On to Reykjavík! YOSH! ... er... how do you say "yoshi" in icelandic?
Frankly, enough has happened in Reykjavík now that I may lack the fortitude to describe it. I will do a brief survey of matters, thematically orchestrated, of course.
Bustle
Arriving in Reykjavík actually meant bussing back to the airport and then taking another bus ($15!) into the capital, where I transferred again and was finally dropped off right at the campground. Wonderfully, it turned out to be the same place I'd stayed last time -- but in the winter, of course, no one was camping!
It's definitely nicest hostel I've ever been to; and, despite staying in a tent, I was free to use the kitchen, internet, and so on. Instead, I jumped over to a local pylsa (AWESOME Icelandic hotdogs) stand and bummed around in another swimming pool.
My travel to meet Guðrun, the contact from the University, was less fun. I was already doubling over from worry-pukiness about my money and my language ability; I missed the bus stop and had to walk quite a long way to the bus terminal where I was to meet her. But, shit, at least the scenery was great.
The above pictures are arranged so you get an idea of the various oblique travels I've already been through.
It's definitely nicest hostel I've ever been to; and, despite staying in a tent, I was free to use the kitchen, internet, and so on. Instead, I jumped over to a local pylsa (AWESOME Icelandic hotdogs) stand and bummed around in another swimming pool.
My travel to meet Guðrun, the contact from the University, was less fun. I was already doubling over from worry-pukiness about my money and my language ability; I missed the bus stop and had to walk quite a long way to the bus terminal where I was to meet her. But, shit, at least the scenery was great.
The above pictures are arranged so you get an idea of the various oblique travels I've already been through.
Bar Life
Reykjavík partying is famously... enthusiastic. While having a smoke at my old favorite haunt, Prikið, I wound up in a very odd situation that involved: a drunk and seemingly half-crazy Icelandic girl (who was, confusingly, also way pretty) hitting on me very directly, a somewhat jealous guy whom was maybe not from Iceland (though he was fluent) continually criticizing my hair (bad move), me being accosted of Americanism by someone who claimed to be of Native American descent, stolen tuna sandwiches, middle aged ladies offended at a word that apparently means "soaking wet" (as in, you know, down there), and finally a hurried walk home to get away from it all.
I've also finally been to Sirkus, a famous bar favored by Björk and featured in her videos. It definitely felt like I wasn't cool enough to be there. I also purchased there the most expensive pack of smokes I've ever bought in my life (thank you, exchange rate).
I've also finally been to Sirkus, a famous bar favored by Björk and featured in her videos. It definitely felt like I wasn't cool enough to be there. I also purchased there the most expensive pack of smokes I've ever bought in my life (thank you, exchange rate).
I've yet to party with the local enthusiasm as I haven't got the local bankroll, nor have I got the guts to risk sleeping through class after an 8-hour barhop.
The Program!
The usual makeup of people, though there seem to be a few more respectable minds (graduate students and whatnot) involved. I've had a great chat with a Ph.D. student about leisure time and how it figures into construction of identity. I live with a guy from Holland, Guus, and the non-voiced sound that begins his name is really got my blushing in embarrassment as I can´t seem to pull it off. He and ostensibly all the others are polyglots par excellence. It's exciting to not be bored with the intelligence of those around me for once (chances are that does mean you, sorry!).
So far the coursework is simple but informative. I worry about people maybe just wanting to party and not wanting to learn; the only real issue I take with this is that I don't want to look like a dick when I tell people I'd prefer to stay home sometimes. If they buy the drinks -- sure, I'll party it up quotidian-stylez... but I don't see it happening.
The faculty are all very nice so far. As you can see here, the lecture halls are total philomath sex -- wired and connected and ready to colonize our minds.
I can't help but be reminded, for better or for worse, of my life-changing times in Fukuoka, Japan. I know this month will impact me greatly, though I can't imagine it having the magnitude of the six I spent in Fukuoka.
Anyway! The great hunt for booty (and not in the monetary sense) seems to have begun already. I think it's going to be a long month. And this trademark morsel of TMI would probably be a good place to close this post, but not without a brief picture dump of a few shots I won't explain but will instead leave to you to work out -- though I would like to add that the three outdoor shots below were taken around midnight.
Við sjaumst!
So far the coursework is simple but informative. I worry about people maybe just wanting to party and not wanting to learn; the only real issue I take with this is that I don't want to look like a dick when I tell people I'd prefer to stay home sometimes. If they buy the drinks -- sure, I'll party it up quotidian-stylez... but I don't see it happening.
The faculty are all very nice so far. As you can see here, the lecture halls are total philomath sex -- wired and connected and ready to colonize our minds.
I can't help but be reminded, for better or for worse, of my life-changing times in Fukuoka, Japan. I know this month will impact me greatly, though I can't imagine it having the magnitude of the six I spent in Fukuoka.
Anyway! The great hunt for booty (and not in the monetary sense) seems to have begun already. I think it's going to be a long month. And this trademark morsel of TMI would probably be a good place to close this post, but not without a brief picture dump of a few shots I won't explain but will instead leave to you to work out -- though I would like to add that the three outdoor shots below were taken around midnight.
Við sjaumst!
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