NationStates Jolt Archive

Do any of you live or work in Iceland? If so please describe the culture of the country...


What is some advice for somebody moving to Iceland in their 20s and fresh out of college?

Would Americans adapt to the country?

Do any of you live or work in Iceland? If so please describe the culture of the country...
Nope
http://elementaryteacher.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/iceland.jpg
What is some advice for somebody moving to Iceland in their 20s and fresh out of college?
Have a job lined up first?
Would Americans adapt to the country?
Depends upon the particular American.

i prefer Farmfoods to be honest. tends to be cheaper.

why iceland of all places?

Do any of you live or work in Iceland? If so please describe the culture of the country...


What is some advice for somebody moving to Iceland in their 20s and fresh out of college?

Would Americans adapt to the country?

Iceland girls love American men.

Iceland is the country with the highest number of beauty queens in the world.
And as far as shopping goes Iceland is sort of a cross between the US and europe (as in what you can buy).

The only thing that will make you regret it is how expensive alcohol is over there.

:eek:

THATS TOO MUCH GREEN!!!!!...

*hides in a smoke filled factory* lol

why iceland of all places?

Its a small yet populated place. People their are very nice and (hot girls).....I have read more about it the more I love it... After college I really want to move to Iceland... Oh they live the longest as well!!

Its a small yet populated place. People their are very nice and (hot girls).....I have read more about it the more I love it... After college I really want to move to Iceland... Oh they live the longest as well!!

iceland seems to be a great place for sure

have you ever been there? do you speak the language? do you know any icelanders? what kind of a job do you think you can get?

iceland seems to be a great place for sure

have you ever been there? do you speak the language? do you know any icelanders? what kind of a job do you think you can get?

Im only in high school and I plan to move their after high school or trasfer....


By 2015 i will want to work with computers, no i dont speak the language most of them speak english and i will learn later... No but willing to start new life and make friends.. I want to live in the capital!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHYIKvahcLA&feature=related
Great Video^^^^^

youre pretty young. it would be better to save up enough money to spend the summer in iceland next year. get the lay of the land, figure out what skills they need that you could acquire, see if you like the people and if they like you. that kind of thing.

if you do it right, it will make it easier to move there when you have the resources to do so.

Sadly, my knowledge of Iceland is very narrow. All I know is that Iceland has beautiful glaciers, marvelous hot springs and it´s the birthing place of Björk.

Im only in high school and I plan to move their after high school or trasfer....


By 2015 i will want to work with computers, no i dont speak the language most of them speak english and i will learn later... No but willing to start new life and make friends.. I want to live in the capital!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHYIKvahcLA&feature=related
Great Video^^^^^

If you want to work with computers, I think you'd have to. I've been in Iceland only briefly, but from flying over it I get the impression there is Reykjavik and then there are glaciers, with houses sprinkled sporadically in the east. It's an interesting place.

Do any of you live or work in Iceland? If so please describe the culture of the country...
My mother did, and she said that the culture is pretty... well... standard. Just remember that tipping in Iceland is considered unnecessary and a bit vulgar.
What is some advice for somebody moving to Iceland in their 20s and fresh out of college?
Learn Icelandic and don't expect to get a job there for a while, also consider that the cost of living there is far, far higher than in the states seeing as they have to import almost everything.
Would Americans adapt to the country?
Some probably would. Others wouldn't. Obviously.

Im only in high school and I plan to move their after high school or trasfer....
Right...
By 2015 i will want to work with computers, no i dont speak the language most of them speak english and i will learn later... No but willing to start new life and make friends.. I want to live in the capital!!
You need to learn the language, or you will not get a job there because you will not be able to speak with the entire population. And this is a bad thing.

Right...

You need to learn the language, or you will not get a job there because you will not be able to speak with the entire population. And this is a bad thing.

Tell that to Mexico >.>

youre pretty young. it would be better to save up enough money to spend the summer in iceland next year. get the lay of the land, figure out what skills they need that you could acquire, see if you like the people and if they like you. that kind of thing.

if you do it right, it will make it easier to move there when you have the resources to do so.

I want to visit befor i go to college which is about 3 years from now

Right...

?

You need to learn the language, or you will not get a job there because you will not be able to speak with the entire population. And this is a bad thing.

Majority of the country speaks english

I want to visit befor i go to college which is about 3 years from now

that would be perfect. start saving your pennies.

that would be perfect. start saving your pennies.

Amen, I think that would make me the only american who is saving:D


The only problem I have with moving is moving out of the United States/Friends/Family. I will give it up to find a good life in Iceland. Small and a nice country. (I love america but we can get very mean at times/stupid)

Tell that to Mexico >.>
You're probably closer than I am, so go for it.
Majority of the country speaks english
Aye, but you'll still be a less attractive candidate for a job if you can't speak the native tongue.

You're probably closer than I am, so go for it.

Aye, but you'll still be a less attractive candidate for a job if you can't speak the native tongue.


True....I wanted to take at least a year to learn the language at the University of Iceland!!! (I've been studying!!)

