Daily Iceland #2: 5 Culture Shocks When you Come to Iceland - And How To Deal With Them

The Reykjavík Grapevine culture department goes over 5 common culture shocks that tourists experience when they visit Iceland.
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[@carolwychopen5887]

I am American and on my first visit to an Icelandic swimming pool, I was surprised that no one was wearing their towel. So I took mine off. Then I saw a grandmother and a little girl holding hands walking naked to the showers. I thought how amazing for that little girl. She is going to grow up knowing how her body will mature as she gets older because she sees it every day. I think it is so healthy. I am a overweight, elderly woman but I did not feel ashamed or out of place. Thank you Iceland, for making me comfortable with who I am.

[@raeperonneau4941]

How lovely. Thank you for shareing.

[@colmangreen6029]

Inhaling in a sentence, or just making inhaling sounds while listening... my German aunts used to do that, in their platt deutsch. So funny.

[@ericzeb9103]

Great video! As an American who has visited Iceland twice, has practiced speaking Icelandic, and reads the Grapevine daily, it was nice to see this topic covered with an Icelander and an American. I enjoyed the casual format that followed a simple show outline. You're both natural on camera and fun to watch. You really stirred up nostalgia from our vacations and the friends we've made there. Keep these videos coming.

[@5Heth]

I love this guys voice & accent. I could listen to him all day long.

[@amandareiche9083]

Not any more--the stupid organization canned him-sheer stupidity, in my opinion!

[@kathrynlove8252]

It’s called aspiration and is a feature of the spoken languages of Armenia, Korea, Thailand, Ancient Greece, and in some versions of Chinese et al

[@carlawiberg6282]

Northern Sweden!

[@kel5944]

I thought aspiration was when you inhale your own spit. 🤣

[@cjekyl]

Naked in the locker room and showers of Blue Lagoon was a tough one. My wife and I are overweight Americans, and we were next to tiny, tiny people from places known for their small figures, and we felt very awkward and almost like a spectacle.

[@juangarcia-gl2kk]

Thank you guys, l just joined your channel, in march when the gentleman was with poly exploring the volcano .

[@icelandicshtuff7750]

In Ireland there are also people who say some words while breathing in. Usually with linking words like “aye” so they don’t have to stop talking during their stream of consciousness

[@vickygarnett7623]

Came here to say the same, so can confirm. Don’t hear it so much among younger speakers in Dublin, but older speakers, particularly outside Dublin.

[@carolined5923]

Its all over the world and only some of the people

[@robertscelly1714]

I am a European New Zealander and my grandmother (and most off her children) inhaled while saying "yeah" when agreeing with a statement made in a conversation. This seemed more a way of not interrupting the speaker's conversational flow while encouraging them to continue.

[@CourtneySchwartz]

She breathed in while saying “yeah.” Been there a while, eh? 😂

[@christineshaaban4004]

this must be the absolut first 'culture shock' video by anybody from any country that is actually about stuff you would genuinely be shocked/taken aback by. usually it ends up being things like 'oh they really like to queue here' and other benign things. so, thank you very much.

[@junebay5265]

We Finns are similar in so many ways to Icelanders, it’s fascinating! Inhaling while speaking is actually the reason I got interested in Iceland and Icelandic language. I once saw a random video of someone speaking Icelandic and noticed they do it too, I always thought Finns were the only ones! We just say juu or joo (or some variation of these) instead of já. Though we can go as far as to say whole sentences while inhaling, I don’t know if Icelanders do that too haha! We’ll also have to be naked while showering in swimming halls. And it’s kind of funny how Finns have such a big personal space with clothes on but being naked in sauna we can be all cramped up in a tiny place, awfully close to each other and sweating our butts off. No logic there. What ceases to amaze me though is how Icelanders can know practically everyone in the same city or town they live in. I mean, if you were to put an equal amount of Finns in same space I don’t think we’d get to know even a fraction of each other. Here we might have the same neighbors for decades and know nothing more than their surname. And that’s only because it reads in their mailbox lol. Also, a Moomin mug! Always a good choice. 👌🏻

[@Mariuander]

The inhaled "yes word" is also prevalent in Norway and to a lesser degree Sweden.

[@Julia-br5tq]

Even in South Germany.

[@janicefinn1745]

Ireland too. Especially West Cork and Kerry.

