Áfram Ísland!

"Go Iceland!"
Today is Independence Day in Iceland! We went to nearby Reykholt to celebrate with speeches (in Icelandic, but they were out friends so we clapped and cheered anyways) face painting, soccer, and a soap box derby.



This is Amanda, Dr. Novak and me after our face/head paintings









My host family had two cars in the race, "Super Reindeer," which had fur and a skull, and "No. 11," which was driven by their 11y/o son Matthius, who wore a trash bag jersey. Super Reindeer won in its heat! So of course we celebrated and cheered- in Icelandic, "Áfram Super Reindeer!"






This is Super Reindeer pulling ahead of the pack










After today's parades and games, I am sooo ready for 4th of July in the States. It didn't occur to us that they can't do fireworks here because it never gets dark, so now I'm all excited for the show in Oakboro. I hate to say it, Iceland, but we do Independence day better.

Bless Bless!

A Scot, an Icelander, and a Dane walk into a bar...

Actually, we all walked into a barn.

Tuesday night was homestay night, meaning we were split into pairs and spent time with different families for the evening. Regan and I went to a nearby cattle farm, where an huge Icelandic family lives. The smaller family that we hung out with had an Icelandic father, a Danish wife, and a Scot named Billy who has lived with them for two years working on the farm. Soon he hopes to move to New Zealand. We got to herd the cattle, aka walk behind them as they herded themselves into the barn, then watched them hook themselves up the machine and be milked.















The farm was HUGE and surrounded by mountains and a glacier. It stretches from the river (that also runs through Skalholt) to Geysir- a good four or five miles along the road. The father told us how all the farmers in Iceland get drunk every fall to go herd the sheep off the mountains where they have the summer pastures. Apparently it's the thing to do.












We rode around the farm, seeing the horses, quarries, and fields- some of which have never been plowed. He told us land is really cheap in Iceland, and that if we wanted it free then the farmer at Skalholt has an unmarried son. Just kidding, Dad.

The whole time we've been here, we've been trying to figure out whether or not Icelanders really believe in the "hidden people," or elves that supposedly live in the rocks. I turns out that they sort of do. Our farmer had a field with an unplowed patch around a hole, which he said was where some elves had a hot spring. He wasn't sure whether or not all the stories were true, so he felt safer just leaving the area alone. Better safe than sorry when it comes to these things.








We stayed until 10:30 sitting at the kitchen table talking to the farmer, his wife, and Billy the Scot, looking out the front windows at the sun shining over the horses in their pasture. Maybe I'll go visit the Skalholt farmer's son after all...

Bless Bless!

807

Eight-hundred and seven: that's how many pictures I took this weekend. Our three days in Snaefellsnes were the best of my life, and I mean that. Friday morning the sun was shining on what was supposed to have been a stormy weekend, so our professors canceled class and we loaded up the van right after breakfast to head to Snaefellsnes, which is the "middle finger" of Iceland, or the middle peninsula of the island. We stayed at a small but perfectly located turf roof motel- situated on the sandy coast of the North Atlantic under the watchful eye of a glacier and a lava field (both of which we explored). Immediately after check-in we suited up and made the treacherous drive up a series of mountains (in a 15 passenger mercedes, nonetheless) to the glacier Snaefellsjokull.

Climbing the glacier was a challenge, but four of us made it to 4000 feet! The view was unbelievable, especially because we were looking at rivers and valleys where the events we read about in Icelandic sagas all happened. My favorite part, though, wasn't standing over the world, or making snow angels (because we go to Meredith haha); my favorite part was sprinting down the glacier with my arms out like an airplane, making the appropriate noises for such an occasion. I did this for most of the way down, when I wasn't barrel rolling and racing Dr. Novak. That was the most fun I've ever had on a mountain, and I couldn't help screaming and laughing the whole way down.



All the girls in our section of the motel made a spaghetti dinner for everyone (complete with "arnge draaaannnkk"), which, combined with ice cream, the world cup, our hot tub, and a British mystery, was the perfect end to our day.

Saturday, we slept in and were treated to a "real breakfast" of scrambeled eggs, bacon, honeynut cheerios, and juice. Mama, in case that sounds familiar, I lead the group that shopped for breakfast in the grocery store. This was by far the best breakfast we've had the whole trip.

