Back in the U.S. safely!

After a wonderful trip, I am back in the United States and back to work. Iceland is a great place to visit that I strongly recommend. I would say do not visit there for less than three days. Be sure to bring lots of money, because it is very expensive. However the views and scenery are unreal. I had a great time there, met some really cool people in the hostel, and had an enjoyable flight home.

I found out that "útsala" is an Icelandic word that means "sale" as in items in a store being at a discounted price. The Icelandic language is pretty cool and reminds me somewhat of Russian (not that I know Russian or have heard much of it.)

The people over there were very friendly and welcoming. It is a very safe country with water that is purified through lava, and the shower and toilet water is volcanic water which smells like rotten eggs. It takes some getting used to. They call the bathrooms either "toilets" or "WC" (water closet). And there are even public WC's downtown, unlike in many bigger cities in the U.S. where you have to pay and eat at a restaurant to use the bathroom.

Suggestions:
--I strongly recommend AT&T phone cards for anyone traveling. The minutes never expire, they are very easy to use, and you can sometimes find them at a discounted rate at Target.

--Also, minimize the amount of times you use an ATM, as you will most likely be charged a fee to use an ATM that is not part of your bank's network. I used my credit card a lot. You may also want to contact your credit card company to let them know you are traveling, because the company may shut off your credit card if you have simultaneous transaction in the U.S. and in another country (i.e. if you purchase something with your credit card in Europe and also buy something online.). And always remember to have a GREAT time, even if it is cold and raining. You are on vacation! Enjoy!

--Take advantage of as many drinks and snacks on the airplane as you can. Most international flights have meals included, so partake in as much as possible because it is "free!" And be sure to get airline miles for your travel!

--If you are on a tight budget, staying in a hostel is a good idea. Check online for specific information, however the ones that have breakfast included and are close to the center of the city are a benefit. Make sure to check if it is a sleeping bag accommodation, which means you have to bring your own sleeping bag. I chose the dormitory sleeping arrangement because if you book a suite, you have to pay for the number of people that can occupy the room (i.e. if it is a double-bed suite, you have to pay for both people)

"Life is GREAT!" -GB

Iceland is Amazing!

I am currently at the Blue Lagoon (thermal heated pools). It is quite the sight to behold. Yesterday I flew to Akureyri, known as the "Capital of the North." There I saw mud pots, glaciers from the plane, land eroded by volcanic ash, Lake Myvatn, and more. Wow, is all I can say.

Once I leave the Blue Lagoon today, I am headed a little farther north to see Geysir and another common spot. The views in Iceland are spectacular, the people are nice, and this entire country is expensive! However, I strongly recommend that you come visit.

I have been staying in a hostel right near the downtown area of Reykjavik, which is convenient. I am able to walk most places, and there are multiple tourist information centers downtown where you can book tours. I stumbled upon a free tour which took two hours and was fascinating. Free is good, and even better when you can have fun and learn at the same time.

The weather in Iceland over the past two days has been gorgeous--probably in the high 60´s. The temperature rarely reaches 75 in the summer, however the sun and light wind make it a beautiful place to be. Today and throughout the rest of the week it will be raining, as a tropical storm is coming through. Cold rain will not stop me from having fun. I am still very wet right now, but it is time to continue in my adventure.

I have lots of pictures to show, though I most likley will not be able to explain them all as I may have forgotten where I took them.

This may very well be my last blog in Iceland, but my adventure never ceases. After all, it's Iceland! And, I am NOT the only random person who decided to go to Iceland. Many of you wondered why I chose Iceland for vacation. I chose it because I wanted to visit another European country, Iceland is on the way back from Europe to the U.S., and it is random. On my bus from the airport to Reykjavik, I met a young man who was on a business trip in London, and he randomly decided to stop over in Iceland because it is on the way and it is random. So, at least I am not the most ridiculous person in the world! (Or am I).

Enjoy the View!

Last Night in Dublin

Well, we did not go to the theatre or hear authentic local Irish music. The day we were going to hear the Irish music, two out of the four people in our group were tired and the other two of us decided to just stay in and watch an Irish movie with them. We did not go to the theatre because we stayed much longer at dinner last night and would not have been able to get to the box office in time. Also, theatres are typically sold out of tickets Thursday through the weekend. So instead, we chatted and had a good time in the City Centre (downtown).

Tonight we head to Fagan's, a local Irish bar/pub that is only a five minute walk from All Hallows. It is the favored pub of our professor, so tonight is the night that most of our class will head there.

Tomorrow afternoon I fly through London en route to the land of ice (though I don't think they call it that)--Iceland! I am still fine-tuning things now, but am looking to have a great time there! I will be sure to keep you informed about what I do there, but am looking to go to the Rift Zone, go on some tour I heard about, and see the hotspots and cool stuff there.

I doubt I will have as frequent of Internet access, but will try to let you know what happens.
Time to go...for now!

Class & Interesting Irish stuff

Today was our third of six days of class. The material we are covering is quite interesting, from spiritual leadership to servant leadership. We are learning to analyze our own leadership styles using various tests and formats so that we will become aware of our own method. Many people, including myself, are finding that some of the results we received from the tests are the opposite of what we believed. That could be for a variety of reasons.

Today has been mostly another sunny day, though with a few more clouds. A night of Irish music is before us, as some of us will be trekking down to the City Centre (yes that is how they spell it) to hear authentic Irish music. (Bagpipes are mostly Scottish, by the way.)

All Hallows College is a quiet and serene place. The staff is friendly, the small campus is cozy and green with trees and flowers, and the buildings are old (as in historic). The shower stalls are quite small, but then again so are most of the cars in Europe. If you can fit into a small car, you should be able to squeeze into a small shower. The toilets are also tinier than typical American ones, and the toilets here are actually circular. Did anyone ever wonder why many American toilets maintain an oval shape? What is the reason for that?

