Last night we got a note in our mail slot, in Icelandic, which invited us to the collective housemeeting. After a bit of conversation, we decided to go knowing we wouldn’t understand anything, but figuring it was a good idea to be neighborly. The couple we are renting from also came. They won’t leave the country until March 5th, and had a vested interest in attending the memory.
It was about some renovation that is planned for the house. It very likely won’t start until after we’ve left but the meeting was still interesting. When it started, I could follow about 10% of the conversation which I felt pretty good about considering I haven’t been here for a year. As the evening progressed my brain started to fatigue from trying to understand and it became just a wash of sound.
I think that Elli and Elfa were impressed that we came to the meeting. Elli thinks he might have a lead for a job for Rob in, get this, the wine industry. No really. In Iceland. Granted, it’s wine importing and distribution, but still it’s kind of funny. It’s actually a long-shot, but Elli’s brother works in the business and is very excited that someone with actual wine-making experience is in the country. The brother isn’t in a position to hire anyone, but is going to talk to his boss about Rob.
So the moral of this story is that even meetings in a foreign language can be beneficial.
Tags: Iceland, Journal
“had a vested interest in attending the memory.” excellent.
Having read your entry on the woman who is the best figure skater in all Uzbekhistan it occurs to me… Is Rob the finest winemaker in all of Iceland?
-e-
“’had a vested interest in attending the memory.’ excellent.”
Good heavens. That’s worthy of the slushpile.
E, I rather suspect he is. I’ll have to start trumpeting his praises in this manner. “Hello, this is my husband, the best winemaker in Iceland.”
Oh this all made me lol! Thanks for your regular postings - your voice is so distinctive, I can /hear/ you as I read.