My everyday in Reykjavik

It was pointed out to me that I had not yet said anything about my everyday life here in Reykjavik, so let me catch you up!

Almost a month ago, as I first arrived here, the streets were still overflowing with tourists. In the meanwhile the situation is improving even if the numbers are still very rich and I am still hearing far more of other languages than of English.

I start off every morning riding to the university with my flatmate Marguerite, who is studying earth sciences as well (ca. 15 minutes with bicycle). We're permitted to use the bicycles of our landlord and landlady, which is of course super sweet of them! We really had incredible luck with our home in general. My room is of average size, filled up to the middle with a giant bed with just enough space left over next to it for a small table, a commode for my clothes and a nightstand. I share the bathroom, a mini-sofa and a small refrigerator with my flatmate. For cooking we go up to the ground floor (yes, we live in the "cellar" ^^) and we normally cook together. Sometimes our landlady will call us if she's cooking something Icelandic so we can taste it, so we're learning much more about Icelandic cuisine than most of the other exchange students; )

The prices in Iceland are comparable to those in Switzerland, in some cases even a bit more expensive. For most exchange students (especially those originating from East Europe or Africa) the life here is therefore very expensive, which is why there are quite a few who loot containers in the nighttime :P

No, its not a joke, its an open secret, where the supermarkets throw out their "old" vegetables (produce) and these can, in most cases, be eaten without worrying.

Almost every weekend a group of exchange students plans a trip somewhere. Often there are so many wishing to go they need to rent more than one vehicle. On the trips people go hiking, camping and end up enjoying themselves, feeling astonished, freezing...

In such a fashion I finally got to see a truly strong polar lights for the first time as we drove with a car out of the city and there were no clouds in the sky and good conditions were foretold for the polar lights :D

Best regards and I hope you're not freezing too much!

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