Enough about my dietary experiences. Even though it was raining on Saturday, we had another perfect day. Once again our little Mercedes set out across the lava fields to see how God carved out the island. We went to a rock carving right on the coastal cliffs named "The Fairy Castle," because, well, it looks like a castle from the side. From the other side it looks more like a viking ship with the sails out. We climbed all over it, watched the birds, and got sprayed by the waves as they unleashed their frustration on the cliffs. I hadn't done this since I played t-ball, but I just dug around in the dirt looking for cool rocks. I came back with three pockets full because I just couldn't resist having lava rocks to bring home. Hopefully my suitcase will still meet the 50lb limit for the flight back...



After returning to our motel and laying down for a while, a few of us set out for dinner at this tiny cafe on the side of a cliff overlooking the violence of the North Atlantic. We felt like we had just stepped off a boat like in "Deadliest Catch" and were rugged sailors sitting down to our first hot meal in weeks. Which, actually, is sort of true. It was the first time we'd eaten out since we left Boston. As we trudged back to our van, Dr. Grathwohl suddenly got hit by the spirit of adventure, and all of us except Dr. Novak took off on a mile and a half hike over the lava fields, in the rain, on the cliff edges overlooking the ocean. We had soooo much fun climbing around and taking pictures. Ice cream and hot tubbing never felt so good as they did that night when us intrepid explorers returned.

Sunday morning we drove around the countryside for a while and visited a few important sites, such as the grave of one of the characters in the Laxdaela Saga, which we've read, and the reconstruction of Eric the Red's house. We had beautiful weather for the drive back, and were met at Skalolt with a traditional Icelandic feast. I tried dried fish and seaweed, three varieties of lamb, herring, and some other typical dishes. If anyone can make rhubarb pie, that would be excellent. Just sayin'.

Ohh one other cool thing we did: On the way to the Snaefellsnes peninsula, we had to drive under a fjord. Yes, under it. There was a tunnel drilled into the rock all the way across. It doesn't sound so cool writing about it, but we were excited knowing we were under water while driving.



We have a week full of adventures ahead of us, so be looking for some pictures! There's 807 from this weekend alone:)

Bless Bless!

"Ooh That Smell! Doncha Smell That Smell?"

This song has applied to literally everyday in Iceland, but never so much as today. Just as the smell of sulfur has become easier to ignore every time we use the hot water, a new stench has penetrated my life: rotten shark flesh. Tonight, noted scholar and everything else Kristin, who lives here in Skalholt, had our group over for a party after dinner. While there, the brave of us tried "stinking shark," or "cured shark," if you want to make it sound somewhat appealing. Basically, it's dead shark that has rotted in sand for six months then hung in the wind for six more months. It smells TERRIBLE and has the weirdest texture. On a somewhat related note, I had my first legal drink tonight. Since the Middle Ages, cured shark is always chased with a small shot of Icelandic schnapps- by pure necessity. Trust me, this shark stuff is rank. Even though the public drinking age in Iceland is 20, and I'm only 19, the drinking age is not applicable in the home- only public venues. So, basically people can do whatever they want at their parents' discretion within their homes. Anyways, back to cured shark...it wasn't as bad as I expected, but the skin was awful and chewy. It didn't taste too bad, but the aftertaste was so strong that it took forever to get rid of it.

It is also taking forever to get through this week! Dr. Novak and Dr. Grathwohl are front-loading all of our class material so that our last week will be spent mainly just seeing sights, reading one last short novel, and on independent travel. Regardless of the kind intentions, I am weighed down by constant studying and class. Literally, for two days we have done nothing but class and study/read. Let me reiterate: academia all day every day. Blehhhhh

Our first break since Sunday afternoon came today, when we went back to Selfoss to run errands. I racked up on skyr and some lemon soda, as well as a bag of chips and a roll of Icelandic cookies. Can you tell I miss junk food?

Oh heyyy I won a keychain today for answering a trick question in class! I'll pose the same question here: After a group of Irish slaves in Iceland during the settlement period murdered their master, they sailed to an island southeast of where they had previously been enslaved. Considering this orientation, why then did the island come to be known as, in English, the Westman Island? Main rule of trinket bingo: Winner gets a prize:)

On our way back from Selfoss we saw another wonder: a caldera lake. It. Was. AMAZING. Soooo huge and a deep indigo color. Even though it was freezing, Dr. Novak went for a swim. Also, those who attempted to answer the above question but failed, had to get in the water at least up to their ankles for at least 5 minutes. To be honest, if they hadn't answered so poorly and narrowed down the possibilities, I wouldn't have had any clue what the answer was. But still, who was wading in a volcano lake of hypothermic temperatures? Not this girl. I was standing at the top, listening to their girly shrieks and holding my keychain in my fist. Just kidding, I sat in the van because it was so cold and windy.

