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.

In Transit: Boston!

Hello all,

I have yet to arrive in Reykjavik, but already find myself online and wanting to get this blog  started. Nothing too noteworthy has happened yet; this is simply an introduction to the blog that I will be keeping while in Iceland.  I will be living and studying at the University of Iceland, and it will be, of course, through the lens of my personal experience, but I hope it gives you a better idea of Icelandic life and culture. I hope you find it interesting/informative/entertaining. Let me know if more pictures are needed at any point!

Come to think of it, two somewhat notable things happened this morning in Boston:



I took the Subway into Boston (Bowdoin area) to see a bit of the city. I bought a ticket for the value of $5 US. As soon as I reached the subway platform, I had my eyes open for someone who could tell me how long my ticket would last for, or how many trips a $5 ticket purchased, as there was no real indication on the ticket itself. Ah! Very convenient; there she was. There on the platform was a transit service person sitting in a little cylindrical plexiglas office, open for questions. I approached her, then stood in front of her, staring through the rather thick looking plexiglas barrier that divided us. She looked at me. I waited for her to open some sort of window through which we could communicate. She did no such thing. I say: "Hi. Can you...hear me?" She nods in the affirmative. "Oh, ok. how long does this ticket last? When does it expire?" I ask. She mouths something. Let me tell you, this divider between us was NOT sound-permeable. If anything, it muffled what little sound did get through. I was not hearing what she was explaining to me. She continued to do hand gestures and enhanced verbal enunciation to communicate her meaning. I looked confused, but nodded as if I understood what she was saying (which I think was that there is no expiry on my ticket, which was only half of the information I was looking for...). I walked away smiling to myself, thinking what a ridiculously unhelpful system it was. More of a safety box than a help desk, I think.



Once I got into the city, I wandered around a bit, enjoying the old buildings, churches, City Hall, where there was a bike festival going on; then I finagled a Boston bagel at the ubiquitous "Finagle a Bagel" bagel joint. This was the best bagel I've ever had, and I encourage anyone in Boston to visit this chain.



Good thing I'm coming back to Boston next year for my brother's graduation and wedding, so that I can properly appreciate this beautiful city! Cant wait, but for now, ICELAND!!!



Hope you are all well,



Elise