Let's see...what else have I learned? The Irish have health care for everyone. If you want to pay for it, you can opt for private health care. A small car in Ireland is sold for approximately $15,000 Euro (about $24,000). The Irish often have porridge for breakfast, which is similar to oatmeal. However their porridge is usually plain and you add ingredients (i.e. raisins, sugar, etc.); it is not like American instant oatmeal. The Irish dissertation is the equivalent of the American thesis. Most city buses in Ireland are double-decker, not like the Chicago 60-foot buses (accordion buses as some of us call them.) The Irish apparently do not celebrate St. Patrick's Day like the Americans do, however the Irish are increasing their celebration a little bit. Also, corned beef hash is not popular at all in Ireland. Go figure.

Enjoy the ice cream...that would be quite enjoyable right now.

First Full Day of Class

Yesterday, we had our introduction to the course, which just spanned two hours. Today is our first full day of coursework--9:30 a.m.--5:30 p.m. with a few breaks in between. The students in the class appear to be motivated and excited, which should make for a great discussion. It is difficult to understand many people because of their thick accents, but we are all learning something new.

It is 8:15 a.m. here in Dublin, meaning that it is 3:15 a.m. for those of you on the east coast, and 2:15 a.m. for you midwesterners. That means that you should all be in bed right now.

The weather yesterday was amazing. I think it may have gotten into the 70's and it was sunny! The Irish rarely see that much sun, so it was a very pleasant surprise. This morning is overcast again and cool.

That's all for now! Talk to you soon!

Arrived Safely!

After a very good dinner and breakfast on American Airlines, I'm here in Dublin, safe and sound. A little rain came that will not hinder me from venturing out into the city. And the "Customer Care" people in the Dublin Airport who were keeping order in the customs area were cool.

We are at All Hallows College, which is about a 30 minute walk (or short bus ride) from downtown Dublin. The College is small, but has lots of grass and flowers. It is located off of a fairly main road with access to multiple buses that go into the city as well as to the airport. There is a church and I believe four buildings. I will be going out to explore the campus and downtown in a little while.

Of course I am unable to access my personal e-mail from this computer, so for now this posting will have to suffice. Our course begins tomorrow afternoon, so I have a little time to relax and enjoy being in Ireland! Oh, and they have some really cool signs and ways of saying things here, as I remember from other parts of Europe. They also drive on the opposite side of the road, which will take some getting used to.

Until next time, Slainte! (I'm not sure exactly what that means, but our professor used it once. I believe it may mean "cheers."

Leaving for Dublin & Iceland!

Well, it is only 9 hours from now until my flight is scheduled to leave...direct to Dublin, Ireland. I'll be there for a week taking a course on Leadership and Management. It is so strange that I have been thinking about this trip for a long time, and now it is finally here! At least international flights are different from domestic flights in that there is usually no fee for checked bags, and you are given a "free" meal. I say "free" because you have already paid for the meal in your ticket price. I hope that they have peanuts...I really miss the small packs of peanuts. It seems like in the recent past, airlines have switched to pretzels, cookies, or crackers. I just miss those peanuts.

I tend to have my own personal strange traditions that I create. For example, even though I am not a soda ("pop" for those of you in the Midwest) drinker, I used to order a Sprite every time I flew. Recently, that tradition has switched to orange juice. The orange juice is usually pretty good, though one of the few things I am somewhat picky about is my orange juice. I am a fan of Florida's Natural and Tropicana--nothing with high fructose corn syrup or made from concentrate. Many airlines I have flown seem to have Minute Maid, so I end up having to settle for that.

I also have started writing hand-written letters on take-off. For over a year and a half now, I have written at least an average of one hand-written letter per week. I write to friends, former colleagues, and people who I know will either write back or at least truly appreciate my letter. I take the time to hand-write the letters because it shows your genuine interest in taking the time to share your life story with others. There is nothing at all like receiving a hand-written letter personally addressed to you, which you then have to spend time deciphering the writing. However, you can often tell by the way a person writes and by what they write just how much meaning and sentiment is behind the letter. You do not get that same feeling from an e-mail or typed letter, even with changing fonts, highlighting words, or adding color.

As absolutely amazing as it is to receive a letter, writing a letter is not primarily about that. It is about giving. People love to hear your stories! And just the mere task of writing a letter is an inspirational and motivating experience. It puts you at peace and helps you reflect and think about your day, your week, your life. You really feel yourself being genuine and honest.

Going back to the writing a letter at take-off, I just decided one day on an airplane that it would be a fun challenge to write as the plan was going from zero to a few hundred miles per hour, while the plane was shaking on the runway and lifting off. It is indeed a challenge, but one in which I was able to conquer (though my handwriting at that point is not entirely legible!)

So I invite you to start with one person. Find someone you know (family member, relative, friend, colleague, etc.). Write him/her a letter. Do not worry about making it short and do not give yourself a limited time to write. Keep writing until you feel that the letter is finished. If you make a mistake and cross a word out, keep writing. It is more real when you send your first and only written draft of a letter. Put your return address on the envelope and encourage that person to write back. A week later, write a letter to another friend. After a few weeks, write back to the first friend, regardless of whether or not he/she has written back. You do not have to, and should not necessarily, wait for a letter to come back before you write to a friend again. Eventually, your friend will likely get the hint and begin writing back.

This is my first time trying this blog thing out. I have heard many people mention blogs before, however I am now coming to understand how it can be used and all of its features. I will try to updated the blog as frequently as I can. Since I am new at it, I may forget that I created one (at least for a little while.) I will try to remember!

That's all for now!