosting for us. There house is amazing; the design and layout flows well and I loved the openness of it. We enjoyed some snacks and some of the group tried stinking shark (I passed on the chance because my stomach wasn’t feeling so well). The white wine they served was some of the best white wine I’ve had. We were also blessed with a performance by Kristen and his wife, Harpa, which was amazing. I could have listened to them sing and play the guitar for hours. Another memorable moment was Dr. Novak playing the guitar and playing the song ‘Old Blue’. We sang along to the chorus and he sang the verses. It was awesome and I enjoyed it greatly. Dr. Novak plays well and sings better than he thinks. It’s a shame I can’t put the video of it up on Facebook but at least I have it for myself when I want to remember the amazing times I’ve had here Iceland.
On Thursday we had another visitor. Dirfinah (sp?) came to teach us some Icelandic phrases, words, and sentences to help us communicate better with others when we visit places and have guests visit up. The pronounciation of words is hard to grasp sometimes because of how our tongues have been trained since we were born. For me I have the added frustration of trying to separate the sounds of Icelandic from Japanese. I experienced this trouble when doing French. The languages differ so much and yet it’s easy to sway back into the way I speak Japanese and sound out words in Japanese. But none the less it was fun and interesting and I learned a lot of phrases that will no doubt come in handy while I’m on my individual trip the last week of our time here in Iceland.
Friday morning we left for Snaelfulsness. It was a long trip down there which most of us spent sleeping since we were still exhausted from a busy week. But once we got there we took a small break at the condo before leaving to venture up to the glacier. I was unable to do as much glacier climbing as I wanted because of my poor health with the cold and because my foot fell through a three foot hole in the glacier (I have some pretty bruises from it) but I was happy to climb what I could and rested atop a rock comfortably – waiting for the rest of the group to climb as far as they wanted before returning. The view from up there was unbelievable and something that could make a person cry because of shock and admiration.
That same day Dr. Grathowl, Kate-Noel, and I walked down to the beach. The beach was amazing and vastly different from the beaches of North Carolina. Of course it was even more amazing because you could see the mountain where the glacier was – a rare sight to see a mountain glacier right beside a sandy beach.
Saturday was a relaxing day for the most part. We did trek through the rain to the fairy castle which ended up being a wonderful view of a giant rock formation right beside the ocean. Even though it was raining and I wasn’t feeling well I was still overjoyed to stand next to this towering formation and just look at it. That afternoon I skipped out on a hike in order to sleep and get rested in the hopes that my cold would get better (although it only got worse). My favorite part of the weekend was when Dr. G and Dr. N read the Njall Saga and did sock puppets and sound effects (sometimes we had to do them because they’d get worn out).
We left the sea side condo Sunday morning and headed off to Helgafell to see where Gudrun was buried. It was surreal standing next to her grave after reading the Laxdaela Saga. Part of me wanted to ask her who she talked about loving the most because it’s something we’ll never be sure of and that’s frustrating. We also walked around the church that was next to her grave; it’s a lovely church that is very photogenic.
After visiting the grave we headed to Erik’s long house where we read and listened to stories having to do with Eric the Red. It was interesting to be in a long house, it helped me picture events in the book much easier. Another cool part about the house was the chance to play the Viking horn. I remember seeing the pictures of during Dr. N’s slide show of the Summer Abroad in Iceland. It was one of things I really wanted to do and to do it right so I was overjoyed when the sound from the horn came out deep and strong (although I had to work through some high pitched levels before getting low enough). After that it was back on the road to get back to Skalholt before dinner.
Reflection
I took multiple notes of the geographic advantages of the area while away at the glacier this weekend. The hills and mountainous terrain was an advantage to those that lived there. Not only was the landscape a defensive advantage it also had properties that were important to survival. The multiple water falls from the melting of the glacier gave them a clean source of water for drinking and cooking. As seen with the position of Erick the Red’s long house, living on top of a hill or mountain side can be a great advantage in seeing attackers coming. The same position gives the defensive advantage of those attempting to attack being unable to completely sneak up on the residence and also can exhaust them before they even are able to attack properly. While the beach was a steep slope and could allow boats to get closer to shore than in other places it was still a rocky terrain and thus made it hard for ships to sneak up the coast line for attack or invasion.
