Work Experience in Reykjavik

As part of my masters programme, I am required to spend 4 weeks within a public relations consultancy/ department.

I applied to a number of PR agencies, consultancies and in-house departments and can whole heartedly say, the process was one of the most challenging I have faced.
I applied via e-mail, so to improve my chances of getting a reply, to around 20 UK based companies and to one international company KOM. I received 2 replies one from KOM offering me a placement opportunity, and one other, informing me that they were not in the position to take on students at this time of the year.

2 replies?! Now forgive me if I'm wrong but does the whole fundamentals of public relations pin onto communication?! I understand that during this current economic climate (which seems to be the scape-goat for everything and it's brother of late) companies are not in the position to hire, but how exactly does this transcend into the voluntary sector? And while budgets are being cut left, right and centre is it honestly too much to ask for someone to click 'Reply'- its not even costing the price of a stamp. 

Enough of a rant for now- though the whole experience has made me seriously reconsider my approach the the jobs market once I graduate.

I accepted my placement within Iceland's capital Reykjavik, and set about sorting my accommodation and flights. The whole experience was a very relaxed and painless one, and I was made to feel at ease throughout.

So the Christmas period passed and I arrived on Saturday January 1 2011, the city is truly beautiful and I am truly lucky to have been given such a fantastic opportunity within such picturesque surroundings. the people I have met so far (although few) have shown generosity like I have never known, an already I feel settled.

This is just the beginning of my time here is Reykjavik, and I plan to document as much as possible from here on in, looking at both my work experiences within an international PR setting and my personal time discovering for myself this beautiful city.