[@kissanruokaa]

Heheh oli hauska lukea sun kommentti :) Muutan Islantiin ensi viikolla niin täytyy perehtyä kulttuurillisiin eroihin youtuben kautta ennen kun pääsen paikan päälle :D Varsinkin toi naapureista tietäminen nauratti, pitää niin hyvin paikkansa :D Esimerkki: Asuin about 10 vuotta yhdessä kämpässä enkä siltikään tiennyt mun naapurin etunimeä vaikka oltiin mun terassillakin ottamassa kaljaa monta kertaa ja moikattiin päivittäin aikalailla :''D Meille toi on normaalia mutta nyt kun sanoit tosta "ilmiöstä" niin vasta tajusin kuinka outoa se on ylipäätään vaikka meille se ei tunnu millään tavalla oudolta :D Hyvät päivänjatkot! : )

[@denawilliams1366]

Love the Grapevine & love you guys! Great video... Keep them coming. 👍 Visiting Iceland was the best thing I've ever done. That said, I will say that I think I experienced 4 out of the 5 unique Icelandic customs, but the whole showering completely naked thing took me a moment to get used to. I am also a repressed American, so I understand. My daughter & I were at the Mývatn Nature Baths & we had struck up a great conversation with a local teenage girl while we were in the pool. (We learned so much about Iceland from that conversation! Everything from the potato in the shoe during Christmas & how New Year Eve is the biggest holiday of the year with a whole "schedule" of events that most everyone in Iceland follows, etc) So, when we were ready to get out of the pool, we just continued our great conversation into the locker room... Which was, as a repressed American, a weird experience! But, soon I realized that our new Icelandic friend couldn't care less about the fact that we were all naked & showering together, so I tried to get over my own American sensibilities & just take my shower. You're correct that in the pool locker area, Icelandic people are all pretty much walking around naked with water shoes on. It's shocking & uncomfortable for foreign visitors, but I totally agree that it's a good, healthy & nonjudgmental way to be. I'm fully aware that it's us American's that are the strange ones! There is one other thing my daughter noticed about Icelanders almost immediately... Icelanders are very quiet people. Even with crowds of people in the airport, it was surprisingly silent. We then had a running joke for the rest of our 16 days in Iceland that we were "the loud Americans". This was mostly due to the fact that it was just true. Even when we tried to be low key & attempt to blend in, it seemingly never failed that something would happen to make our presence glaringly obvious. Like when my daughter needed to heat her prepackaged Icelandic Meat Soup at the N1 in Stykkishólmur...it was National Day & the gas station was full of people, so of course, when my daughter hit start on the microwave, the loudest SCREECH came from the microwave & the noise continued at a steady rhythm the entire time ensuring that we were indeed the Loud Americans! 😁

[@amandareiche9083]

Nope, Grapevine gave both the old pink slip------bad decision on their pat----we all agree!!!!

[@TonySaunders]

My longest staring competition lasted from Hlemmur to Artun on the bus, in the end I had to get off so broke eye contact! I've only lived here for two months and I'm already staring at people all the time , so I guess I'm adapting pretty well

[@MrGrimur12]

Im from iceland and i thought that it was just normal to stare a little bit until i watched this video haha

[@hjaltiagustsson7905]

@@MrGrimur12 mjög óþægilegur óvani hjá íslendingum

[@MrGrimur12]

@@hjaltiagustsson7905 þú bara feiminn

[@hjaltiagustsson7905]

@@MrGrimur12 nah þetta er blinda fyrir persónulegu rými

[@mnichols1979]

@@MrGrimur12 haha. Growing up in America, if someone was caught starring to long we would say "take a picture, it'll last longer."

[@betty5064]

From Canada - thank you. It has been very interesting to learn so much about Iceland, here and elsewhere.

[@doinafred3049]

Hello Valur. Miss your stunning show with Polla. Iceland is a mysterious country, and wonderful inventive people.

[@ouchsp]

I still love Valur's laugh. Its so free and wholehearted! He can also be hysterically funny! Hannah can be hysterical, too! They make a great twosome!

[@amandareiche9083]

Sadly the Grapevine did not agree---neither is in their business model an more--------------------it makes me sad----hot dogs in August, w/o a trip around the corner, sadly a buzzkill.

[@marksturgis3536]

How nice to hear the correct pronunciation of sauna from a fellow American! Nice work Hannah Jane. I'm so eager to get back to Iceland, and all the information from your channel helps a bunch.