Erik the Red’s house also gave me a lot of insight into how the people of those days survived and lived in such rough terrains and regions. The house was made of turf which helped insulate the house and keep the warmth in and the cold out – more so than wood or stones would. I noticed this when I stepped in because it was much warmer than the cold atmosphere outside. Also the roof is made out of turf as well, with grass on top. This adds a camouflage to the house but also assists in keep it warm on the inside of the residence. The long house was centered about a long fire pit which was outlined with rocks. The beds were also the sitting areas which saved warmth and space and allowed for a residence to be smaller and thus easier to keep warm. They also had lofts which added more space to the small residence without compromising heat by making the place longer or wider. You could also tell that everything from an animal was used after it had been killed. The meat was used for food; the fur was used as blankets and clothing, and the bones were kept for use of jewelry, tools, or weapons. This resourcefulness no doubt was a key attribute to their survival and healthy living in such tough conditions. It was interesting to hear that the women were the only ones allowed into the ‘kitchen’ area – that the men were forbidden to go into that section of the long house. Perhaps that’s why women now days tell men to ‘keep out of my kitchen’, I know I do that.
The most surreal thing about this weekend was visiting Helgafell. While I wasn’t able to climb up the mountain there completely I was able to go up a ways and when I looked out I immediately knew why some of the characters of the saga stayed in Helgafell. It’s a beautiful place, surrounded by mountains and a diverse landscape it was easy to fall in love with it as I sat on the rocks of the mountain. But the most amazing moment was when I stood before Gudrun’s grave. A lot of the time people read books that have some facts and never truly get into them because they aren’t able to visit the places where the book happened or have nothing to relate or connect them to the book or characters. I also found another part of myself while standing on that mountain side waiting for the others. I found a more mature part of myself. I never understood what my parents meant by seeing something so beautiful that there was an inhuman connection and surreal feeling but when I stood there in a place I had read about and seeing the remarkable landscape I realized that surreal feeling of seeing something so beautiful that all one can do is look in awe. Out of the various languages I have been learning I could find no words to fit what I saw. My parents understood this when they asked me how the scenery and trip were and all they got was silence as I tried to think of the words to describe it. I understand why almost all the characters always returned to Iceland in the end. I don’t think any place in the world can compare to this place. (Dr. G, Dr. N – You have succeeded in making this student fall in love this wonderful nation. I remember that one, or both, wished for us to understand the love that you two have for this place and while I am not yet at the level to understand the love that you two have for it, I realize that I am on my way to loving this place just as deeply and truly as you two.)
Something else that must be said is the feelings I had about Gudrun before I visited her grave. Reading the Saga I grew the dislike Gudrun and her tricking ways. I felt like she was a woman who cared little for others and didn’t mind hurting someone. I was only seeing her deeds from that point of view but when I stood before her grave everything changed. My thought process began to change quickly and I found myself in awe of the woman that lay beneath the ground before me. I realized that while she might have hurt others she was simply searching for happiness all her life. And even though she went through so much I can’t say that she ever truly found happiness because while she might have had tears innocent enough to burn the bones of a witch it doesn’t mean that those tears held the feelings of happiness. I realized the cruel woman I saw her as was the wrong way to see Gudrun. Don’t we all do horrible things to find something we want? I know I’m guilty of it just as much as she is. I now hold a greater level of respect for Gudrun and everything she went through – she is just as human as anyone else, perhaps even more human than the other characters of the Saga. She has suddenly become so easy to relate too. I must apologize to her when I visit her grave the next time I come to Iceland.
Another thing I wanted to do while at Gudrun’s grave was to ask her who she truly loved. Could it be that she loved all of her husbands save for the first one whom she was forced to marry? Could this also include Kjartan? All that is said about it is that she was the worst to the one she loved best. To some level she was bad to most of her husbands, so who’s to say she only loved one man in all her life? In not knowing I find frustration and yet peace with such an ending. It is most fitting for the story to have such an unanswered and yet answered reply to the question of who Gudrun truly loved. And while asking her at her grave won’t answer the question it would still be nice to do so. Sometimes answers are carried on the wind from the souls that have left the message behind. Or at least that’s what I believe.
