April 21, 2014

Sixth Month in Iceland by the Numbers

Happy Monday Everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful Easter :)

Today’s post is celebrating a big milestone in my expat life. I have survived my first 6 months in Iceland! It is suppose to be easy coasting from here right? Sadly I am a very realistic person and know this isn’t true but the first 6 months have been said to be the most difficult so I am more than happy to put those behind me.

So much has happened during these 6 months and I have grown in many ways. I have put myself out there more times than I can count, dealt with many feelings of homesickness, and taken several risks that have both paid off and failed. I have started to learn a new language, experienced Icelandic traditions and can now navigate my way around the city with ease. While I know that there will be many more difficult things that come my way I am finally feeling like I am at home here in Iceland.

With that lets get to recapping my 6 month here in Iceland, it was a big one!

Four friend dates with some wonderful ladiesWine and Friends

Two interviews stressed over before landing my amazing new job Iceland, Reykjavik, Sun Voyager, Mt. EsjanAnd an entire weekend spent jumping for joy!

Five hours spent at a conference about the future of social mediaHow Cool Brands Stay Hot

First vegan meal, it was amazing!Glo_Reykavik

Two seasons of House of Cards binge watchedHouse of Cardsvia

Two days traveling around the south of Iceland20140418-063128.jpg

Five waterfalls visitedwaterfall, Iceland

Hundreds of pictures taken on our road tripglacier lagoon

Daily chocolate temptations with all the massive Icelandic Easter eggsEaster Egg

Third Easter celebrated in IcelandEaster_2014And I finally gave in to those massive chocolate eggs that have been tempting me all month!

I can’t believe I have already been away from home for 6 months. I hope my 7th month brings a bit more sunshine but other than that life abroad is treating me well. Looking forward to feeling more and more settled into my surroundings with each passing day!

Previous by the numbers month recaps:
First Month in Iceland by the Numbers
Second Month in Iceland by the Numbers
Third Month in Iceland by the Numbers
Fourth Month in Iceland by the Numbers
Fifth Month in Iceland by the Numbers

posted by 42 Comments
Filed Under: Blogging, By the numbers Tagged:
  • http://www.travel-vanberry.blogspot.com/ VanBerry @ On the Road again

    Congrats and cheers to the next 6 months! ;)

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Thanks so much:)

  • http://bristolinmypocket.blogspot.co.uk/ Sara Rose

    Congrats!!! Six months!! Doesn’t time just fly by?

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      It really does fly by! I think when I look back on all that you have done is when I really realize how quickly time goes!

  • http://www.rhymeandribbons.com/ Amanda

    Congratulations!!!! Do you feel much more settled now? X

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Thanks Amanda:) I would say I feel more settled in feeling like my apartment is home. Some days it is still quite hard not having close friends around, and the whole language barrier thing. But I am finally starting to feel a bit more settled with each day:)

  • http://www.alwaysashten.com/ Ashten@alwaysashten

    Happy 6 months, dear!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Thanks so much Ashten!

  • http://voyageofthemeemee.com/ Amanda MeeMee

    I’ve never had a completely vegan meal… that would be interesting to try!
    Happy 6 months, darlin’! :)

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      I never had either, and I was a bit unsure about it but it was amazing! Thanks so much girl;)

  • http://tidethatleft.blogspot.co.uk/ Amy @ the tide that left

    Seems like just the blink of an eye when I read your 5 month review. Time really does pass so quickly. You’ve achieved so much in 6 months - I’m well impressed!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Time really is flying by! Thanks Amy, these monthly recaps help me see how much I have accomplished, a great motivator on those days when expat life is hard and you feel like nothing is happening your way:)

  • http://meetatthebarre.blogspot.com/ Amanda Elizabeth

    Wow you have certainly done and seen so much already in 6 months! I can’t wait to keep following along!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Thanks Amanda! I hope the next 6 months are even more amazing:)

  • http://www.chicadeedee.com/ Dannielle @ Chic-a-DeeDee

    Holy egg, I thought the ones here were big! Happy 6 month anniversary (jeez I sound like we are dating). I’ve loved following along since you started your blog and can’t wait to see where you go next :)

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Thanks so much Dannielle:) Finding a group of other expat bloggers (yours was one of the first I found) has been such a wonderful and helpful thing! And yes the Easter eggs here are ridiculously large!

