Surprises, Sickness and Sun!

As soon as I stepped out of the house Monday evening I could tell something was off.  Did it seem foggy outside, perhaps smell smoky? I continued walking to school for my first evening class, thinking maybe it was just in my head.  When I reached the park, I finally looked up to find literally every person in the park facing the direction from which I had come.  I turned to see smoke billowing from one of the houses not but a block from my own.  Then I heard sirens for the first time since coming to Iceland; a sound which I had become so accustom to in Chicago, yet here it sounded so foreign and piercing.  By the time I reached school I could still see a trail of smoke, though it has subsided quite a bit.  I think it struck me so much because again, I have not even heard a siren since arriving here.  Iceland seemed to have a bubble around it in my mind still, but alas, bad things happen here too.  The class I was walking to was Business and Intercultural Communications.  I have to say, even after just two classes, it is my favorite I am taking.  The teacher is very nice, very knowledgeable and does a very good job keeping her class engaged, not to mention the class itself is small and much good discussion has come from it already.  It is so fascinating to learn about how greatly culture impacts the business world.  Wednesday I woke up and felt as though I had been run over by a truck.  I don't get sick too often, but when I do it usually stays with me for a while.  Thursday, Friday and Saturday I slept a lot, trying to encourage my body to get better, though it doesn't seem to be working.  Last night, to get out of the house for a bit, Laura, Alex (Laura's boyfriend), Sierra, and myself went out for sushi.. This was the first time I had ever tried sushi... pretty good, though I think I would rather just eat a whole piece of salmon.  A good experience nevertheless.  I have also been working on a great deal of homework this weekend, due to the large amounts needing to be turned in in the near future.  Within the next three weeks I have two exams, three essays and two presentations.  As one of my housemates said "It is the point in the year where I don't feel like I have learned anything, yet everything seems to be due." So true.  That being said, it has been a tough week, though through it all there definitely were a couple of highlights.  First, the sun shone about five out of the last seven days, yay for sun! Second, my parents Face-Timed me last night telling me my wonderful boyfriend would be coming to visit the last week I will be here in May..Yay parents! What a blessing :) I think I took about six pictures this whole week, I apologize.

My refuge, Kaffibrennslan. 

One of the main buidings on campus, though I have never been inside. 

Alex and Laura

Salmon, avocado, and garlic all wrapped up in rice and seaweed.  Yum yum.