This is the first part of a multi-part series on Day 1 of the 2026 Iceland Intensive Learning Trip. To read the second part, click here; to read the third part, click here.
By Jason Y. and Allan W.
Our Iceland IL was nearly canceled.
We were supposed to leave around 2:20-2:30 p.m. on Thursday, but our flight got cancelled because of bad weather conditions in Iceland. I think as a group, we were pretty worried about what would happen: how many days would our trip get pushed back? Would our trip get cancelled? Would we shift our trip as many days over to make up? We had a lot of unanswered questions, and people were wondering if we would even have an Iceland trip, as the weather conditions did not look like they would improve for the next few days.
Mr. Ottman said he would provide email updates, and that regardless of whether or not we had any prospects of boarding a flight the next day (Friday), we should arrive at school no later than 1:50 p.m. Luckily we were able to secure a flight on Friday at around the same time as before (just 24 hours later), though it was still not 100% sure if it would be a go or not as airlines are infamous for cancelling at the last second. Everyone arrived on time (I [Jason] control this narrative 😈) and we left on the bus at around 2:00 p.m. There were mixed feelings. Hope. Worry. Hunger (Allan). Excitement.
We arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport and hung around for 1-2 hours before checking in. Luckily, our flight still seemed to be a go, and we successfully checked in, went through security, and got to the international terminal, which had limited food and seating options, but we managed. I’d also like to note many people were receiving college decisions around this time, so emotions were quite high. We all finished boarding around 8 p.m., and it was official: we were a go! The flight took off around 8:30-8:40, and was approximately 5 hours. A crying baby, goofing around, and other distractions meant most people didn’t get a lot of sleep, so by the time we landed in KeflavÃk International Airport at around 6:30 a.m. local time, we were pretty sleep deprived.
Regardless, we met Bjorn, our guide for our trip, and were quickly introduced to the reason our flight had been canceled. The short walk to the bus was what felt like a harrowing march in merciless winds and unforgiving snowfall. By the time we reached the bus, we realized we would need many more layers than we thought. We drove to our hostel where Bjorn gave an introduction to what we would do for the day, and then, more importantly, we had a great breakfast (the salami is to die for)! We then got a few hours to ourselves in our rooms, and after that, headed out for our first experience: the UNESCO Geopark.
The Geopark featured a vast landscape of hills, dunes, and cliffs covered in snow, black sand, and rocks we had to be careful not to roll our ankles on. UNESCO Geoparks are protected spaces because the local community has agreed to protect them. This commitment is rooted in respect for the powerful forces that shape these landscapes. Such environments should have minimal interference from humans, so that the natural processes may be unaffected. This agreement reflects core Quaker values like integrity, community, and stewardship. For the good of the land and future generations, Iceland’s citizens take up a duty to maintain these natural spaces. They also are trusting us as visitors to do the same. As I took this in while chasing my friends around the dunes, I began to understand the beauty in leaving places the way you found them. You can still have fun while being mindful of the surrounding environment, preserving its aura for others to experience.