Right...

You need to learn the language, or you will not get a job there because you will not be able to speak with the entire population. And this is a bad thing.

85% of Icelanders are fluent in english they even broad cast American Tv with out subtitles or dubbing. (according to the Icelandic exchange students)
If he goes through a corporation that is recruiting people for high end computer jobs he could get a job using english. To my knowledge they don't have a computer programming language that is Icelandic based.

Now if he wants to be in a service industry such as being a waiter or waitress then yeah he needs to learn Icelandic.

One issue I hear is the Iceland university system doesn't offer all majors, all the Icelandic students i've dealt with at my school have come here to find a major they want.

True....I wanted to take at least a year to learn the language at the University of Iceland!!! (I've been studying!!)
Right, OK.
85% of Icelanders are fluent in english they even broad cast American Tv with out subtitles or dubbing. (according to the Icelandic exchange students)
If he goes through a corporation that is recruiting people for high end computer jobs he could get a job using english. To my knowledge they don't have a computer programming language that is Icelandic based.

Now if he wants to be in a service industry such as being a waiter or waitress then yeah he needs to learn Icelandic.
What is IT if not a service industry which deals, to a large extent, with not the brightest people who are rubbish at using their computers?

I'd have thought that Icelandic would help a lot even just for chatting with your comrades at work.

85% of Icelanders are fluent in english they even broad cast American Tv with out subtitles or dubbing. (according to the Icelandic exchange students)
If he goes through a corporation that is recruiting people for high end computer jobs he could get a job using english. To my knowledge they don't have a computer programming language that is Icelandic based.

Now if he wants to be in a service industry such as being a waiter or waitress then yeah he needs to learn Icelandic.

One issue I hear is the Iceland university system doesn't offer all majors, all the Icelandic students i've dealt with at my school have come here to find a major they want.


Just going to University of Iceland to learn the language....what you said makes sence.

Majority of the country speaks english

and you will be considered a jackass if you don't know the language and just move over

job applications are in Icelandic
Icelandic is the default on all signs and instructions
not knowing Icelandic will make you look incredibly American


remember how all those nationalist types bitch and moan about people not learning the language and stealing all the jobs? (admittedly you will have trouble learning the language as even I took one look and said "fuck that not for Iceland")

Majority of the country speaks english

Irrelevant. Majority of Denmark speaks English too. If you don't know Danish, get luck getting a job that isn't international. Same applies to Iceland. I mean, I could say "But I know Danish! They should know Danish too!" (With good reason) but that doesn't cut it either (this in reference to Iceland).

They're icelandic. Their state has an actual language, unlike the US, thusly, language is no longer irrelevant.

I'm actually trying to learn Icelandic. 'Tis a cool language, and I hope to visit there and the Faeroes.

I'm actually trying to learn Icelandic. 'Tis a cool language, and I hope to visit there and the Faeroes.
The faeroes are pretty boring unless you're really into killing whales once a year.

The faeroes are pretty boring unless you're really into killing whales once a year.

Call me Ishmael.

Damn. I quite like whales.

But still, I do plan to visit, and possibly live in Iceland. But I certainly will not be the stereotypical stupid American. I'll learn the language, fly the flag, and try become an Icelander*.

*Should I choose to live there, of course.

SNIP

hes a danish get him! (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Glazed_apple_Danish.jpg)

do you get this allot?

and you will be considered a jackass if you don't know the language and just move over

job applications are in Icelandic
Icelandic is the default on all signs and instructions
not knowing Icelandic will make you look incredibly American


remember how all those nationalist types bitch and moan about people not learning the language and stealing all the jobs? (admittedly you will have trouble learning the language as even I took one look and said "fuck that not for Iceland")


There is a difference between crap job and college educated job.
true but road signs are easy to pick up by shape color association.
Icelanders love Americans especially the girls.

In Iceland people not learning the language and stealing their jobs is confined to the Poles and South Asians. All the nationalist in Iceland formed a special police force and went off to help the American military in Iraq all 47 of them.

hes a danish get him! (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Glazed_apple_Danish.jpg)

do you get this allot?

sweet, danish. yum you made me hungry.

Damn. I quite like whales.
Whereas I dislike Wales.
But still, I do plan to visit, and possibly live in Iceland. But I certainly will not be the stereotypical stupid American. I'll learn the language, fly the flag, and try become an Icelander*.

*Should I choose to live there, of course.
We Europeans, outside of the Cornish, Flemish and the Swiss (eugh) do not fly our flags very much at all. Nothing like as much as you Yanks.

Whereas I dislike Wales.

We Europeans, outside of the Cornish, Flemish and the Swiss (eugh) do not fly our flags very much at all. Nothing like as much as you Yanks.

Quite so. I did see nary a Union Jack when I visited Bristol. I hear the Danish do it quite a bit, though.

most Americans would function well within Iceland, as long as you realize that mostly its cold and wet, and pls don't be too American :0) ( mainly the puritan parts, we don't care)

double, so deleted

Quite so. I did see nary a Union Jack when I visited Bristol. I hear the Danish do it quite a bit, though.
Aye, Denmark isn't the same as Iceland, funnily enough.

