Question:
I'm moving to Iceland-I have some questions?
?
2014-04-15 08:34:53 UTC
Okay so I'm 14 and from the United States, and my parents told us a few days ago that we would be moving to Iceland in the summer. I knew it was a possibility bc my dad's job was going to get transferred, but I never actually thought about having to move there. Now I am definitely moving there in July and I am so NERVOUS. I have a lot of questions-

1. THE WEATHER?? I know it's cold, there's no way around that. I'm from Boston so it's kinda cold here too, but what is it like in Iceland? Does it ever get warm there?
2. The language. My mother said I would be going to an English immersion program in my school (in which most of the classes are taught in English), but she can't guarantee that all the kids will go out of their way to speak English to me. Do most Icelanders speak English, and will the kids speak English to me? Plus, how hard is it to learn Icelandic....I'll be taking a class in school to learn it.
3. Do the people like Americans? Will I stand out like a freak? I have brown hair so I'm really scared I'll look totally different from everyone else.
4. Do they have the same technology as the US? (Can I have my iPhone and MacBook there?)
5. Do the kids like similar things to me? Like in the way of music and television and stuff, or are they totally different?
6. Is it nice living there? Will I wanna stay, or move back to the States when I'm older.

I've never thought I would be an IMMIGRANT before so this is weird. People from ICELAND would be appreciated. Thx
Seven answers:
reinaldok_2000
2014-04-15 09:22:16 UTC
Wow You are lucky - I have spent some time in Iceland and in my opinion it is one of the greatest countries on earth. The weather is not that different from Boston.. Yes it does get cold. With temperatures in the teens and twenties, but never as cold as many parts of the USA.. Summers are cooler and usually much nicer than what you are used to. What you do have to get used to is the time. That is in the summer , there is almost no night and it gest sort of dark only from about 11pm until 3AM. In the winter it is just the opposite.The sun hardly even comes up. There is daylight really form about 11AM until 3PM. But you get used to that. All kids speak very good English - Maybe a very few people over 75 never ,earned Englsih. Schools are excellent and it is up to you to make the most of this opportunity.

Iceland has really only one pretty big city. Reykvavik. You will find so much to do and see in Iceland and the many hot water spas are the best in the world. The Blie Lagoon is the largest and the most famous.

Iceland is the first and only country where everyone is connected to the internet and possibly more uses things like I phone and Mac book are more or as popular as in the USA. My greatest love are the small Icelandic horses. The best and the most friendly. Food for some can be a problem - You will get used to fish and more fish and lamb. Though there are pizza and hamburger places all around. Get out and visit all the wonders like the geysers and the waterfalls. Many places in the interior are only open in the summer. More for your dad. Iceland has the strictest traffic laws of any place in the world and speeding is a total no-no and the fines are huge Best of luck...
Reykjavík 96
2014-05-04 18:57:38 UTC
Wow, you are very lucky! I can only dream that my dad could have a job where he could work in Iceland. I am 17, and though I've not been to Iceland myself, I have researched quite extensively on the country, as I want to move there very soon. Possibly even next year once I graduate from high school! :)



1. The weather is actually not nearly as bad as the country's name would lead you to believe. There's something called the Gulf Stream that affects Iceland's climate, allowing it to be very mild and enjoyable in the spring/summer, and only moderately cold in the winter. Reykjavík is usually nowhere near as cold as New York City is in the winter, and is much cooler in the summer. No need to fret about heat waves.



2. Pretty much everyone speaks excellent English, and they are likely to be perfectly fine, maybe even excited, to practise speaking it with you. Icelandic is supposedly not that difficult to speak. I am trying to learn it now by reading books, watching movies/TV programmes and listening to amazing a Icelandic music and language learning software.



It will likely be easy for you to pick up, being immersed in the language, especially since you're young.



3. From what I have seen, Icelanders do not mind people from the US at all. They are very warm and welcoming people as a whole. Whilst Iceland isn't exactly the most racially diverse place in the world, there are plenty of people that aren't blonde or red-haired. You won't stand out, at least not in a bad way! Just buy a beautiful Icelandic wool sweater, called a lopapeysa (they are warm, soft and actually kind of waterproof), and you'll blend right in. ;)



4. Iceland definitely has the same technology. Like others have said, Iceland is even more technologically advanced than the US is. They have one of the highest internet connectivity rates per capita in the world (second only to the Faroe Islands now). The internet is very fast at home, and there's 4G LTE phone service too. Iceland uses the European standard plugs, so just buy some adapters from the Apple store and you'll be fine. Iceland does not have an official Apple store, but they have Apple-approved stores that sell only Apple products, and they get all of the latest models pretty much at the same time as the rest of Europe does. Iceland also has one of the highest percentages of Apple product usage, so you'll find many more people prefer Macs to PCs (woohoo!). Absolutely no issue there.



5. Judging from their Spotify top charts, the kids there will likely love the same music as you do, and the same shows too. They get all of the popular US shows, and many more from the UK and the rest of Europe too, so maybe you'll even broaden your horizons and find some new ones you like too!