[@cosmosofinfinity]

Love these two's chemistry and joking around

[@dianeteeter6650]

I was stationed in Keflavik, I really enjoyed touring around the island. Hiking was great and camping along rivers. I found out last year that I have ancestors from Iceland. I would love to come back and visit.

[@TheVelvetiron]

Showering naked prior to being in the pool is the best hygiene rule! As a visitor to Iceland, I felt for the the scared US ladies but then felt torn because I really did want everyone to shower with soap befire going in the pool.

[@viperkeeper]

Great content, very interesting. Thanks!

[@mehere6865]

Cold weather always makes my nose run so, yeah i snort a lot especially after i have cycled.

[@chezmanya]

I enjoyed your discussion about nudity. I have been to the onsens in Japan where everyone is naked and it seemed very natural to me. Didn’t bother me at all. I think we as Americans are generally way too uptight and repressed, as Hannah mentioned. We all have a body and nobody really cares what you look like if they’re not getting close to you. As for the staring, it happens in other countries too. People are naturally curious about foreigners and so they stare. It’s no big deal - just smile and stare back 😁

[@antegrkovic88]

The inhaling thing is also present in Ireland and it's creepy af. When I heard it first I was like 'Are you OK'?

[@M124M]

China also!!!!!

[@johnearle1]

Newfoundland has about 520 000 people. If you do any travelling around the island, you are bound to have friends in almost every nook and cranny. The similarities between the two islands are extensive. Blood pudding is a huge deal back home.

[@amandareiche9083]

Visiting both next summer----so excited!

[@johnearle1]

@@amandareiche9083 Check out the Avalon colony.

[@Omti9]

Icelanders have just grown more sympathetic. This snorting I can understand so much.

[@poopdeckpappy7924]

Hannah is a gifted talker who never seems to run out of breath... 8-) If I had lived in a foreign host country for 3 years (or more), I would have assimilated to the point where their customs had become mundane and normal to me. I suppose the whole "tips and tricks" infomercial is a good idea if you just want to share quirky differences between Iceland and America, but finding them disgusting or lacking political correctness is not how I'd approach this subject. If I ever get to visit Iceland, I'm sure these quirky differences will be something I learn to love very quickly. In fact, some of them seem quite liberating. The very last thing I would do, is to point them out to an Iceland native, or make fun of them to the rest of the world. These are obviously deep-seated, widespread cultural norms which deserve the respect of any visitor. If I'm going to dip my body in their water with their family or friends, or drink among them in their pubs and restaurants, I'm going to do my very best not to offend them. Why rock the boat in a country which seems to live with much less of the dreaded political correctness which is infecting so much of the world? Iceland sounds like a wonderful place to visit, and if I could, I would move there permanently. Being an American myself, I would be more worried about how much political correctness I was inadvertently spreading in a country that seems to do well without it.

[@GreenStreetPlayer1]

Fantastic insight into our behaviours in different countries. The people of Iceland and similar countries are certainly more in touch with nature and the world as it should be. The perception of personal space is interesting and any eye contact from that. In denser populations, the act of staring can even result in death depending on who is looking at you, and any argument that may result from there.

[@Linandemma]

hahahahaha....the staring one made me laugh sooooo much.....I haven't got to the rest of it yet!! I want to come to Iceland, just to be stared at!! Not so sure about embracing the nudity haha. Love this content, thanks, as always for making me laugh and smile.

[@sajidaliofficial9972]

Love you iceland From Pakistan 🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰💓💓💓💞

[@eijonasson]

Stare at me ....please. I live in Vancouver B.C. Canada and I appear to be invisible.

[@fairwitness7473]

Love this! 😊

[@imsbvs]

One thing to add about showering naked, at the Blue Lagoon some of the showers have doors ... no need to shower naked in front of others! Knowing why showering before going into the water is necessary it is impossible to wash and clean the appropriate areas of the body if wearing clothing. Anyone who participates in team sports is likely to be used to showering afterwards in open showers with the rest of the team.

[@ronaldreinfort9133]

Thank you very much, Valur for being part of the life and times. All the best as we move forward.

[@amandareiche9083]

So sad the The Grapevine does not feel like all the rest of us; its a real shame.

[@Piltdownpaul]

Fabulous, i love this!

