We are so excited to meet all of you! We are Trivik and Lauren, your leaders for this amazing Smithsonian program to Iceland. This is just a quick post to introduce ourselves and give you some advice for preparing for our trip.

Here’s a little bit about Trivik:

I live in The Netherlands, cycle to work and everywhere else all the time, and love climbing and trying new food. I teach urban planning and climate and social justice to young adults at a university. I am down for swimming anywhere in any temperature! I am super excited about Iceland and getting to know all of you in this wonderful and gorgeous landscape. Together, we will take a journey to the center of the earth 😉

And a little bit about Lauren:

I grew up in northern Idaho in the U.S. and am now a Ph.D. student at UC Santa Cruz in California. I study humpback whale health and behavior in the Antarctic and Colombia, and I am excited to see some marine life with you in Iceland! I love good coffee, all animals, trail running, plant-based food, and getting off the beaten path. We are going to have an incredible time together—come with an open mind and an adventurous spirit.

You already know this, so we just wanted to reiterate that we should pack for sunny days and rainy/cold nights. Layers are good, and swimsuits are very important! We will be providing you with small journals for you to record your thoughts and experiences. 

While you’re packing your bags, we’d like you to reflect on a few questions:

1. What is one way you want to grow as an individual on this trip? 
2. What do you think will push your limits?
3. Is there anything you are nervous about or looking forward to?

We will be discussing these during our orientation on the first few days of our trip. We can’t wait to meet you (Trivik will see you at the airport, and Lauren will see you when you arrive in Iceland). Get excited!

— Lauren & Trivik