With the thesis research in full swing, things in Akureyri quieted down considerably. As the days got shorter, most people made a point of taking a break during daylight hours to relax. Some biked around town, some jogged, and some anticipated the snow to come to start various snow sports. As the two Americans present in Akureyri, Ashlin and myself crafted a model American Thanksgiving dinner. Authentic dishes were made, such as pumpkin and apple pie, stuffing, homemade bread, green bean casserole, potatoes, gravy, and a 9 kg turkey, affectionately named Tom. All 14 of us said what we were thankful for, and enjoyed a tasty meal.
With Christmas just around the corner, things in Iceland turned towards the holidays. The Christmas shop, which is actually open year-round, reminded us of the various holiday traditions of our various countries.
I had a chance to escape to Brussels, Belgium for some research time with my thesis advisor. The time was productive, and the short 14 week thesis period meant that extensive research was crammed into a very short period of time. For some, it felt like the 'To Do List' kept getting longer. While in Brussels, I made some time to explore around the city and take in the sights.
Even with the deadline months away, we were all feeling the crunch to stick with our timelines and make sure the work gets done. Since the projects were fairly independent, it was up to each of us to motivate ourselves to stay focused. Help from enthusiastic advisors was always a welcome motivator.
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