2 posts tagged “birthdays”

So since I've last written life has been moving forward, per usual.  The saturday after Söngkeppni Framhaldskólanna I went to see the Iceland Symphony Orchestra with the family.  A friend of the family, Silla, plays the violin in the orchestra and she invited us to the performance.  They performed a bunch of different musical scores from movies.  It was enjoyable.  Then on sunday, I went horseback riding for the first time.  It was...awkward.  We went to mamma's cousin's stables.  He was nice and gave me some pointers, but I was still pretty iffy (as you can clearly see from my face in the picture above).  I was on the horse for around 10 minutes and then decided that I had had enough.  I am a chicken.

On the 24th was Sumardagurinn Fyrsti, the first day of summer.  In Iceland it's treated like a holiday; everything is closed, there's no school, etc.  On that day we had one of Júlíus' birthday parties.  I made one of those dragon cakes for it.  They're becoming another one of my specialties (if anyone wants the instructions just ask, it's on wikihow).  It was a fun day.  Then that friday at school was dimission, the last day for the graduating students.  They all dress up funny and hold special ceremonies.  That saturday was the horseback riding trip with AFS, so I got to go again!  And I definitely know for sure now that horseback riding is not my thing.

We went to this horse place outside of Sellfoss.  We were on the horses for about an hour.  It was one of the most uncomfortable things I have ever done.  I never really found the rhythm or whatever.  I just held on for dear life.  I'm sure I looked like an idiot, I most definitely felt like one.  I just really wanted to get off.  After that we went to Hveragerði, this tiny town about 5 minutes from the horse place.  Most of the exchangers went swimming but a couple of us, Jelena, Bilge, Manu, and I, decided to just bum around.  There was this tiny shopping center where we hung out and bought candy.  It was fun.  We just chatted and tried not to move around too much.

On the 30th of April school finished.  I find out my final grades on the 20th I believe.  I worked pretty hard this semester, although near the end I got a tad unmotivated.  I think I did alright overall.  Rebecca came south the day after and stayed with me for the weekend.  We met up in downtown Reykjavík.  Thursday was Labour Day, or May Day, here in Iceland which meant that downtown was full of protestors.  There were some other exchangers downtown as well to join in the march down Laugavegur, Bilge, Kok, Karen, Taylor, Andrea, Juho, Mod, and Jelena.  We all got pink flags since it was International Woman Day or something like that.  Tons of people were handing out flyers and t-shirts and such.  It was really fun.  After the march Bilge, Rebecca, and I went to find a place to eat.  The weather was really great so we ended up going to a bakery, getting some sandwiches, and eating outside.  Then we just hung out for a bit.  Friday we went shopping.  We hit up Kringlan, Smáralind, and all the downtown shops.  We were both extremely tired when we got home.  Saturday we hung out at cafés and played cards.  Rebecca was supposed to fly home on Saturday but the weather was bad so she stayed an extra night.  Then Sunday we had a little trouble with the buses but Rebecca made it home.  It was nice to see her again as well as the other exchangers.

Now I'm on summer break.  I am trying to find ways to keep myself busy.  Next thursday, the 15th, Mamma's sister, Bergey (she lives in Denmark), is visiting with her baby.  Then on the 20th, the day Bergey leaves and the day I get my grades, I'm flying out to Egilsstaðir, a city on the east coast, for my farm visit.  I get to spend one week on an Icelandic sheep farm.  I think it'll be a neat experience but I honestly don't know how much help I'll be.  And then a week after that my mom is coming to visit.  And then 12 days after that I go home.  It'll be here before I know it.  These next two weeks are really the only down time I have left.  The thought of going home is an odd one.  I believe that in 46 days I'll be ready to go home but not quite sure if I'll be ready to leave.  Iceland is an amazing place.  I've grown to love this country.  I honestly don't think that I could spend the rest of my life here, but I feel the same way about America.  It's kind of a limbo feeling.  A lost feeling.
                           

I am indeed counting down.  Only 19 more days!  It is quite exciting.  It would be ten times nicer though, if it started to snow.  Even a light flurrying would suffice.  I have a feeling that this year will be what Icelanders call a "red Christmas."  Meaning we'll have a Christmas without snow.  Last Saturday I went into Reykjavik and finished up my Christmas shopping.  It was a long day, I spent a bit more than expected, but it's finished and that accounts for something.  On Sunday afternoon Mamma, Júlíus, and I went to this Christmas craft meeting thing.   We painted ceramic Christmas decorations.  It was kind of fun.  My snowman came out rather cute, if I do say so.  On Monday we all decorated gingerbread cookies.  It was rather enjoyable.  My gingerbread man had a tie.  He was classy like that.  I even managed to create a Jackson Pollock Christmas tree.  Although, my first attempt turned into a 60´s psychedelic type tree.

Yesterday I mailed all of my Christmas packages.  It was a tad hectic and extremely expensive, so hopefully all of you back home who get something from me appreciate it.  Today I´m going into Reykjavik with Mamma and Gunnar to the AFS office.  It´s the International Volunteer Day, or something of that sort, and AFS participates in it.  So, we´re going down there to thank the volunteers and just chill. 

On Saturday there´s another exchange student thing going on.  In October Yoko Ono gave this Imagine Peace Tower to Iceland.  It´s basically this really big light column in the sky.  Well the 8th of December is the last day that it will be lit this year, because that was the day John died.  So all of the exchange students were invited to join in the festivities on that day.  It sounds pretty cool. 

I also have some exciting news.  On the 30th of December I'm going to Denmark!  It's Pabbi's birthday gift to Mamma.  We're going to visit her sister and celebrate her birthday there.  We're coming back home on the 7th or maybe the 6th, I'm not exactly sure.  We'll be staying in the town of Vamdrup which is actually a part of the city of Kolding.  I think it will be quite an enjoyable time.  We'll be there for the New Years celebrations and of course we'll have a birthday bash for Mamma.  I'm not quite sure what we'll be doing in between these festivities, but I'm sure Pabbi has some ideas bouncing around inside his head.  I just hope I get the chance to eat a Danish danish while in Denmark.