......are rather reserved folks but once you get to know them they begin to open up. In comparison to US cities, the whole island is about the size of St. Louis, so word travels fast and everybody seems to have some sort of connection to everyone they see, whether its direct or indirect.

If you are a true Icelander your last name will stem from your fathers name and will end with a son or dottir (daughter). They even have a dating app that pulls from a database and can tell you how far removed you are from a potential partner. Perhaps it’s a testament to Icelanders creativity, humor and ability to adapt to the elements. Its been said that one out of 10 Icelanders will publish or author a book in their lifetime. The legends and sagas have been passed along for centuries and the country has a knack for crafting tales of trolls, fairies, elves, Vikings, hidden people, and unidentifiable sea creatures.

A perk to connecting to the island was listening to friends recount folklore and sagas - stories of drama and fear. When I heard my first story of a fairy and laughed, I learned quite quickly from a friend who politely taught me this wasn’t ok…a huge portion of the population believes in what some would see as mythical creatures. ‘Baby steps’ helped me to embrace the culture and community, whether it be through throwing back Brennivín (Icelandic schnapps) with fermented rotten shark known as hákarl or dodging aggressive Artic Tern birds. It’s a big part of the KAVU lifestyle and while the KAVU days may be a little cloudier than normal here, there is nothing like finding a local friend to teach you of the intricacies of the places and history that make Iceland what it is.

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