[@christaostertag4696]

I'm your fan! You're so snoring funny 😂

[@evanjlewis1]

Also, Hannah has a great personality. I think it would be good to see her in more videos 😁

[@lailsevickmtornetto9485]

I recall the time my mother and I were visiting my granddaughter and her family, we had gotten out of the pool and hot baths to get dressed. The next thing we saw was one of the guys from the family came running into “our” shower ...lol..ha ha! My mother and I had entered into the guys shower in error oh my...!!!

[@ouchsp]

In the "Bohemian Rhapsody" movie, one character said of Americans that we are "Puritans in public and perverts in private". Too true!

[@Kisuke94]

Extremely interesting stuff guys, keep this videos coming!

[@amandareiche9083]

NOPE$$$$$$$$$$

[@28105wsking]

Valur! It's so great to see you again! Missed you! Love to Polly!

[@joefranks4235]

My dad was stationed in Reykjavik during the Korean war years, but I can't recall him ever talking about meeting the natives there, just about the cold and snow.

[@kristimoore8763]

This is so interesting! Thank you!

[@aznate27]

My friends and I are going to Iceland in September and this video was VERY useful! Especially about the staring and nudity, lol. Thanks for the post!

[@valerialiadesiata9356]

If I would only have seen this before to know my husband ... 10 years later, the snorr, the stearing and all are still there but now I know its just a matter of all not only him

[@WhiteTiger333]

A Moomin mug! I actually learned about saying "ja" on the inhale from Norwegians, so it's there, too.

[@donnacsuti4980]

Funny reminds me of camping in remote area after see others multiple times (nod at 1st sometimes several years) finally stop and talk, then friends forever

[@iddet8867]

I cannot imagine that most of this stuff Is especially Icelandic, except maybe the nakedness in public baths. But of course, I am Icelandic. That snorting thing, and the staring. I cannot believe that this is real. But as I say, maybe I am doing this unknowingly as an Icelander. Who knows?

[@emilyflotilla931]

Interesting content...smile and wave never hurts!

[@BrianSmithTheDukeofURL]

Inhaling during speaking is also used in parts of Sweden. It is not throughout, which is a little strange.

[@hopehuffer920]

Thank you for the the very important cultural information! 👌💐

[@chintones56]

This was a hilarious video of Icelandic quirks, but then again every culture has them. However, I'd like to point out that out that you guys spent the most time on nudity... hmmmmm? Made me laugh heartily.

[@thekaylers]

We inhale while speaking in Newfoundland, Canada as well! :)

[@michaeldique]

Icelandic people and Norwegians have a lot in common, I can tell. Amusing video. Greeting from Norway :)

[@K0bbii]

We just didn´t like the king :)

[@williamscoggin1509]

I enjoyed this video that y'all made very much. Lied-hearted, informative, been very down to early. ., It is nice to learn about the people there, for example. The editor with his relaxed reporting walking around town and at the same time playing with this energetic dog that just loves the world. Now the newspaper employee who would have ever guess that it would be an American, giving her influences to the people around her and at the same time helping us to identify with how it would be living there. Also the other night watching the live feed when you were talking to your friend on the phone the whole time drinking wine and cutting up talking about your equipment, that was very entertaining. I feel closer to Iceland already. 👍🏻🇺🇲 Greetings from Texas, and yes I think these videos like this will be very popular not only here but in other countries also.

[@amandareiche9083]

Texas where they are 'lied' hearted and down to 'early' y'all!!!!!!!!!!!! Born, bred and exited stage right (no desire to be THAT 'right')

[@andraszsiros2567]

The little girl on the mug even stares! :D

[@gubjorggisladottir3525]

5:44 Staring moment? The first time I knew of a person with black skin here in Iceland I (and those who were with me) ran a few streets over to see this wonder. When I watched him walking on the other side of the street...I also saw a group of children following him. I looked again...yes his skin was black... and left for home... embarrassed that this poor foreign guy had to live with 5-10 children following him and whispering amongst themselves out of their curiosity. I never notice people staring... neither myself doing it, nor other people staring at me... I have been told to stop staring at somebody...I was not staring at all... I was just resting my eyes not looking at anything...

[@donnahughs9749]

We are so habituated to looking *at* something, but you can rest your eyes even better without focusing on anything in particular. Try holding your finger up out in front of you and focusing on the spot just above the tip of your finger. Then, slowly pull your finger away while staying focused at that spot. I've taught this trick to a few teenagers who have gotten into trouble staring down others, which just rouses their anger to increase.. Once they learn it (I teach them to focus at a place more or less six inches in front of my face) they report less conflicted interactions. I think it may help with social anxiety also.