Icelanders love cock especially the girls.

fixed.-ish

All the nationalist in Iceland formed a special police force and went off to help the American military in Iraq all 47 of them.

I'm sure its still rude to not know the language of a country your moving to and thus everyone will just think "asshat" and trick him into slavery (though actually getting immigration accepted when you can't speak Icelandic nor in the E.U is another)

fixed.-ish



I'm sure its still rude to not know the language of a country your moving to and thus everyone will just think "asshat" and trick him into slavery (though actually getting immigration accepted when you can't speak Icelandic nor in the E.U is another)

I will agree with your Fix.


perhaps but he is going as a student in part to learn the language so i think most Icelanders will forgive him.

Damn. I quite like whales.

But still, I do plan to visit, and possibly live in Iceland. But I certainly will not be the stereotypical stupid American. I'll learn the language, fly the flag, and try become an Icelander*.

*Should I choose to live there, of course.

I would be willing to due that!! I want to stay their long enough to become a citizen!!! (waves us flage inside!! lol) on youtube americans went to a mall and iceland and they have danish and american days. Their were american flags everywhere!!

I would be willing to due that!! I want to stay their long enough to become a citizen!!! (waves us flage inside!! lol) on youtube americans went to a mall and iceland and they have danish and american days. Their were american flags everywhere!!

from what I've seen they wave more American flags then Icelandic flags we should really make them a state.

from what I've seen they wave more American flags then Icelandic flags we should really make them a state.

lol....

I would be willing to due that!! I want to stay their long enough to become a citizen!!! (waves us flage inside!! lol) on youtube americans went to a mall and iceland and they have danish and american days. Their were american flags everywhere!!

Sweet! Call me the world's next American-Icelander!

most Americans would function well within Iceland, as long as you realize that mostly its cold and wet, and pls don't be too American :0) ( mainly the puritan parts, we don't care)

Unlike most Americans, I quite like the cold. I can't stand the tropics. Not a Puritan either, but do expect me to frequent any churches that you may have there, regardless of denomination.

Sweet! Call me the world's next American-Icelander!





Unlike most Americans, I quite like the cold. I can't stand the tropics. Not a Puritan either, but do expect me to frequent any churches that you may have there, regardless of denomination.

Im after you....and when i move their i will be looking for some american friends

Nice! I'll probably run into you in some pub there then!

Which brings up a pertainent question:

How's the food in Iceland? So far, I've only heard of fungally-treated shark in terms of unique cuisine.

Nice! I'll probably run into you in some pub there then!



Which brings up a pertainent question:

How's the food in Iceland? So far, I've only heard of fungally-treated shark in terms of unique cuisine.

I heard they have good fish but no lamb head for me!!:headbang:

moving their around 2015 only 15 now...might have to wait!

The faeroes are pretty boring unless you're really into killing whales once a year.

*nukes the whales, then sells them to Japan*

http://www.telefonica.net/web2/jtmornet/blog/4f01_nuke.jpg

*nukes the whales, then sells them to Japan*

http://www.telefonica.net/web2/jtmornet/blog/4f01_nuke.jpg


the simpsons are popular in iceland!!

The faeroes are pretty boring unless you're really into killing whales once a year.

Iceland kills whales as well now.

though the Faeroes also has lots of sheep and secluded places if your into the sheep thing.

Iceland kills whales as well now.

though the Faeroes also has lots of sheep and secluded places if your into the sheep thing.

Iceland eats lots of sheep:sniper:

hes a danish get him! (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Glazed_apple_Danish.jpg)

do you get this allot?

Nope. I wish I did though, I wish I did...

Nope. I wish I did though, I wish I did...

clearly your not Danish enough :p

I know one thing about Iceland that might help avoid confusion:

Icelanders don't use conventional surnames like other Westerners. They are named after their fathers. So if Sven is Karl's son, then his name is Sven Karlsson. Sven's daughter Hilga will be Hilga Svensdotter.

Also, Icelanders will eat many strange foods. This information comes from actual Icelanders.

I know Iceland primarily as the birthplace of EVE Online, an MMO I play. CCP, the company that created EVE, is based in Reykjavik. And I would love to go to the Fanfest some time.

I'd try to learn the language before you move there, simply because it will be easier. As a tourist, you aren't expected to know their language. But if you live in a country, you should know it.

As for Iceland's relations with the US, until a few years ago, the US had bases in Iceland - which provided the bulk of the country's defense. As far as I know, Iceland's plan in case of invasion is "try to hold them off until the Americans get here".

Its a small yet populated place. People their are very nice and (hot girls).....I have read more about it the more I love it... After college I really want to move to Iceland... Oh they live the longest as well!!

They also have the highest suicide rate.


Next to Finland.

