Bill Jessup called me yesterday. I knew right away that something wasn't right. I have been with him on more than a few occasions of talking about difficult news. Do you have a few minutes... I need to talk to you about something. I don't know any other way to say this... It is amazing how many things you can feel and think in the split second between a sentence like this and the next one. I thought, surely I have negligently caused someone's death. No, maybe somebody I love has died. Lord, have Read More
approval addict
Today in language school, I was called on to read some sentences to practice pronunciation. Whenever this happens, I feel hot liquid run through my veins, down past my knees. I took a deep breathe, and with confidence began reading. After I struggled through the last line, "kaffið er kalt og vont" (the coffee is cold and bad), the teacher began to shake his head and commented, "það hljomar ekki vel." My heart began to beat fast as I sensed I had not done something well (ekki=not, vel=well). Read More
The Little Girl Who Cried Wolf
Last night, some friends here in Iceland invited us to go out to dinner. This was a pretty exciting event since we had't gone out at all yet. We immediately began coaching the kids on good restaurant etiquette. Anticipation was high and the kids both got dressed up, picked out necklaces and bracelets for the big event. When we arrived and walked into the serene, candle-lit restaurant, immediately Colby and looked at each other and said at the same time, "Oh no...Were we supposed to get a Read More
Hvað er þetta?
Þetta er tengdamamma. (This is a staple remover...) Today, both of my language teachers explained to us that Icelanders call a staple remover and a mother-in-law by the same name. The word "tengdamamma" is literally the word for mother-in-law, but the likeness that many mother-in-laws bear to the sharp teeth of a staple remover has resulted in the name being given to this otherwise harmless tool. Below is what many Icelanders apparently call a "tengdamammahús". I'll let you figure that one Read More
This is how we feel (kind of)
The other night we came back from Icelandic class and proudly told Dagny (who babysits for our evening class), "eg hef rum i svefnherberginu"---"I have a bed in my bedroom." We are able to have such riveting conversations at this level, and it reminded me of this video:I think this might only be funny if you've studied Spanish... Read More
Saturday morning
We are pitiful…
Well, it happened again. This time-- only worse. It was Wednesday night, and we were having company over for dinner. I needed a shower, but I hate showering if I haven't worked out yet that day. Yes, I know that's a little neurotic, but I somehow feel like I don't deserve a shower unless I earn it by sweating. So, I put on sweats and went out the door of our apartment to put on my shoes which were outside in the hallway. Colby followed me out the door to discuss something with me while the Read More
Culture Shock for a Two Year Old
Darcy has been interesting to watch lately. After we had been here a week, she began to revert a little bit which is a very normal thing for kids to do in transition. She was a little more whiny, a little more needy, and began to ask if she could watch a video that we used to get from the library called "Baby Songs" because she was a baby again. I had been prepared for this kind of behavior and was warned that she may starts to have lots of accidents again. Instead of having accidents, Read More
Life in the Middle
Colby writes: Right now we are in the no-man's land between two cultures. We are not living and participating in our culture of origin and we can only sort of participate in the culture we now find ourselves in. If you haven't experienced it, you should just know that it comes with interesting experiences. I was reminded of Jesus words that unless you become like a little child you cannot enter into the kingdom. Much has been discussed in commentaries and books about these words, but a few weeks Read More
Welcome to Europe…
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Icelandic culture, nudity is the norm here. In the locker rooms at the gym and the pool, there is no hiding anything from anyone. It has been interesting to take the kids swimming here. Last time we were here (in 2007), they were too young to remember anything, so this is all new for them. Last night we entered the locker room all bundled up in our winter gear and Haley stopped dead in her tracks, made a loud gasp, and --with jaw and eyes gaping Read More