All these experiences have helped me find a part of myself I never knew existed. This is why I came here. If I cannot find another part of me here I feel that I will never find it. I have grown so much during these past two weeks and I know that in the two weeks to come I will only grow more. I have finally learned to stand upon my own feet and fly without being afraid to hit the ground. The surreal experiences have helped me realize so much more about myself and the world. This world is so big and yet so very small at once. I found new loves that expand my understanding and admiration for the planet, the ideals, and the growth of this world.
I sincerely want to say Thank You to both Dr. Grathowl and Dr. Novak.
Finding something new to love in life is the greatest pleasure and for that I am thankful.
But my biggest thank you has to go to those that supported my want and drive to come to this place. I couldn't be here without that support (both emotionally and financially).
Takk Fyrir Mig! (Thank you!)
Our first guest appeared on Tuesday afternoon just after lunch. Erlinger, the man who kindly sent emails to Dr. Novak to update him on the volcano’s activity, came to speak with us about many things having to do with Iceland and of course his famous cats. He taught us a lot about the saga such as; when it most likely occurred and when it was actually written down. He also gave us some information on Skalholt and Snorri the Priest. The information he gave us gave us the ability to relate to the characters of the Saga all the more because he also talked about the roles of women and men. My favorite part was when he talked about the Viking song/poem. I enjoy those kinds of things – poetry and writing styles.
Our second adventure was on Wednesday. We actually had a few things that happened on Wednesday, the first of which was another trip into Selfoss. We went into town in order to pick up some supplies and goods for the kitchen of the hostel since more people are choosing to stay behind for breakfast to catch up with work and readings (including myself). I picked up some Digestive cookies and a few other supplies. I tried to take it slow because I was starting to feel the effects of a cold and stomach bug (which was going around the students and professors). Me and Kate-Noel walked down the sidewalk and explored some shops. I greatly enjoy the calm and friendly atmosphere in Selfoss. Oh! We were also able to go to the famous hotdog stand and we found ourselves chomping down Iceland’s best hotdog ever (although I am still a loyal patron to Snoopy’s back in the States).
On the way back to Skalholt we made a stop at a natural wonder. It was a cold day and a lot of people weren’t feeling well so most of the students looked at the Caldaria from the edge rather than climbing down. But because I had answered wrong in the trivia in class earlier that day I was committed to serving my ‘punishment’ for it. As such I hiked down the Caldaria with Dr. Novak, Regan, Julia P, and Kate-Noel. Mine and Regan’s punishment was to stand knee deep in the water in the Caldaria. It would have been nothing any other day but that day was particularly cold but none the less we went into the water and stood for at least five minutes if not more. The water was freezing but once you got over into the numb stage it was fine. Although no matter how numb your legs and feet got you could still feel the sharp rocks beneath your feet. The hike down was easier than the hike up but it was still worthwhile and one of the greatest adventures I’ve had here in Iceland so far.
That evening, after we ate dinner at the dining hall, we went over to Kristen’s house for the evening get together he and his wife were hosting for us. There house is amazing; the design and layout flows well and I loved the openness of it. We enjoyed some snacks and some of the group tried stinking shark (I passed on the chance because my stomach wasn’t feeling so well). The white wine they served was some of the best white wine I’ve had. We were also blessed with a performance by Kristen and his wife, Harpa, which was amazing. I could have listened to them sing and play the guitar for hours. Another memorable moment was Dr. Novak playing the guitar and playing the song ‘Old Blue’. We sang along to the chorus and he sang the verses. It was awesome and I enjoyed it greatly. Dr. Novak plays well and sings better than he thinks. It’s a shame I can’t put the video of it up on Facebook but at least I have it for myself when I want to remember the amazing times I’ve had here Iceland.