I am born and raised in Iceland, it's a great country. Expensive as hell though.

http://ninesisters.wordpress.com/2008/03/01/7-things-you-must-know-about-iceland/

As for Iceland's relations with the US, until a few years ago, the US had bases in Iceland - which provided the bulk of the country's defense. As far as I know, Iceland's plan in case of invasion is "try to hold them off until the Americans get here".

To be honest, even a plan for the event of an invasion is rather on the cautious side.

My friend went there once, this is how he described it: really nice place, but the cities were a little dull. He wouldn't want to live there, it for him lacked character a bit or some word similar to that.

Iceland eats lots of sheep:sniper:

and it might be a tad more salty if it comes from the Faeroes isalnds.

This is a great article on Iceland, and the funny thing is, it's pretty accurate.
http://ninesisters.wordpress.com/2008/03/01/7-things-you-must-know-about-iceland/

They also have the highest suicide rate.


Next to Finland.

I belive that is either Lithuania or Russia

Just listen to buttloads of Bjork. She's good for getting angry after a breakup, too. And man after this April, I'd know that.

Er... to me, Iceland seems rather boring. It's like Switzerland. It's nice and all, but not much tends to happen there. I could be wrong, seeing as how I've never actually been to Iceland myself.

Er... to me, Iceland seems rather boring. It's like Switzerland. It's nice and all, but not much tends to happen there. I could be wrong, seeing as how I've never actually been to Iceland myself.

Dude, Switzerland pwns! Ever been to Lucerne? I went sledding in the alps there. Just about died, but that's only because I'm lousy at sledding. And there was chocolate. So much chocolate. A whole fountain in this one store.

Er... to me, Iceland seems rather boring. It's like Switzerland. It's nice and all, but not much tends to happen there. I could be wrong, seeing as how I've never actually been to Iceland myself.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTXK9Qkbz84

Iceland is an extremely expensive place to live in. Plus there's the whole constant daylight/nighttime thing to consider....

Iceland is an extremely expensive place to live in. Plus there's the whole constant daylight/nighttime thing to consider....

your body still knows what time it is even though it may be light/dark all day!

Iceland seems to be a sexy place to live.

your body still knows what time it is even though it may be light/dark all day!
I used to live in Orkney. It's fucking terrible.

In Summer you can hardly sleep. In Winter, you will get mild rickets at the least, and if you've got any kind of seasonally-affected depression, you will want to kill yourself by about 2 weeks into Winter.

I belive that is either Lithuania or Russia

Me thinks that this serves as proof that Communism does indeed drain one of the will to live. Was it as high while they were still actually Communist?

I used to live in Orkney. It's fucking terrible.

In Summer you can hardly sleep. In Winter, you will get mild rickets at the least, and if you've got any kind of seasonally-affected depression, you will want to kill yourself by about 2 weeks into Winter.

Is that in Iceland?

Is that in Iceland?
No, it's actually further south than Iceland and hence you'll be getting it even worse than you would in Orkney. Enjoy.

No, it's actually further south than Iceland and hence you'll be getting it even worse than you would in Orkney. Enjoy.

Thanks? I'm sure you get used to it after a year or so...

Thanks? I'm sure you get used to it after a year or so...
I wish.

i hear a bunch of famous people form europe and the US go there just because they don't get stalked by the pappratzi.

clearly your not Danish enough :p

That may be. I can at times present myself as being Belgian ;) If ever I so desire.

Icelandic is also scarily close to Danish. I know, from experience, that I can neither read nor understand it, but give me a translation and I can see how similar the two languages are :p

Er... to me, Iceland seems rather boring. It's like Switzerland. It's nice and all, but not much tends to happen there. I could be wrong, seeing as how I've never actually been to Iceland myself.
Iceland seems fantastic and I'm dying to go..I just havn't got time to get over there yet. Switzerland is fantastic though and though there are many words I'd use to describe it, boring does not even come close to coming into my thoughts.....

Whereas I dislike Wales.

We Europeans, outside of the Cornish, Flemish and the Swiss (eugh) do not fly our flags very much at all. Nothing like as much as you Yanks.

Wrong. Countries like Latvia and Estonia who are just recently independent do fly their flags.. a lot.

Iceland seems fantastic and I'm dying to go..I just havn't got time to get over there yet. Switzerland is fantastic though and though there are many words I'd use to describe it, boring does not even come close to coming into my thoughts.....

Just pack your bags and go start a new life there?:rolleyes:

Oh they live the longest as well!!

No they don't.

1 Andorra 83.53 2008 est.
2 Macau 82.35 2008 est.
3 Japan 82.07 2008 est.
4 Singapore 81.89 2008 est.
5 San Marino 81.88 2008 est.
6 Hong Kong 81.77 2008 est.
7 Canada 81.16 2008 est.
8 France 80.87 2008 est.
9 Sweden 80.74 2008 est.
10 Switzerland 80.74 2008 est.
11 Australia 80.73 2008 est.
12 Guernsey 80.65 2008 est.
13 Israel 80.61 2008 est.
14 Iceland 80.55 2008 est.
15 Anguilla 80.53 2008 est.
16 Cayman Islands 80.32 2008 est.
17 New Zealand 80.24 2008 est.
18 Italy 80.07 2008 est.
19 Gibraltar 80.06 2008 est.
20 Monaco 79.96 2008 est.