[@GeosterTrow]

The inhaled Ja is prevalent in Norway too.

[@stormbear7330]

I can't even turn the lights on fully when I'm in the shower alone 😂 naked swimming would be impossible!! 😂

[@Mikkogram]

Being naked in public showers is usual in Germany. At least when I am in public swimming arenas

[@MoriDarkmoss]

This is really random but I love the contrast of your hair. The dark roots with the blonde on the ends loooks so nice 😍. Iceland is awesome. Subscribed.

[@amandareiche9083]

They're GOOOOOOOOOOOONE------------------

[@mortenreippuertknudsen3576]

Nothing wird, but im Danish and din't grow up in Copenhagen. Everything is unsurprisingly very nordic, though a little less visible in the metropolitan cities like Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo, Gothenborg and larger cities like Malmö, Aarhus, Bergen & Tampere (just like its less visible in Reykjavik).

[@colleenpye5521]

Watched this video a number of times. Have tried to immitate Valur 's snort. Bit my tongue. I'm in my senior years and dont think I'll ever grow up. You two are very entertaining and fun to watch.

[@amandareiche9083]

Too bad the love has faded---------why??????

[@folkeholmberg3519]

I've heard the oposite as you present here, snorting is healthy as when you are draining the ear trumpets, instead of when blowing your nose wich builds up the pressure an making the snot staying ther that risks giving severe infections behind the eardrum wich kan give, at least temprarily bad hearing.

[@vgrundea52]

That is actually true

[@vgrundea52]

Americans say "like" every 4 words, stop doing that please.

[@donnahughs9749]

@@vgrundea52 Yes, I'm an American and it's a relatively recent habit which I find annoying. One theory I have is that it seemed to be initially used to recount past conversation, and I think some people were confronted with their recollections not being literally correct enough so they started using "like" in order to connote that their recollection was approximate. "I was like, 'He came at least half an hour late,' and she was like, 'No, he came in ten minutes after the others.' " I think people have been unnecessarily nitpicky.

[@scotarg1973]

Walking in to a town in Iceland sounds like walking in to a gold mine camp on the Western front in 1800's, only worse! Not only do you have tough bearded men giving you a hard look but also wee grannies and children, staring and snorting. Then you go to pub, get drunk and make friends with everyone and think your initial impression that people are unfriendly was just paranoia, only to find out the next day when they ignore you, like you didn't have the best night of your life with them. Come to Iceland and experience a land of contrasts.From fire and ice, dark days and light nights, people who know how to dress appropriately for all weathers but unashamedly get naked amongst the tourists at other times, friendly one minute but not the next.... welcome to Iceland, but not really! 🤔🤣

[@quantumcat7673]

Yep, you are quite strange indeed. However, after a few beers together, I suppose that I could find similitudes with us, Canadians.

[@danh-RedSwan]

Very enjoyable… 🙂

[@1983SpringBonnie]

Oo, I'm glad I found this channel. I want to move to Iceland someday! ♡

[@AudriannaB-World-Peace]

Start saving your money because it is a really expensive place to live!

[@amandareiche9083]

See Grapevine-----you were quite wrong to release these two!!!!!!!!!!

[@robertscelly1714]

I don't think Icelanders in general EXPECT people to be nude. It's a cultural norm and they would not be offended if visitors covered themselves for whatever reason. Some cultures consider direct eye contact offensive or threatening, while others are fine with it. Visitors or migrants would do themselves and others a big favour by reading up about the local culture, rather than insinuating that locals should change to avoid making them feel uncomfortable. That would lead to informed decision-making. Isn't choice wonderful?

[@kathleenriveraspencer4136]

my father-in-law from Halifax, Nova Scotia, used to aspire .. breathy inhalation .. just you describe.