Iceland has an incredible music scene with something for everyone. Of Monsters and Men has been very popular around the world recently, and there's a bunch of others like Hjaltalín, Múm, Sigur Rós, Björk, Sóley, Ólafur Arnalds, Samaris, Ásgeir Trausti (he's become very famous recently too), and loads more. If your parents are willing, Iceland Airwaves is a huge music festival that happens across Reykjavík that's definitely worth checking out.



The food is something I have only a little bit of experience with, but from what I have tried, it's wonderful. Iceland, like the rest of Europe, favours more natural and organic foods, which just means that a lot of what they sell and make will be much less heavily-processed and will contain much less chemicals. This is definitely a good thing for everyone, and I promise it doesn't taste bad just because it's organic. ;)



Some of their best foods are skyr, which is a very thick yogurt (thicker than Greek yogurt), and many people find they love it. They also have delicious pancakes, filled with whipped cream and jam (think crêpes, but better). Their dairy products are very high-quality due to the cows eating a diet that most cows can only dream of, which is really just grass. The same goes for chicken's eggs too. Their candy is very good, including their chocolate. Their produce is also mostly free of nasty chemicals too.



6. Iceland has one of the highest quality of life ratings on Earth, far higher than the US does. They have very clean air to breath, crystal-clear water, they only use clean, natural renewable energy, they have high wages, free healthcare and education (both of which are excellent quality), lots of paid vacation time, lots of paid leave for pregnancies, they're a very free country (high freedom of speech, equal marriage, etc - in short they are very much ahead of the rest of the world in many regards), it's a very easy country to travel across (best road trip country ever), and there's lots more you'll discover when you get there. There's really a sense that the country genuinely cares for it's people and wants the best for them that you don't see anywhere else, simply because the population in Iceland is a wonderfully-small p, easy to manage size, but not small enough that you ever get bored and feel like you've met everyone.



You will be able to attend one of Iceland's excellent universities for merely a small registration fee if you become a citizen, and will be able to get a great degree in whatever you choose. Iceland has a very low unemployment rate, and you should be able to get a good job and live a wonderful life there in the future.



Oh, and the scenery. That's the biggest thing. Iceland is arguably the most breathtakingly beautiful country in the world (lots of 'in the world's, I know, but it's true). The scenery is absolutely gorgeous. When you see it, you may never want to leave, because it is just so wonderful and there is an endless amount of things to see and do. It is an easy country to lead a healthy lifestyle in if you enjoy hiking and things like that.



Only you will know if you like it, but I have a feeling you will. I certainly know I am going to love it when I move there! You may want to go back to the US and Canada to visit once in a while, and definitely visit the European continent as well (lots to explore there, where I have been before), but I have a feeling your heart will stay in Icleand. :)



Best of luck to you and your family! You will never regret this move, I assure you. :)
Kittysue
2014-04-15 09:03:41 UTC
I love Iceland - I've been at least 10 times

1 - I've never been in Iceland when it's been super cold. Even in the winter I found it colder in NYC than Reykjavik. It doesn't get hot but you can get nice days in the 60sF in the summer

2 - Everyone learns English in school and at your age you'll find it easy to learn a foreign language as you'll be surrounded by it

3 - not everyone in Iceland is blonde. A good friend of mine there is half Icelandic/half Thai and she doesn't feel like a freak even though she looks Eurasian. Most people like Americans - I've never had any issue

4 - Iceland is even more technologically advanced than the US

5 - Most of the TV and movies are American or British so you'll able to watch a lot of the same things, though it may be a season behind as they are subtitled

6 - Nobody knows if you will like or not. Another friend of mine is half American/half Icelandic. Her American dad had been stationed there in the military, met an Icelandic woman, and never went back to the US. He's lived there for more than 30 years now
Jennie
2015-04-11 16:46:59 UTC
You are very fortunate, I am, raised and born in California, but moved to Iceland back in 1976, lived there for 20 years and am now duel citizenship, I now can speak 3 languages. I loved it and still love it, even now I am back in USA. But living in Iceland is like no other place in the world. things are more relaxed and the people are so friendly and it s just a different atmosphere, more peaceable. you will not regret ever going there, so make the most of it and you will have friends there forever. But the most important thing is that you are with your family and in a few years you will not, so once again make the most of it
?
2016-12-12 16:58:17 UTC
Apple Store Gothenburg
?
2014-04-16 01:30:02 UTC
Sounds like a cool gig. You needn't worry so much about all of this.

Everyone's told you the basics, I think, so here are some Icelandic films and videos to give you an idea of where you're going. It'll be just fine, young person.



Here are two Icelandic Youtubers speaking English:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_3GYTrmeHE





People of Iceland:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQmAzbOmnlc





Just to give you an idea of what they look like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPhbpMeQSV8





Things one young man likes and hates about Iceland: Start from 0:56, because this kid rants.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZkZYnLWtCk



Such beautiful views!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xtq8E7AiZ7E





Randomness:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRBEmZ-XqFE
Gökçe
2014-04-15 10:32:07 UTC
Lucky!


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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