(I didn't think that Italy had dropped below Switzerland. Must be the effect of internal poverty on the rise plus poor immigrates).

Anyway, Iceland must be really cool - if you're more into placid places and vast natural landscapes than crowded malls and bustling avenues. Which I am, to a degree.

Er... to me, Iceland seems rather boring. It's like Switzerland. It's nice and all, but not much tends to happen there. I could be wrong, seeing as how I've never actually been to Iceland myself.

Well, Switzerland isn't boring. Ok, CH doesn't get much terrorism, but it is one of the leading countries about engineering (longest railroad tunnel, deepest railroad station - see Porta Alpina), hard science (CERN is - partly - in Switzerland), medicine... Also they've got plenty of smug wristwatches, firearms and cheese. And direct democracy, which is somewhat puzzling sometimes, still looks better than having Berlusconi.

Wrong. Countries like Latvia and Estonia who are just recently independent do fly their flags.. a lot.

Two years ago we italians waved our flags so much that it will be enough for the next twenty years. We plan to win another World Cup by then. That's what national flags are for: sports!

It's been established empirically that it is in fact impossible to learn Icelandic.

Two years ago we italians waved our flags so much that it will be enough for the next twenty years. We plan to win another World Cup by then. That's what national flags are for: sports!

We don't use our flag for that, we just use one colour :p

We don't use our flag for that, we just use one colour :p

That's because your flag is too similar to other europeans flags - think of Luxembourg's flag! Anyway orange supporters are usually cool guys (and girls ;) ).
I remember back in the eighties when Milan AC fielded Gullit, Rijkaard and Van Basten... the Milan supporters displayed orange everywhere.

No they don't.

1 Andorra 83.53 2008 est.
2 Macau 82.35 2008 est.
3 Japan 82.07 2008 est.
4 Singapore 81.89 2008 est.
5 San Marino 81.88 2008 est.
6 Hong Kong 81.77 2008 est.
7 Canada 81.16 2008 est.
8 France 80.87 2008 est.
9 Sweden 80.74 2008 est.
10 Switzerland 80.74 2008 est.
11 Australia 80.73 2008 est.
12 Guernsey 80.65 2008 est.
13 Israel 80.61 2008 est.
14 Iceland 80.55 2008 est.
15 Anguilla 80.53 2008 est.
16 Cayman Islands 80.32 2008 est.
17 New Zealand 80.24 2008 est.
18 Italy 80.07 2008 est.
19 Gibraltar 80.06 2008 est.
20 Monaco 79.96 2008 est.

(I didn't think that Italy had dropped below Switzerland. Must be the effect of internal poverty on the rise plus poor immigrates).

Anyway, Iceland must be really cool - if you're more into placid places and vast natural landscapes than crowded malls and bustling avenues. Which I am, to a degree.

check icelands site the un said now its around 81, 82

It's been established empirically that it is in fact impossible to learn Icelandic.

why?

check icelands site the un said now its around 81, 82
Why would you want to live to 82 in such an expensive and inhospitable place which could at any moment be destroyed by a Joklhaup?
why?
http://is.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81satr%C3%BAarf%C3%A9lagi%C3%B0

Those are real letters. Be warned.

It's been established empirically that it is in fact impossible to learn Icelandic.

Unless you're a savant.

All I know about Iceland is from my parents visiting once and that Sigur Ros dvd.

That's because your flag is too similar to other europeans flags - think of Luxembourg's flag! Anyway orange supporters are usually cool guys (and girls ;) ).
I remember back in the eighties when Milan AC fielded Gullit, Rijkaard and Van Basten... the Milan supporters displayed orange everywhere.

Yeah, our flag looks too similar to the Luxemburgian one (hey, until 1890 they were part of us). And the French one for example... But ours is the oldest tricolour of them all :D

Anyway, back to Iceland.

Sigur Ros :D
Múm

And they've got this very nice wodka kind of stuff which is just delicious :)

Why would you want to live to 82 in such an expensive and inhospitable place which could at any moment be destroyed by a Joklhaup?

http://is.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81satr%C3%BAarf%C3%A9lagi%C3%B0

Those are real letters. Be warned.


Who ever said I wanted to live their my entire life....just mybe 5-10 years....go to college find a job start a family move back to the united states! And i will learn bacis icelandic....


what is a joklhaup is it a volcano

1. Develop a taste for Brennevin (the putrified shark is optional).
2. Learn the naming conventions. No one has a surname - get used to it.
3. Icelanders kick ass. They're genetically bigger and stronger than you.
4. I hope you don't like trees, because they don't have any. At all.

