Iceland favored on AVEN

I have just finally finished the index for the book "Images of the North," which includes a number of discussions on how foreigners perceive Iceland: wild, empty, natural, supernatural. The scholars generally avoided one of the most prevalent stereotypes I have heard about Iceland, that it is a very sexually-open society. My own experience has not confirmed this stereotype, just as my experiences in Berkeley did not meet any preconceived notions of a free-love hippy town. On neither count was I the least bit disappointed. This could be a bold new tourism add campaign for Iceland, "Come here to be left entirely alone!".  Worth a shot, since certainly the British aren't likely to be coming around next summer.

Comments

Iris said…
You did not have that experience? I remember having to pose as a lesbian couple once to get rid of very persistent suitors. And I was dragged off a dancefloor more than once by an Icelander that said "Mig langar ad rida pér"
I also remember my Icelandic roommate one night declaring that he needed to be laid. Off he went and came back an hour later with a girl he introduced to me the next morning as "This is...um, what was your name again?" The girl did not seem too upset.
And there were the "Porn Star in training" T-Shirts that were incredibly hip with the teenagers while I lived there.
However, I was in my early twenties then. Maybe the Icelanders calm down a little - as we all do - at a certain point?
October 20, 2008 at 5:16 PM
Lissy said…
A definite benefit of living in Reyjanesbaer, instead of Reykavik, I guess! Because it certainly could not be because I am over the hill, unattractive...
October 20, 2008 at 8:56 PM
Iris said…
My dear Liz! Certainly you're quite the opposite of unattractive!!
I was worried you could take it the wrong way once I posted it. No, I think hanging out in student bars age 23 is also a big, big difference!
October 20, 2008 at 9:25 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dett í, ofan á, úr, út

I´m not sure if someone had dett í (gotten drunk), or if það bara dett ofan á (it just sort of happened), or if some dett úr (forgot), but at any rate, my household goods dett út (have disappeared). Let's review the chronology here. Early August packers from the shipping company arrive at the apartment in Moraga. They load my 4 large plastic containers and 8 cardboard boxes, plus one baby crib, into their truck. I watch my things depart. In September, I ask the friendly girl (Magie is her name) if she happens to know when I might expect my stuff. Late September she tells me. I am most impressed. Extremely so. Mid October rolls around, and I have not gotten a call. And it occurs to me that I am going to be traveling through November. Hmm. So I call again. Well, yes, she tells me, looks like your shipment should arrive on the 31st of October. Now here I admit that maybe I was a little lacks. I had a lot to do before my trip, and so when they did not call me, I did not follow ...
Read more

Cultural tourism in Iceland

I just finished writing a chapter of my dissertation, which resulted in a much larger discussion of cultural tourism in Iceland than I had intended. But the fact is, this is an issue I have been extremely interested and concerned about for at least 15 years, if not 20. I have never, ever liked the way Iceland is marketed to tourists in the U.S. Everything from the unspoiled nature to the crazy city life in Reykavik. It has always left the part of Iceland I loved--the simple joy of being in a relaxing and lovely place with my family--completely out of the picture. In 2001, I went to Hvollsvöllur to examine the Saga Centre as part of a study commissioned by the National Park's service to look into cultural landscapes as heritage tourism. I thought that endeavor might represent a change in how Iceland was presented to tourists. But in the last 10 years, and especially while working at Vikingaheimar, and at meetings with the Saga Trails Association, I came to see just how completel...
Read more

On Icelandic doctors

My friends and family here in Iceland were very enthusiastic about me going to the krabbameinsfélag for an exam. I was really impressed how easy it was to get an appointment--booked online even! And when I got there this afternoon, the efficiency continued: they have a well oiled operation in place there, all very organized with computers asking questions and keyed lockers to keep one's personal belongings in. Then when it came time to see the doctor, well, that lasted all of 2 minutes. And I paid 3420 kroner. So I was overall a little disappointed. When I mentioned to the front desk clerks that I was wondering if it was possible to actually get an appointment where I could speak to a doctor, I was given a variety of phone numbers. None of the ones I called had appointments within the next 6 weeks. In the United States, when I want a doctor's appointment, I can usually get it within a week of calling, though sometimes I have had to wait 10 days or so. The highest co-pay I hav...
Read more