[@nadeemakhtar4890]

I'm only watching grapevine for hannah Jane wish you all the best

[@monikakrall3922]

I like huge personal space....I am autistic and I go to certain shops regularly, but when I feel it is getting too familiar with the people working there I stop going there for a while and hold apace till things get unfamiliar again and I become a sort of stranger again 😊

[@nonmihiseddeo4181]

Culture shock I got without even going to Iceland was Valur saying his name means Death. And his second name means Strong. So, his name, in effect, is "Strong Death." I'm like, Did your parents not like you? Was this some kind of curse? When they named you, did they say, "When you die, your death will be a STRONG DEATH. None of this near-death experience bullshit, where they revive you in the ER, and then you blab about it and write a book. Miracle Max isn't going to say you're mostly dead, which means you're still slightly alive. NO! We want a Strong Death for our boy, and we're going to seal it naming him Strong Death." I know that parents in America give their kids weird names, odd names, names they make up out of thin air, or we'll name our kid "Todd" but spell it "Ta'wd." But I have a hard time with a kid being named Strong Death. I don't understand a culture where parents do that.

[@cynthiacarden9521]

Loved this! Norwegians inhale in mid sentence as well!

[@johnearle1]

The alveolar is also used in Newfoundland. Especially using the word Yes while on the phone. The western part of Prince Edward Island also shares the trait.

[@nolasmith7687]

Alveoli are in the lungs....do you perhaps mean uvula, that dangly thing you see when you look down your throat? Or am I totally misunderstanding your comment?

[@johnearle1]

@@nolasmith7687 Alveolar refers to speaking while inhaling. When saying yes while breathing in sounds like a little gasp as if you are startled by something.

[@nolasmith7687]

@@johnearle1 thank you for taking the time to educate me on this...it is not a term we ever hear down here in Oz. Cheers😎

[@lesliefischer6680]

I still remember the first time I saw someone with darker skin, I was fascinated! I tan darkly, as a child for sure, and so I recall trying to figure out how much longer it would take to be out in the sun to get THAT dark…..I was jealous. Lol. We went to Tahiti when I was six over Christmas. I arrived with white skin, we burned badly, then got help with tanning oils, time in the sun, etc. 2 weeks later we had new visitors to the Island mistake me for the tour guide’s daughter hanging out with our blonde friend (my sister) and we had even picked up a lot of the language. What fun. We definitely played that off for the rest of the trip. My kids love the story, realize that if you cut someone, we all bleed red. So we see people as people, unless you have shi**y behaviour. :) I would love to come to Iceland. Just for a few weeks. It sounds great

[@siROAni-69-taru]

Hello, Thank you very much for the funny ”odd habits” in Iceland😅! In North of Sweden called Norrbotten people also have this typical inhaling habit with a word ”Joo” , that is yes mixed with some pondering about the life. The stareing also happens in Finland, I am finnish but I have lived many years in Sweden and adopted some habits without any more thinking of them, here in Sweden ,at least in bigger cities,people avoid staring or looking too much ,almost like ” do not think that you are so interesting or important” .I feel that if nobody looks at you it makes you feel being invisible .I must add that older people do look and also talk easyly also with people they don’t know. A greek friend of mine said when visiting Stockholm : Men are not looking at women here, how do the men and women find each other at all? The personal space is quite big both in Sweden and Finland, about Norway ,I do not know,propably the same . When I was in India , my presence stopped a whole market,everybody stareing, and when going through a village somebody came out and shouted ”if you want to see something come out now.” In Finland the Sauna is a very important part of Life and to be naked there is the most natural thing, in old Times Sauna was the place for birth and the place where the dead were prepaired and washed, Sauna was a healing ,even holy place. My Mother was born in Sauna ,the midwife being her father, she was 96 when she died 2020 and her family was very poor with nine children. You see how inspireing you video was😄🙏

[@valentinakillacat]

Oh.... that was a huge personal space! I didn't realize. Coming to Airwaves festival for 8 years give me a lot of weird feeling when people acted like we didn't hang out the other night together at the show. Hmmm.....

[@cynthiacooney1486]

Need vitamin d and c and zinc. For colds.

[@nancylindsay4255]

Wondering if Icelanders had fewer colds while wearing masks during the pandemic . . . maybe less need to snort?

[@mehranyusufkhan4844]

Wow, i love Iceland. Love from Pakistan 🇵🇰

[@red-zi7fg]

It is a tradegy to be born in countries, cultures and epoches that mock and supresses the spirit of life. I wish Pakistan had a culture similar to Iceland. 😓

[@nadeemakhtar4890]

Margaret sir make nice videos good conversation

[@pKbasten]

Can you tell me the name of the company that Manufactured the shirt he is wearing? I have been looking for it. Thanka

[@dawsonl]

The last one I find funny. In High School and now at my YMCA the showers are as you described. So I'm kind of gobsmacked that people think it is odd.

