BYU-Idaho Radio · BYU-Idaho Icelandic student shares her unique perspective
BYU-Idaho’s campus is filled with students from all around the world. Students come to study from the Ivory Coast, Chile, Australia – even Iceland.
Elin Gudnason is an international student who grew up primarily in Iceland. After nannying and serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United States, she did not plan to live in the U.S. long term.
“My mission president really encouraged me to think about coming to BYU-Idaho after my mission and I was so determined not to come to America. I was done with America for a while,” Gudanson said. “But that then changed later on after a little bit of humbling.”
Gudnason loves how friendly people are in the United States. She believes people in Iceland are more closed off, but here she has been able to make a lot of friends.
Gudnason’s favorite part about Iceland is how peaceful it is because you feel like you are one with nature.
“If you love nature, Iceland is literally the best place to be,” Gudnason said.
Gudnason believes that her experience with living in diverse parts of the world has helped her feel united to other people.
“You learn all the good and bad from all parts of the world and I feel like it just really helps us as people. It helps us to unite each other,” Gudnason said.
Gudnason hopes to live in the states and Europe throughout her life.