All you need to know about Iceland

I've been here three weeks now, which I think is sufficient to make me an expert on all things Icelandic, including history, culture, geography, people, food, and politics. Ask me anything. But maybe I can beat you to the  punch with this blog post.


History: 


Iceland was first settled between 870-874 AD by Norwegian Vikings, making Iceland the most recently inhabited country. There is evidence of Irish monks living in Iceland for possibly a century or two before this, however, it is inconclusive.
Whatever the exact case, do not be like my American classmate who told me the other day that she met an Indigenous Icelandic woman. I questioned: "Indigenous? By which you mean: fully Icelandic...Viking? Light hair and eyes?" "No," she responded earnestly, "She had dark hair, eyes, and skin."
"Iceland doesn't have indigenous people. The Vikings were the first ones here." I said a bit confusedly.
"No, no," she replied more insistently than ever, "she was definitely indigenous - you know, like Native Americans, only Native Icelanders. 

I found out later that this "Native Icelander" is Chilean.


That's enough history for now.

Statue of the first Norwegian to discover Iceland, Leifur Eiriksson, outside of Hallgrimskirkja

 

 

 

 

Culture: 


Culture seems to be more definable here than in other countries. My anthropology professor tells me that Icelandic culture is Vikings, Sagas, beer, Haldor Laxness, whales, sheep, horses, hiking, farming, the language, video games, Bjork, Sigur Ros.

Me taking part - rather enthusiastically - in a cultural event: a Rettir (sheep herding)

Geography:


Volcanoes, glaciers, geysers (Iceland boasts two of the five geysers worldwide), hot springs, flat mountains, waterfalls, fjords, little to no forestry or vegetation.

Fjord in the Westfjords

Famous volcanic eruption from Eyjafjallajokull

 

 

Also taking part in the rettir - actually herding sheep, not just posing.

People:

As you all hoped and expected, this is what Icelanders look like:
 













 Food and drink:

Chocolate covered black licorice, skyr (super-thick yoghurt), skyrtarte (Iceland's version of cheesecake), several thicknesses of milk, beer, puffin, whale, fermented shark, fish, potatoes, hotdogs, shriveled vegetables.

Monsters. Who could eat such a creature?

Politics:


Iceland's economic crash, beginning in 2008, has led the Icelandic people to resort to rather desperate political measures. An actor/comedian, named Jon Gnarr created a fake party called: "The Best Party". He was voted into office, and is now the mayor of Reykjavik. I strongly encourage you to check out this link and watch his inspirational campaign video (make sure to watch till the end):


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/iceland/7804777/Icelandic-comedian-to-become-Reykjaviks-mayor.html



According to multiple sources, the government is corrupt, but nobody protests. The only recorded revolution to have occurred in Iceland is threateningly titled: the "Pots and Pans Revolution" or the "Kitchenware Revolution". Icelanders showed their discontent with the government after the 2008 crash by banging pots and pans outside Parliament for three days. They even threw skyr (the thick yoghurt) and snowballs at the building. Madness.

Mayor, Jon Gnarr

I hope this has been educational.