Who ever said I wanted to live their my entire life....just mybe 5-10 years....go to college find a job start a family move back to the united states! And i will learn bacis icelandic....
Uh....hu.
what is a joklhaup is it a volcano
Why, it's a Very Massive Outpouring Of Water caused by a volcanic eruption melting through glaciers, and generally Really Ruining Things. Hard to stop water. Lava's alright. Water isn't.

Whereas I dislike Wales.

We Europeans, outside of the Cornish, Flemish and the Swiss (eugh) do not fly our flags very much at all. Nothing like as much as you Yanks.
What is the "eugh" for the Swiss for, if I may ask? :p
Just pack your bags and go start a new life there?:rolleyes:
Well we'll see...I spend alot of time there and I wouldn't mind living there or studying there, but I'd also keep my American citizenship and and a house here.
No they don't.

1 Andorra 83.53 2008 est.
2 Macau 82.35 2008 est.
3 Japan 82.07 2008 est.
4 Singapore 81.89 2008 est.
5 San Marino 81.88 2008 est.
6 Hong Kong 81.77 2008 est.
7 Canada 81.16 2008 est.
8 France 80.87 2008 est.
9 Sweden 80.74 2008 est.
10 Switzerland 80.74 2008 est.
11 Australia 80.73 2008 est.
12 Guernsey 80.65 2008 est.
13 Israel 80.61 2008 est.
14 Iceland 80.55 2008 est.
15 Anguilla 80.53 2008 est.
16 Cayman Islands 80.32 2008 est.
17 New Zealand 80.24 2008 est.
18 Italy 80.07 2008 est.
19 Gibraltar 80.06 2008 est.
20 Monaco 79.96 2008 est.

(I didn't think that Italy had dropped below Switzerland. Must be the effect of internal poverty on the rise plus poor immigrates).
Yeah, but many countries can be broken down like that.
Switzerland would be much higher were it not for the Balkan immigrants.
Australia would be much higher were it not for the Aboriginals.
New Zeaand would be much higher were it not for the Maori.
America would be much higher were it not for the Blacks.
France would be much higher were it not for the North-West Africans.
Ect, ect ect ect

See?
Anyway, Iceland must be really cool - if you're more into placid places and vast natural landscapes than crowded malls and bustling avenues. Which I am, to a degree.
I also like how the people look...I think it's cool to see unique populations that are almost totally homogenous...like Finland, North Korea, Iceland...ect.

It's interesting, for someone like me who has spent his life living in arguably America's most diverse cities.

It's been established empirically that it is in fact impossible to learn Icelandic.

Why would you want to live to 82 in such an expensive and inhospitable place which could at any moment be destroyed by a Joklhaup?

http://is.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81satr%C3%BAarf%C3%A9lagi%C3%B0

Those are real letters. Be warned.
I already know the sounds of those letters, though I had a little trouble with 1 or two of the accents. I have an Icelandic friend and she teaches me a little Icelandic every now and then. I think Icelandic would be waaaaaaay easier to learn than for example, Finnish or Hungarian.....

For example, if I read something in Icelandic and have it translated to German....I can see a few similarities so that already helps. On the other hand, Finnish just kills me:

Icelandic....crazy, but not so bad:
Íslenska Ásatrúarfélagið "Icelandic fellowship of Æsir faith"

Finnish.....crazy, and very bad:
suomen kieli "Finnish"

Example....
Ennen 1500-lukua, ns. varhaissuomen kaudella, suomea ei juuri käytetty kirjakielenä. Tältä ajalta on säilynyt vain muutamia muutamia kirjoitettuja nimiä, sanoja ja lauseenkatkelmia. Suomen kirjakieli syntyi uskonpuhdistuksen myötä 1500-luvulla

Yeah, but many countries can be broken down like that.
Switzerland would be much higher were it not for the Balkan immigrants.
Australia would be much higher were it not for the Aboriginals.
New Zeaand would be much higher were it not for the Maori.
America would be much higher were it not for the Blacks.
France would be much higher were it not for the North-West Africans.
Ect, ect ect ect



In America we have a double dose blacks and Mexicans. in about equal measure.

What is the "eugh" for the Swiss for, if I may ask? :p

Well we'll see...I spend alot of time there and I wouldn't mind living there or studying there, but I'd also keep my American citizenship and and a house here.

Yeah, but many countries can be broken down like that.

America would be much higher were it not for the Blacks.

Sounds kinda racist and you also can have duel citizenship

Sounds kinda racist and you also can have duel citizenship

I know about duel citizenship......and kinda racist? Well if reality is racist than I guess avoid it?

What is the "eugh" for the Swiss for, if I may ask? :p
It's about the most backwards place in western Europe apart from maybe the Isle of Man?
I also like how the people look...I think it's cool to see unique populations that are almost totally homogenous...like Finland, North Korea, Iceland...ect.
You're right, inbreeding is a beautiful thing. Err... wait...
*icelandic is easy*
It's really quite hard.
*Finnish is hard*
Yep, that's what you get when every word is governed by cases.

