My HI Connect Experience in Iceland

My wish came true by sheer coincidence and without much planning. I randomly came across a volunteer abroad opportunity. It immediately caught my attention, so I contacted Hostelling International Slovenia without hesitation. I was rather surprised that I had never heard of the organisation before because while browsing their website I found that they offered really incredible opportunities for volunteering abroad. Lucky for me, they also offered volunteering in Iceland, and just when I was ready to go a spot opened up because the other participant withdrew. Call it coincidence or not, I took it as a sign that it was finally time to visit Iceland. From first contacting the organisation right through to the departure everything moved along incredibly fast. In less than two months time, in early December, I was already travelling to Iceland.

I never set expectations, but if I did, they’d definitely be surpassed in this case. Hostels in Iceland are highly organised and with a touch of familiarity. They are places where people actually feel good and where they like to hang out. Even the staff and other volunteers gave me the impression that they really liked working there. Moreover, HI Iceland has three hostels in Reykjavik and I experienced working in all three. My work was very diverse. Each day was different from the last and my assignments could change throughout the day. I spent a lot of time working with Helena Óladóttir, my mentor, who is responsible for the quality and environmental management of the company. She told me what the company does for sustainable development and how they are doing their best to comply with the highest quality standards. In the first few days I participated in a really entertaining event, held each month at one of the hostels. The event is called Swap Market and people gather all the clothes that have been left at the hostel by guests during the month and offer them to the participants free of charge. People can swap clothes, accessories, towels, books, movies, toys, etc. Basically everything that can still be used. My job and the job of another volunteer, who was at HI Iceland on a placement, was to figure out what could still be used and what should be discarded. We visited all three hostels, gathered the items guests had left behind, washed them, folded all the clothes, sorted all the things that were useful as well as those that weren’t, and in the end, prepared everything for the event. It was exciting to see people’s immense interest in the event. I also spotted a lot of second-hand shops in the streets of Reykjavik, so people there seem to be really fond of them. Other days, I helped with different activities at the hostel where they showed me their recycling process which they strictly adhere to. I also had the chance to work at the reception desk and help clean the rooms. The other employees in the company always supported me, so I always felt that I was accepted, and I gladly learned and was happy to help in the organisation.

I was surprised by how much HI Iceland dedicates to environmental care. Nowadays environmental care is very much present, but sometimes it feels like hostels and hotels use it more for promotional purposes while HI Iceland actually dedicates a lot of funds precisely for environmental care, and this can be seen in all areas. When guests first arrive at the reception desk they are introduced to the hostel’s environmental protection policy and are encouraged to waste as little food as possible. That’s why there are special baskets in the hostel’s communal kitchens where guests can leave food for other guests, so they don’t throw it away. I really liked the zero waste policy and it really worked well.

Helen and I also went through the annual sustainable development reports. She showed me what could be improved and what their plans are. Each month she also reads the electricity meter in all three hostels and compares the results with the previous months. I helped her with that in December and I must say it was a great pleasure.

I really loved that I was included in a wide range of activities at the hostel, so I could truly experience everything. Of course I also had days off work when I went on trips across the country. I took the Golden Circle Tour and saw glaciers and famous black beaches. I visited the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa and saw the northern lights. Like every local, I also went bathing in the public pools where the water temperature was 30 degrees Celsius while the air temperature was –10 degrees Celsius.

Going back to the beginning of the article and my thoughts about Iceland prior to my departure, I can say that I still think that this is a remarkable and incredibly calm place where it feels as if time has slown down a bit. Shopping streets in all major capitals are packed with reputable shops. Something you won’t see in Reykjavik. The main street is full of little shops owned by Icelandic designers and there are no popular fast-food chains here. They do have streets of the gods. You can walk the streets named after the old Norse gods and it’s quite common for the Icelanders to be named after them as well. Names, such as Thor, Freya, etc. An interesting fact is that many Icelanders still believe that fairies and elves exist, and I’m not kidding.