University of Wisconsin–Madison

Iceland: Amy Laabs (Places: Routines and Favorites)

A grassy hill spotted occasionally with yellow wildflowers with four buildings at the top of the hill.
My favorite grassy hill in Reykjavík

A consistent, shall I say constant, part of my daily routine was Lorenzo’s bus. Every excursion, every activity, every accommodation – Lorenzo drives us to and from. It was a steadfast fixture of my Icelandic routine. And as bumpy as it was, it was also beautiful. Lots of laughs were had, karaoke sung, and memories made in Lorenzo’s clown car.

My favorite place in Reykjavík is a little unconventional, it’s not even really a “place.” In the city center there’s a statue that sits on top of a grassy hill. The hill overlooks the lower downtown area, you can see the bay, the beautiful music hall. But what makes this grassy hill my favorite place is the conversations I had on it. Our first day in Reykjavík, I spent time alone on the hill just observing (an activity I enjoy a lot). On our last day in Reykjavík, I spent hours on the grassy hill talking with the friends I made during our program. I’m so grateful to have met them and got to know them through our experience. I’ll always remember the grassy hill where we got to endlessly chat while watching the scenes of Reykjavík, Iceland. And it’s amazing to know we’ll bring our friendship and chats back to the grassy hills of Madison.

 

Amy leans up against a wooden pole on a wooden dock over a lake on a partly cloudy day.

Amy Laabs

Hometown: Chanhassen, Minnesota

Major: Social Welfare; Sociology

Program: UW Field Study in Iceland

I’ve always wanted to visit Iceland because it looks absolutely beautiful! I hope to experience amazing elements of nature and meet new people.