  • http://agirlandhertravels.com/ Polly

    Happy six months! I think my sixth month in Russia was February, and I was still just cursing the cold weather. You’re doing much better!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Thanks Polly. Well since it snowed over Easter break I am cursing the cold weather for sure. Hope the next 6 months brings a bit more sunshine!

  • http://www.jadeoak.com/ jackie jade

    what an awesome month for you. jealous of your gorgeous travel photos!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Thank you! Iceland is a great backdrop for photography:)

  • http://www.treatsandtravels.com/ Kristen @ Treats and Travels

    Congrats on 6 months living in Iceland!! It looks like you have really engaged yourself in the community and put yourself out there. Kudos to you for making the most of your experience abroad. I’ve really enjoyed reading your stories and looking at your travel photos- they are absolutely gorgeous. Can’t wait to continue following through month 7! :)

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Thanks so much Kristen:) Some days I feel like I haven’t accomplished anything since moving here but these month recaps really help me reflect back on how far I have come. So happy your following along!

  • http://www.snowflakesincalifornia.blogspot.com/ Nathalie

    For me it did get easier around month 7 or 8, also because I ‘stopped’ thinking about it so much and maybe because I’m getting closer to visiting my family this summer (once you’re over the half way point it’s a mental booster!) so that can help. I’m really impressed by how you’ve done so much in such a short time! Congrats :)

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Thanks Nathalie! I hope it starts getting easier as well but visits with family always help! And sunshine!

  • http://www.jarfullofstars.com/ Lisa

    Wow, congrats! 6 months feels so big, doesn’t it?? And what amazing experiences you’re creating there! Oh and the rocks of that waterfall are sure cool looking :)

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Thanks Lisa! It feels like I should through myself a party:)

  • http://confuzzledom.wordpress.com/ bevchen

    Yay for freind dates!

    Love that photo of you jumping.

    Also, those are indeed some huge Easter eggs!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Thanks! Aren’t the Easter eggs huge! I have never seen anything like it, Icelanders go all out for Easter.

  • http://www.tothedayslikethis.com/ Sammy Dorn

    I love these posts. Yay for your 6 months in Iceland!! I really do think the first 6 months is the hardest. You are flying high now!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Thanks Sammy:) I really hope those first 6 months were the hardest and its behind me now! I hope you had a wonderful trip home as well!

  • http://sophieinclogs.com Sophie

    Congratulations!! That Easter egg looks phenomenal … was it as good as it looks?
    I definitely think life abroad got easier for me after 6 months, but obviously some days/weeks will be a bit harder than others. Sounds like you are making the most of it though and I love reading your posts, they’re always so uplifting!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      I am really hoping it will be the case for me and life will get a bit easier now! If only I could somehow figure out the language a bit quicker;) Those Easter eggs are delicious, it is a blessing and a curse to have them so big! Thanks so much Sophie for the sweet comment so glad your enjoying my posts!

  • http://www.gutenblogyall.com/ Margo

    I too fight that daily chocolate offering battle - how these Europeans stay so thin and eat these wonderful sweets boggles my mind!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      I seriously don’t understand between all the bread, cheese and sweets they must have some secret they are not telling us!

  • http://esthernovich.blogspot.com.es/ esthernovich

    Congrats on leaping that 6-month barrier! I´m sure it will get easier and better from now on. I look forward to reading what new adventures you encounter :)

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Thank you! I hope it gets easier from now on as well. Thanks so much for reading along!

  • http://speaking-denglish.com/ Alex, Denglish Speaker

    House of Cards is always a pro decision. And 5 waterfalls in a month?! Only in Iceland…

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Seriously, I wonder if anyone has ever counted how many waterfalls are in Iceland, it must be hundreds!

  • http://anothercleanslate.com/ Kate @ Another Clean Slate

    Five waterfalls? I’m so jealous.

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Iceland is just full of natural beauty!

  • http://totravelandbeyond.wordpress.com/ Macy Gutermuth

    Congrats! So jealous of everything you are doing. It’s awesome that you get Netflix! My best friend lives in Paris and it doesn’t work there yet. I’ve yet to watch House of Cards, it’s on my list after I finish Gossip Girl. HOC is filmed right by my house and my mom along with several of my friends have been in it!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      I actually just use a site called hola.com to unblock netflix and give me an American address, maybe it would work for her as well:) How cool about HOC I am so hooked on that show!