It's about the most backwards place in western Europe apart from maybe the Isle of Man?
lol, by what standards? It's ultra modern, super technological, super enviornmental, very business oriented, many high tech industries, home to atleast two international cities, Zürich und Genf, very high standard of living, with quite a high GDP. Just because you don't like Right Wing politics which happen to prevail in Switzerland, doesn't mean the country is backwards. Indeed, by those standards I'd deem England much more backwards than Switzerland, and Scotland and Wales even more backwards, by those standards.

You're right, inbreeding is a beautiful thing. Err... wait...
No, but there is a difference between inbreading and a generally homogenous population. Anyway, it is true that these homogenous populations have their problems, but I'll laugh in your face if you tell me that multicultural populations don't have their problems, associated with mutliculturalism.
It's really quite hard.
I didn't say it was easy, I said it wasn't as bad as you made it seem. For example, I could personally much learn Icelandic easier than Finnish or Hungarian or Estonian, because they are not Indo-European languages. I could also learn Icelandic much easier than Greek or Russian, because they are so different. Icelandic, while looking crazy, is still part of the Germanic (Nordic) language family tree, and thus wouldn't be as bad as many others. Even without learning a word of Icelandic, there are a few (a FEW) words you can see that relate to German, even more so if you can get the translation into German. I believe another Dutch poster said the same thing about Icelandic and Dutch...which would make sense as Dutch and German are very very close.
Yep, that's what you get when every word is governed by cases.

Sounds kinda racist and you also can have duel citizenship

Duel citizenship? Does that mean that you have to fight with another person to attain it? Sounds awesome :cool:

Duel citizenship? Does that mean that you have to fight with another person to attain it? Sounds awesome :cool:

Yes. They do it old viking style. You both get an axe and a shield, then you sail off to a small island off the coast (which, btw, has a specific name that eludes me at this time). The challenger then (being honourable and brave) gets to hit first with his axe as hard as he can.

Then it's the defenders turn to hit. And so on and so forth. Until someone is cleaved in two by an axe.

Defender usually loses in round two, although much depends on the strength of the duelers and the strength of their shields.

...this post was only mildly serious. That is how old viking duels were performed... (though probably not always followed) ...it's probably not how to get citizenship :p

lol, by what standards? It's ultra modern, super technological, super enviornmental, very business oriented, many high tech industries, home to atleast two international cities, Zürich und Genf, very high standard of living, with quite a high GDP. Just because you don't like Right Wing politics which happen to prevail in Switzerland, doesn't mean the country is backwards. Indeed, by those standards I'd deem England much more backwards than Switzerland, and Scotland and Wales even more backwards, by those standards.
1) Women in Switzerland got the vote less than twenty years ago in some areas.
2) Adding superlatives doesn't really make your argument better, and I don't really see how it's more developed than anyone else in Europe technologically, really, nor how having high-tech industries which are basically outsourcing (GlaxoSmithKline etc.) really makes Switzerland better than anyone else.
No, but there is a difference between inbreading and a generally homogenous population. Anyway, it is true that these homogenous populations have their problems, but I'll laugh in your face if you tell me that multicultural populations don't have their problems, associated with mutliculturalism.
Uh-huh. What problems do multiculturalism bring?
*Icelandic is OK-ish*
Aye, fair enough I suppose.

1) Women in Switzerland got the vote less than twenty years ago in some areas.
And they've had two women presidents since then, one Jewish too. What Western European country has that? Oh none so they must all be sooo backwards.:rolleyes:

2) Adding superlatives doesn't really make your argument better, and I don't really see how it's more developed than anyone else in Europe technologically, really, nor how having high-tech industries which are basically outsourcing (GlaxoSmithKline etc.) really makes Switzerland better than anyone else.
I'd say Switzerland is much more devolped than say, Scotland or Spain.... And high tech industry are very important to the Swiss economy, and work against your backwards statement.

Uh-huh. What problems do multiculturalism bring?
*laughs in your face*

America:
In the United States especially, multiculturalism became associated with political correctness and with the rise of ethnic identity politics. In the 1980s and 1990s many criticisms were expressed, from both the left and right. Criticisms come from a wide variety of perspectives, but predominantly from the perspective of liberal individualism, from American conservatives concerned about values, and from a national unity perspective.

The liberal-feminist critique is related to the liberal and libertarian critique, since it is concerned with what happens inside the cultural groups. In her 1999 essay, later expanded into an anthology, "Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women?" the feminist and political theorist Susan Okin argues that a concern for the preservation of cultural diversity should not overshadow the discriminatory nature of gender roles in many traditional minority cultures, that, at the very least, "culture" should not be used as an excuse for rolling back the women's rights movement.