On Thursday we had another visitor. Dirfinah (sp?) came to teach us some Icelandic phrases, words, and sentences to help us communicate better with others when we visit places and have guests visit up. The pronounciation of words is hard to grasp sometimes because of how our tongues have been trained since we were born. For me I have the added frustration of trying to separate the sounds of Icelandic from Japanese. I experienced this trouble when doing French. The languages differ so much and yet it’s easy to sway back into the way I speak Japanese and sound out words in Japanese. But none the less it was fun and interesting and I learned a lot of phrases that will no doubt come in handy while I’m on my individual trip the last week of our time here in Iceland.
Friday morning we left for Snaelfulsness. It was a long trip down there which most of us spent sleeping since we were still exhausted from a busy week. But once we got there we took a small break at the condo before leaving to venture up to the glacier. I was unable to do as much glacier climbing as I wanted because of my poor health with the cold and because my foot fell through a three foot hole in the glacier (I have some pretty bruises from it) but I was happy to climb what I could and rested atop a rock comfortably – waiting for the rest of the group to climb as far as they wanted before returning. The view from up there was unbelievable and something that could make a person cry because of shock and admiration.
That same day Dr. Grathowl, Kate-Noel, and I walked down to the beach. The beach was amazing and vastly different from the beaches of North Carolina. Of course it was even more amazing because you could see the mountain where the glacier was – a rare sight to see a mountain glacier right beside a sandy beach.
Saturday was a relaxing day for the most part. We did trek through the rain to the fairy castle which ended up being a wonderful view of a giant rock formation right beside the ocean. Even though it was raining and I wasn’t feeling well I was still overjoyed to stand next to this towering formation and just look at it. That afternoon I skipped out on a hike in order to sleep and get rested in the hopes that my cold would get better (although it only got worse). My favorite part of the weekend was when Dr. G and Dr. N read the Njall Saga and did sock puppets and sound effects (sometimes we had to do them because they’d get worn out).
We left the sea side condo Sunday morning and headed off to Helgafell to see where Gudrun was buried. It was surreal standing next to her grave after reading the Laxdaela Saga. Part of me wanted to ask her who she talked about loving the most because it’s something we’ll never be sure of and that’s frustrating. We also walked around the church that was next to her grave; it’s a lovely church that is very photogenic.
After visiting the grave we headed to Erik’s long house where we read and listened to stories having to do with Eric the Red. It was interesting to be in a long house, it helped me picture events in the book much easier. Another cool part about the house was the chance to play the Viking horn. I remember seeing the pictures of during Dr. N’s slide show of the Summer Abroad in Iceland. It was one of things I really wanted to do and to do it right so I was overjoyed when the sound from the horn came out deep and strong (although I had to work through some high pitched levels before getting low enough). After that it was back on the road to get back to Skalholt before dinner.
Reflection
I took multiple notes of the geographic advantages of the area while away at the glacier this weekend. The hills and mountainous terrain was an advantage to those that lived there. Not only was the landscape a defensive advantage it also had properties that were important to survival. The multiple water falls from the melting of the glacier gave them a clean source of water for drinking and cooking. As seen with the position of Erick the Red’s long house, living on top of a hill or mountain side can be a great advantage in seeing attackers coming. The same position gives the defensive advantage of those attempting to attack being unable to completely sneak up on the residence and also can exhaust them before they even are able to attack properly. While the beach was a steep slope and could allow boats to get closer to shore than in other places it was still a rocky terrain and thus made it hard for ships to sneak up the coast line for attack or invasion.
Erik the Red’s house also gave me a lot of insight into how the people of those days survived and lived in such rough terrains and regions. The house was made of turf which helped insulate the house and keep the warmth in and the cold out – more so than wood or stones would. I noticed this when I stepped in because it was much warmer than the cold atmosphere outside. Also the roof is made out of turf as well, with grass on top. This adds a camouflage to the house but also assists in keep it warm on the inside of the residence. The long house was centered about a long fire pit which was outlined with rocks. The beds were also the sitting areas which saved warmth and space and allowed for a residence to be smaller and thus easier to keep warm. They also had lofts which added more space to the small residence without compromising heat by making the place longer or wider. You could also tell that everything from an animal was used after it had been killed. The meat was used for food; the fur was used as blankets and clothing, and the bones were kept for use of jewelry, tools, or weapons. This resourcefulness no doubt was a key attribute to their survival and healthy living in such tough conditions. It was interesting to hear that the women were the only ones allowed into the ‘kitchen’ area – that the men were forbidden to go into that section of the long house. Perhaps that’s why women now days tell men to ‘keep out of my kitchen’, I know I do that.
