A Summer in Iceland

A recent graduate of our Masters program, Laura Cernik, spent the summer in Iceland with the Dorothy Rosenberg-Paser Fellowship. Here, she speaks about her amazing experience!

My journey began in the early spring when I applied to the three-week intensive Icelandic course at the University Westfjords.

Following my acceptance, I prepared for my trip and arrived in the end of July. The class was hosted at the university’s main building in the Icelandic town of Ísafjörður. With a population of about three thousand, it is the largest town in the West Fjords. Historically, Ísafjörður was the location of several early-modern witch trials as well as the only early-modern Danish trading post in the West Fjords. Despite these claims to fame, Ísafjörður today is a small friendly fishing town that sees the occasional cruise ships in port and an assortment of enthusiastic hikers.

My main reason for attending was of course to learn the language, but I also got my first introduction to Icelandic culture. Our courses were divided between morning instruction, which consisted of grammar, speaking and writing, and our afternoon and evening classes broken down into fun culture and vocabulary courses that changed on a daily basis. These were meant to engage the students and teach them concepts while pulling them away from the classroom setting, such as learning pronunciation by singing traditional Icelandic songs in a choir. My attendance in the course allowed me to learn the language, but also network with others in my field as well as make new friends. It was a unique and exciting opportunity and I am very thankful for the support I received.

Laura's summer in pictures:

The beautiful town of Ísafjörður from a hiking trail on one of its mountains.

Pictured here are some of Ísafjörður’s “residents” enjoying the grass in an open field. Icelandic sheep are allowed to openly graze across the country during the summer months, only to be rounded up and returned to their owners in the fall. This tradition dates back to the medieval period.

This is a photo of Prestabugt, the cove that connects the town of Ísafjörður to the fjord Ísafjarðardjúp and eventually the Atlantic Ocean. Fishing and tourism are the two most important forms of income for Ísafjörður and this waterway is vital for fisherman and the cruise ships.

Fellow classmates on a hike in the West Fjords, following our trip to a festival where we had the opportunity to test our Icelandic skills by listening to theater productions and music.

This is a view of Þingvellir national park, which is a popular tourist site and an important historical location. Þingvellir is said to be where the first Alþingi was held in 930 CE, which the Icelandic government claims makes them the longest running parliament in the world. This Alþingi would evolve into the modern Icelandic parliament and Icelanders use this historical event to mark the beginning of their national identity as a sovereign nation.

A view of Reykjavík from the top of Hallgrímskirkja, the parish church of the Church of Iceland in the city. Around 244 feet tall, this church is one of the tallest building in Reykjavik.

A photo of Laura at Faxa Bay, in Reykjavík. The name Reykjavík comes form the Old Norse words “reykr” (smoke) and “vík” (bay). The name means “Bay of Smoke,” a reference to the vast quantities of geothermal steam surrounding the bay.

Thank you for sharing your experience, Laura!