A prominent criticism in the US, later echoed in Europe, Canada and Australia, was that multiculturalism undermined national unity, hindered social integration and cultural assimilation, and led to the fragmentation of society into several ethnic factions - Balkanization.[31]

In 1991, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., a former advisor to the Kennedy and other US administrations and Pulitzer Prize winner, published a book with the title The Disuniting of America: Reflections on a Multicultural Society. Schlesinger states that a new attitude — one that celebrates difference and abandons assimilation — may replace the classic image of the melting pot, in which differences are submerged in democracy. He argues that ethnic awareness has had many positive consequences to unite a nation with a "history of prejudice"; however, the "cult of ethnicity", if pushed too far, may endanger the unity of society. According to Schlesinger, multiculturalists are "very often ethnocentric separatists who see little in the Western heritage other than Western crimes." Their "mood is one of divesting Americans of their sinful European inheritance and seeking redemptive infusions from non-Western cultures."[32]

Samuel P. Huntington, political scientist and author, known for his Clash of Civilizations theory, has described multiculturalism as "basically an anti-Western ideology." According to Huntington, multiculturalism has "attacked the identification of the United States with Western civilization, denied the existence of a common American culture, and promoted racial, ethnic, and other subnational cultural identities and groupings."[33]

In his 1991 work, Illiberal Education,[34] Dinesh D'Souza argues that the entrenchment of multiculturalism in American universities undermined the universalist values that liberal education once attempted to foster. In particular, he was disturbed by the growth of ethnic studies programs (e.g., Black Studies).

Criticism of multiculturalism in the US was not always synonymous with opposition to immigration. Some politicians did address both themes, notably Pat Buchanan, who in 1993 described multiculturalism as "an across-the-board assault on our Anglo-American heritage."[citation needed] Buchanan and other paleoconservatives argue that multiculturalism is the ideology of the modern managerial state, an ongoing regime that remains in power, regardless of what political party holds a majority. It acts in the name of abstract goals, such as equality or positive rights, and uses its claim of moral superiority, power of taxation and wealth redistribution to keep itself in power.[citation needed]

Multiculturalism has also been attacked through satire, such as the following proposition by John Derbyshire.

The Diversity Theorem: Groups of people from anywhere in the world, mixed together in any numbers and proportions whatsoever, will eventually settle down as a harmonious society, appreciating—nay, celebrating!—their differences... which will of course soon disappear entirely.

This theorem is held to be false by Derbyshire and other paleoconservatives.[35]

Another critic of multiculturalism is the political theorist Brian Barry. In his 2002 book Culture and Equality: An Egalitarian Critique of Multiculturalism,[36] he argues that some forms of multiculturalism can divide people, although they need to unite in order to fight for social justice.[citation needed]

And heres a more general one for,

Europe:

There is a developing distaste toward the idea and policies of multiculturalism in Europe, especially, as stated earlier, in the Netherlands, Denmark, United Kingdom and Germany.[citation needed] The belief behind this backlash on multiculturalism is that it purportedly creates friction within society.

Alleged incompatibility with secular society,[70] has been influenced by a stance against multiculturalism advocated by recent philosophers, closely linked to the heritage of New Philosophers. Fiery polemic on the subject by proponents like Pascal Bruckner,[71] and Paul Cliteur has kindled international debate.[72] They hold multiculturalism to be an invention of an enlightened elite who deny the benefits of democratic rights to the rest of humanity by chaining people to their roots. They claim this allows Islam free rein to propagate abuses such as the mistreatment of women and homosexuals, and in some countries slavery. They also claim multiculturalism allows freedom of religion[73] to exceed the realms of personal religious experience[74] and to organize towards mundane ambitions seeking moral and political influence that opposes European secular or Christian values.

In Canada, the possible introduction of sharia family courts became a contentious issue, and received much media attention.[75][76]

From the late 1990s multiculturalism came under sustained intellectual attack in Western Europe largely, but not exclusively, from the political right.[citation needed] The reaction was more vehement than in North America, since it was associated with several other factors - the return of explicit nationalism as a political force, the revival of national identity, the rise of euroscepticism, and concerns about Islam in Europe. The period saw the rise of anti-immigrant populism in Europe, which was uniformly, sometimes fanatically, hostile to multiculturalism. The debate became increasingly polarised, and increasingly associated with Islam and terrorism.[citation needed] The multiculturalism issue merged with the immigration policy issue. The most extreme rejection of multiculturalism comes from supporters of the Eurabia concept. Islam is seen as a political movement, which is attempting to seize control of Europe, and to destroy its civilisation.

When I worked at a theme park a few summers back, I met an icelandic family that was visiting the US. Nice folks.

How hot are it's population?

How hot are it's population?

i thougt they were cold :D

:p i thougt they were cold :D

Ice cold

Do any of you live or work in Iceland? If so please describe the culture of the country...


What is some advice for somebody moving to Iceland in their 20s and fresh out of college?

Would Americans adapt to the country?

I think Nordic people tends to be very good looking. So there would be lots of eye candy for ya :D

How hot are it's population?
How hot is Bjork?

There's your answer.

In today's paper Iceland is rated as the 'World's safest country' so you can add that to your list of reasons to visit.
(probably winner of 'world's boringest country' which explains why it won the other award)

I made a playlist of Iceland on yotube....very cool.....


http://youtube.com/MBurg2007