[@konaboyz1690]

It's an island thing people stare at me here in Hawaii cuz I'm white

[@alisonwhelan768]

Irish people also do the inhaling já thing! Hahaha I thought it was just us that did it

[@garett5637]

I'm not convinced that the nudity in the showers thing is "just upbringing." Here in Canada communal showers at swimming pools is common and while you may see a mix of people with towels and without, it's "normal" for there to be nudity in that setting. I was born and raised in Canada and I'm still uncomfortable with it. No judgment towards Iceland or Icelanders (love the country - want to move there) but I do think some things should be private.

[@DerKatzeSonne]

Same in Germany. Puberty is when you normally start feeling uncomfortable in those situations. Pretty sure that’s not just upbringing.

[@johnd8776]

Frankly, I am a bit puzzled by reading comments stating that Americans are made uncomfortable by nudity in places such as locker rooms in gyms. I grew up in Maine, college in Boston in the 70s, med school in Vermont in the 80s and have lived in San Francisco for the past 30 years and at no point was I witness to public discomfit in locker rooms amongst male patrons. I even recall interviewing for a few colleges that had mixed-sex dorms with shower rooms that were likewise mixed. Perhaps I have lived my life in relatively liberal cities and in academic enclaves but just to state that my experience in my life in the states has not been characterized by public discomfit with nudity. I think that such global generalizing and stereotyping can potentially subvert a more authentic and true understanding of who we are to each other as separate and unique individuals.

[@antoniospanayiotou8619]

This "like" is very catching!!!

[@fossiltechrbs]

In my experience, snorting is a cultural thing to Nordic people. I grew up in Northwest Minnesota (kind of ground zero for Norwegian and Icelandic Immigration). My great grandfather was an Immigrant from Norway. This was a normal thing in my family. I was stationed in Iceland in 1974 with the US Air Force and I never really noticed it or bothered by it.

[@suzanneearing7670]

I'm surprised you didn't mention removing your shoes before entering someone's home. I practice this at my own home in the US.

[@richardrejmer8721]

Removing outdoor shoes to enter the house is pretty universal in all Scandinavian cultures.

[@leandabee]

I came here by watching you and your brilliant coverage of the Geldingadalir volcano/volcanoes, even if it is 2 years later😃. Oh, by the way, I wouldn't mind being stared at by those amazing eyes, 👀🤣

[@idlewise]

The staring: "Am I related to you?"

[@fattyz1]

You guys r great. It’s very interesting . I’m from the states and watching on KZbin and some of the quirks are noticeable right away. Because I’m male I focus on the women and you can see it immediately. There are very big regional cultural differences here, but your isolation I assume would cause cultural differences on steroids. I’d love to visit.

[@nancybarnes7109]

When I was a young kid, I had some sort of medical issue that had to do with my nose and my sinuses and my ears. I'm not really sure what because I was so young. Anyway, my pediatrician told my mom that I should not blow my nose because apparently whatever was wrong could be further damaged if I did. And then, at some point, maybe around 9 or 10 years old, he told my mom that I could start blowing my nose. It was very strange because I had to learn how to do that! 😄 So I understand the snorting thing because I had to go around and do that when I was a younger kid.

[@lesliefischer6680]

In the public recreation centres here in BC, most of the time people either walk around naked or they wear towels. No one really seems to care either way.

[@folkmaster101]

what about the Blue Lagoon ? Do people wear anything in the pool. ?

[@MissyKrystal]

is pot legal in Iceland?

[@verenavonasek2370]

I have to visit.....

[@patstats1]

In America during the 70s, my high school senior year scheduled PhysIcal Education class during first period. Up until senior year, no one ever showered. If they did, they got into the shower in their underclothes and washed their feet and armpits. A handful of us girls decided it was senseless to not shower properly and spend the rest of the day being "stanky." We got naked and did the job right! We even had a club, the Na-kids. Puritan Repression continues to cast a terrible shadow of ignorance over the whole country. As an artist, I stare a lot. It’s not judgment, it’s observation. I’d probably fit right in Iceland. I’m not eating pony, though.

[@M124M]

Great chemistry🙄

[@johnrowson7639]

I was born in New York, with sandles on my feet...or maybe that was fur that I quickly shaved.

[@saintell8740]

Interesting🤔