Tomorrow we get to sleep in and start class after lunch, then eat dinner and have a lesson in Icelandic from a local teacher. Hopefully we will surprise her with how much we can say! As for me, I'm going to catch up on last night's episode of Glee and then go to bed.

Bless Bless!

"We're famous is Iceland! Take Picture!"

GREAT day in Reykjavik!
At a statue in front of parliament, which is called Althingi, several kids were climbing as we took pictures. They felt like celebrities and yelled for everyone to "take picture!" After our tour of Althingi, where we learned the "word of the day" djok (joke-it's pronounced and used the same) we got our 15 min of Icelandic fame as well. A news crew was filming an interview with a local in front of Althingi, and several hours later as we ate dinner in a pizza parlor we saw the news cast, and guess what? We were in the reflection on the building behind the man being interviewed. We were on Icelandic tv! Sort of. All the workers in the restaurant were curious when we started cheering at the news in a language we clearly didn't speak or understand.

In between the interview and the broadcast we explored Reykjavik, the capitol city, in small groups. Disappointing news for any shoppers: event the second hand stores are unaffordable, despite the value of the American dollar in Iceland. I did buy a t-shirt, though, because it just wouldn't be right to leave my first foreign country without one;)

We stopped at a Christian coffee shop that Michelle had heard of, and the man who owns and runs it is from Charlotte! He knew where Richfield was, and jokingly apologized when I told him I was from there. He and his wife live in Reykjavik now, and when they're not working the coffee shop (which had AMAZING cookies, btw) they do missions work with drug addicts and alcoholics in the city. He was really interesting to talk to, and it was nice to speak to an American who wasn't from the north (the others we have met were from Indiana and New Jersey).

For lunch, we ate at "the most famous hot dog stand in the world," which has pictures of Bill Clinton inside from when he visited and ordered a pylsa (hot dog) with only mustard, which is apparently weird (mine had only mustard, which isn't at all like American mustard, and crunchy fried onions. yum!) His face was in multiple places around the city, because he visited during his presidency and his quotes about various restaurants and other things are used as advertising by the businesses. Funny, because in America, his stamp would generally deter people.

One more thing: people in Iceland are all ridiculously good looking, and all the men smell amazing. Just throwing that out there. We were lost on the street downtown today, and men that I swear had to be models stopped to help us and talk for a minute. I'm pretty sure we were shaking. And the cashier at the pizza parlor- mercy. Us Meredith girls are DEFINITELY enjoying our time in the city:)

Speaking of which, we got to go to a real Icelandic party tonight. An acquaintance of Dr. Novak and Grathwohl's invited us to her apartment to hang out with her and her friends. We are now Facebook friends with an Icelandic rugby player/masseuse, and more familiar with what it's like to actually be a teenager in Iceland. It's amazing how much our cultures overlap, mostly thanks to the internet. On a side note, even though sites like hulu don't work here because they are "an American service," youtube and facebook are universal. And hey, those are the most important ones anyways, right?

Before I forget to blog about it, yesterday evening our guest speaker was Thorir, the education expert/consultant to the ministry, which is a big deal in Iceland because of how their government is set up. He was so nice, and we got to ask him as many questions as we wanted about the education system in Iceland. For those of us who are Teaching Fellows, we were all geared up from Discovery a few weeks ago, and so we were full of questions and comparisons. It was a really interesting and relevant presentation for our group. I took a LOT of notes.

Tomorrow will be our last day in Reykjavik for a while, and we plan to explore the flea market on the harbor and the mall. It's also the fisherman's festival and (but don't worry) the tattoo festival. There's sure to be some interesting people watching tomorrow; you'll probably find us in an upstairs cafe staring down at the street like we did today- for an hour. Also, tomorrow I will try rotten shark flesh, blood and liver pudding, and whatever else comes with the "Braveheart" meal at the Loki cafe. Our plan is to order the meal, and pass it around so everyone who dares can try each wild food. Good thing I have an iron stomach and an entire roll of tums!

