Our school trip to Iceland would not have been complete without witnessing the spectacle of the Northern Lights. Many say that witnessing the lights is a life-changing event – the only downside is that the wonderous phenomenon is natural and therefore unpredictable. In Iceland, the Northern Lights are usually visible from September to April but also depend on several other factors such as cloud cover, darkness, and aurora activity. For many students this was a once-in-a-lifetime trip with only four nights to attempt to glimpse the wonder of the Northern Lights.
The first night gave nothing but dwindling hope, the pitch black, cloudy sky was not one to fill us with confidence for the rest of the trip. the second night, everyone milled about in their hotel rooms. Pyjamas were on, beds were ready for sleeping in, and everyone was tired from the long day of sight-seeing and hiking.
Shouts arose from one end of the corridor and suddenly doors were opening up and down the hallway. Students stampeded to the nearest doors, stopping to alert others. Excitement buzzed in the air like static electricity as everyone gathered outside the hotel. The ice-cold wind attacked from all angles, but we huddled together for warmth like penguins, some wearing just pyjamas and slippers!
The first few outside were quick to search out their friends in the dark and phone the ones who were not present so that they didn’t miss the dancing lights. Students from different years and groups – some who had never spoken - were offering advice on capturing the lights on their cameras. A group of students were quick to gather everyone’s phone numbers to set up a group-chat to exchange photos and keep everyone updated.
When the cold became unbearable – and when teachers advised that everyone went inside to warm up – students with North-facing windows offered up their rooms to other students so we could stay watching the lights for as long as possible. Huddled in the dark of the hotel rooms, hearts pounding from excitement, students took it in turns to go on hot-chocolate trips whilst the others kept a watchful eye on the sky.
It cannot be exaggerated, the joy of witnessing such a spectacular event, and whilst none of the photos were professional in quality, the memories attached to them made them infinitely more valuable.