The most surreal thing about this weekend was visiting Helgafell. While I wasn’t able to climb up the mountain there completely I was able to go up a ways and when I looked out I immediately knew why some of the characters of the saga stayed in Helgafell. It’s a beautiful place, surrounded by mountains and a diverse landscape it was easy to fall in love with it as I sat on the rocks of the mountain. But the most amazing moment was when I stood before Gudrun’s grave. A lot of the time people read books that have some facts and never truly get into them because they aren’t able to visit the places where the book happened or have nothing to relate or connect them to the book or characters. I also found another part of myself while standing on that mountain side waiting for the others. I found a more mature part of myself. I never understood what my parents meant by seeing something so beautiful that there was an inhuman connection and surreal feeling but when I stood there in a place I had read about and seeing the remarkable landscape I realized that surreal feeling of seeing something so beautiful that all one can do is look in awe. Out of the various languages I have been learning I could find no words to fit what I saw. My parents understood this when they asked me how the scenery and trip were and all they got was silence as I tried to think of the words to describe it. I understand why almost all the characters always returned to Iceland in the end. I don’t think any place in the world can compare to this place. (Dr. G, Dr. N – You have succeeded in making this student fall in love this wonderful nation. I remember that one, or both, wished for us to understand the love that you two have for this place and while I am not yet at the level to understand the love that you two have for it, I realize that I am on my way to loving this place just as deeply and truly as you two.)
Something else that must be said is the feelings I had about Gudrun before I visited her grave. Reading the Saga I grew the dislike Gudrun and her tricking ways. I felt like she was a woman who cared little for others and didn’t mind hurting someone. I was only seeing her deeds from that point of view but when I stood before her grave everything changed. My thought process began to change quickly and I found myself in awe of the woman that lay beneath the ground before me. I realized that while she might have hurt others she was simply searching for happiness all her life. And even though she went through so much I can’t say that she ever truly found happiness because while she might have had tears innocent enough to burn the bones of a witch it doesn’t mean that those tears held the feelings of happiness. I realized the cruel woman I saw her as was the wrong way to see Gudrun. Don’t we all do horrible things to find something we want? I know I’m guilty of it just as much as she is. I now hold a greater level of respect for Gudrun and everything she went through – she is just as human as anyone else, perhaps even more human than the other characters of the Saga. She has suddenly become so easy to relate too. I must apologize to her when I visit her grave the next time I come to Iceland.
Another thing I wanted to do while at Gudrun’s grave was to ask her who she truly loved. Could it be that she loved all of her husbands save for the first one whom she was forced to marry? Could this also include Kjartan? All that is said about it is that she was the worst to the one she loved best. To some level she was bad to most of her husbands, so who’s to say she only loved one man in all her life? In not knowing I find frustration and yet peace with such an ending. It is most fitting for the story to have such an unanswered and yet answered reply to the question of who Gudrun truly loved. And while asking her at her grave won’t answer the question it would still be nice to do so. Sometimes answers are carried on the wind from the souls that have left the message behind. Or at least that’s what I believe.
All these experiences have helped me find a part of myself I never knew existed. This is why I came here. If I cannot find another part of me here I feel that I will never find it. I have grown so much during these past two weeks and I know that in the two weeks to come I will only grow more. I have finally learned to stand upon my own feet and fly without being afraid to hit the ground. The surreal experiences have helped me realize so much more about myself and the world. This world is so big and yet so very small at once. I found new loves that expand my understanding and admiration for the planet, the ideals, and the growth of this world.
I sincerely want to say Thank You to both Dr. Grathowl and Dr. Novak.
Finding something new to love in life is the greatest pleasure and for that I am thankful.
But my biggest thank you has to go to those that supported my want and drive to come to this place. I couldn't be here without that support (both emotionally and financially).
Takk Fyrir Mig! (Thank you!)
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