We'll also see some museums and things like that before we head back to Skalholt. Since the main exhibits at the museum we were supposed to visit today are closed, we will be back in Reykjavik (which means "smoky harbor") before the month is over to tour when they reopen, and also to experience the famous Blue Lagoon Spa:) The activities budget is paying for it since all the horses in Iceland have colds and we can't ride them. This, readers, is why I go to a women's college.

It's 1am now (but the birds are still singing, mind you) and I'm exhausted and in need of sleep before another busy day. I hope everything's good at home. Miss y'all!

Bless Bless!

Brother From Another Mother

Announcement: I am finally over my jetlag!
Other Announcement: I have a new little brother!
Sort of. Skalholt's handyman's grandson, Baldvin, is staying with us tonight. We flew kites together this afternoon and he had so much fun with us at dinner that he's spending the night. We're having a big sleepover in the classroom with extra mattresses and s'mores!

Today we met the editor for the web version of Iceland's #1 newspaper, the Iceland Review (IR). Her name is Eyglo, like dayglow without the "d." She was so interesting to talk to about culture, and we found out how Icelanders really view Americans haha.

The weather was perfect today, and some of us took a loooong, but unsuccessful, walk to feed the horses. we still have our box of chopped apples. Then we caught up on Glee (after finding a site that would cater to non-Americans). We also spent time outside with Baldvin flying kites and playing a terrible game of frisbee in the harsh wind.

O maaannnn I almost forgot! Today was soooo exciting, because Steinnen cooked pizza and ice cream for our dinner! I love her; she is he most personable person we've met here, and she always knows when we just need a good dose of American food. Another night this week she made us chicken and rice:)

Right now we're listening to all of our favorite songs, in Icelandic. Baldvin is singing T-Pain's "Buy You A Draaannnk" in his language, and let me just say- it's hilarious. This is how all hip hop should be.
Ok, and now he's crawling under the table. Tonight has been interesting...

hahahha now he's showing us clips from Iceland's Funniest home Videos- SO much better than the American version!

I probably won't post tomorrow because we are having class all. day. ew. But this weekend we are going to Reykjavik (pronounced rake-yah-veek, Iceland's capitol city. Eyglo told us some good places to go, and some foods to try. Rotten shark meat, here I come.

Friday night we've been invited to a party at the apartment of a girl Dr. Novak knows. It'll definitely be a new experience, as one of ten American girls walking into a party where we don't know anyone and don't speak the language.

That night we're staying in a hostel in Reykjavik, and shopping and exploring more of the only place in Iceland that can really claim the term "city." This will be the day I spend my money haha.

One last note before I start my homework,
I realized that I have explained almost none of my post titles on here. I'll go back and add a p.s. to each

It's time to work and get some rest. I'll let you all know how Reykjavik is!

Bless Bless!
(That's how Icelanders say goodbye)

Ped Xing

First, let me just say that it's 9:45 here, and the sun has finally broken through the clouds, making this the brightest it's been outside in over 24 hours. Once again, it's 9:45 PM. If it weren't for clocks, I'd never know what time of day it is.

This afternoon we traveled to Selfoss, the 3rd largest city in Iceland, which doesn't say much, because it has a population of less than 10.000. At the grocery store and bakery, I got to make a purchase in a foreign country for the first time! (not counting the airport.)Luckily, we somehow just happened to end up in the lines with the cutest cashiers, and they were ever-so-patient with us as we fumbled around our purses for the proper coinage. On a sort of similar note, everyone here thinks it's adorable when we try to use Icelandic phrases such as "takk" (thanks) and "hallo" (hey). It's so simple to be charming

It's also simple to stand out as an American. We've been eating so incredibly well in Skalholt that Coley, Julia and I have been craving greasy, fatty foods like cheeseburgers. After our grocery run, guess the nationality of the only three people walking down the street while shoveling Doritos in their mouths? To anyone who's interested, Cool Ranch Doritos here are called Cool American. Yes, I took a picture:)
Next time we visit Selfoss, we are going to stop at "The most famous hot dog stand in the world"- supposedly it's hands-down the best. I'll let you know the verdict determined by our saturated fat-immune taste buds.

Right now, I have to finish reading about the scandalous lives of the Norse gods. All this homework...

Bless Bless!


p.s. In Selfoss, people would stop on the main drag to let us cross. And when we hit the button at the crosswalk, the traffic light immediately turned yellow then red to let us cross. We felt privileged, so I named this post after the luxury of courtesy.