When I say "Iceland", what's the first thing that comes to your mind? Cold, snow-covered mountains? A quiet, deep-frozen land with few people and not much going on? My name is Alexandra Yingst, and I'm so excited to show you that Iceland is so much more than its name suggests!
I am originally from Pennslyvania, and I first came to Iceland in 2016 when I was working on my master's degree in Coastal and Marine Management at the University Centre of the Westfjords in Ísafjörður, Iceland. Iceland is one of the best places in the world to study fisheries and gender equality, both topics that I wanted to research in graduate school. Can you find Ísafjörður on a map? It is an astoundingly beautiful place, set right where the mountains meet the sea. After I finished my degree, I just couldn't leave Iceland, so now I'm working on my PhD in Global Studies at the University of Iceland. In my freetime, I enjoy scuba diving, hiking, knitting, and soaking in one of Iceland's many natural hot springs.
Having spent many years exploring this magical island, I'm so excited to share it with you! Whether it's through Iceland's epic volcanos, sparkling glaciers, gushing waterfalls, bizarre foods, or cultural traditions that date back to the time of the Vikings, let me show you how this small island in the North Atlantic Ocean is full of suprises.
