What I Love About Living In Iceland As an American After 6+ Years
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- Опубликовано: 4 июл 2024
- There have certainly been highs and lows to living in Iceland after I moved in 2016 from NYC, but I want to share 5 things in this video that I love about living here from a North American perspective. Well, specifically the USA.
Want a gorgeous authentic Icelandic Sweater like mine? Shop here for one:
icelandicstore.is/?aff=3
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Make sure you have the right clothing packed for Iceland by grabbing my Free Ultimate Packing Checklist. It has comprehensive lists of winter and summer essentials to wear here.
allthingsiceland.com/iceland-...
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Book a one-on-one trip video Iceland trip planning consultation with me here - calendly.com/allthingsiceland...
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Here is my Ultimate Guide to Renting a Car in Iceland:
allthingsiceland.com/iceland-...
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If you enjoy my content on RUclips, then you'll love the fun content I make on Instagram & TikTok. I often share Iceland travel inspiration, observations of the culture, and more.
Instagram - / allthingsiceland
TikTok - / allthingsiceland
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Are you a company that wants to work with me: Send me an email at jewells(at)allthingsiceland(dot)com
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All Things Iceland podcast
Hear interviews with natives and ex-pats that dive deep into Icelandic history, language, nature, and culture, as well as learn new Icelandic words and phrases.
Available for download at:
My website - allthingsiceland.com
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00:00 Introduction
01:10 #1
03:04 #2
05:35 #3
07:55 #4
10:11 #5
I visited Iceland last November, and was surprised at how comfortable I felt there. If I’m going to be completely honest, as an African American, my senses are usually are on ‘high alert’ when I travel internationally because I just never know how I will be received. However, I found myself quickly becoming at ease in Iceland, even as I ventured out into the remote towns and villages. That’s a feeling that I’ll never forget! Every country has its share of people who are not so friendly (Iceland isn’t excluded), but my experience was positive and I felt absolutely welcomed the entire time. I’d love to visit again!
Iceland is more bigoted towards white foreigners because there are just way more of them (Polish mostly). There is a small subculture of Trumpian Icelanders though. They may not have much power but neither did Trumpists in America... until they did. However, Icelanders in general are much more focused on local issues which is the opposite of Americans who get bogged down in worrying about whatever is happening nationally and have no idea who their mayor is.
I’m an Icelander and I’m so happy you felt welcome and comfortable here :)
Really loved your video! As a Black woman from the USA that has lived in Europe for almost 8yrs now(1 year in northern Norway, 5 yrs in Hungary and past 2yrs in north central Sweden) I can relate to many things you say!
The feeling of being a part of a society is one thing I really enjoy about Nordic countries. In USA I never felt welcome there even though I was born and raised there and both my parents were also. The former Soviet countries have a strong hate of black Americans in the legal, government ways and the people are very afraid of being kind due to the official stance is to hate black Americans. So I would not suggest those to someone. Although even there I found more kind people than in the USA.
No Nordic countries are not perfect but having lived and traveled in several countries in Europe I find them the best fit for me. So I can understand the love! As I also am married to a Swedish man and his family welcomed me as their own! Sweden is my forever home now!
When I was in Norway I had the choice to visit Iceland but did not due to costs. Instead I went to Faro Islands, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland which was the same price as just Iceland! He hee. But that said I wish I went to Iceland! He hee.
Keep up the good vids, I love them! And my husband enjoys seeing them also as he likes to compare how life is for me a Black US woman in Sweden and Norway to a fellow Black US woman in Iceland!
As a Kenyan who spent the better part of 2021 in Iceland, I agree with all of these. I still feel like I didn't see enough of the beautiful nature. Your videos helped a great deal and I watch them now too.
That's awesome to hear. I hope you get to come back to experience more nature here.
I just got back from my 2nd trip to Iceland. I even thought I saw you once in Reykjavík. There is no other place that eases my stress away. I FaceTimed my family on my first day and my sister said, “you’re at Peace.” Yes, it’s chilly but I don’t care. Iceland feels like home. There’s something so refreshing to feel safe to walk around. No place is 100% safe but there’s a feeling of freedom here that I don’t have back home. The nature is incredible and it’s humbles you when viewing the huge waterfalls or the erupting volcano. You come away with more appreciation and respect for the Nature. I’m learning Icelandic also. I want to read Icelandic books and speak Icelandic. If I could stay - I would. ❤
My mother was from Iceland. I have been there many times. My last trip was this past March. What I love about Iceland is the quaintness about the city! The food! The cleanliness of the city! And anywhere you go everyone speaks English!
I looooooved my trip to Iceland. Also, when I was in middle school, and Icelandic family moved onto my street. They had a daughter my age and we became friends. She went a year of high school also with me, and then moved back. I had no contact with her until the world of Facebook came into our lives. We connected and last summer, when I went on a solo 9 day trip to explore Iceland. We had the best time ever, and it was so incredible to learn about her country, from her, as an adult. And the nature. Holy amazing!
Could you perhaps make a video on Icelandic clothing brands? Just so visitors can do some shopping, knowing it's something locally designed.
Yes, I can for sure do that. Writing that down. Thanks for the suggestion.
Icewear comes to mind, I found a nice coat and hat from them that was quite affordable and very very warm!
Also 66 North. Zo-On, Cintamini, Farmers Market (Farmers and Friends), Rammagerdin, Reykjavik Raincoats, Alafoss.
Do your thing young lady 👍🏾. Keep up the good work and enjoy yourself!
Thank you so much 🤗
I agree with with all your points. I'm almost 10 years in Iceland now and kind of feel like I waste all the years before that.
Congrats on 10 years! That's awesome.
I loved how safe I felt. I loved the nature. I loved everything about my visit and am considering moving there. Your videos help so much. Thank you 😊
I started watching your channel in early summer this year. It was so helpful. We came to Iceland in mid September and love love loved it so much that we plan to come back. My grandmother was Icelandic and a first generation Canadian. I was always so interested in her heritage she shared that her mother taught her. I actually got to meet distant relatives in Iceland and it was a highlight. I am jealous that you got to move there. It’s such a beautiful country. I am planning on going back one day and seeing different places. Cheers 🥂. Thank you for sharing.
PS. Thanks for the tour of the Icelandic sweater store. I did go and bought myself one.
I visited Iceland for the first time on a solo trip in June of 2021 and fell in love! So much so, I went back this past March and I plan on going back before the year is over. I can’t get enough. I really wish I could move there.
I'm from the UK and a Scout Leader. We have taken small groups of older scouts (16-25) to Iceland on 10 day expeditions to explore and learn about the culture. What I found particularly lovely, and different from here in the UK, is that our Icelandic friends could very easily arrange for us to meet the Prime Minister or the Chief Scout (top role for scouting in the country). It's so lovely there is the community to do this and that even people in top roles are relatively accessible. I don't expect to ever meet my own Prime Minister or Chief Scout!
There is definitely something to be said about having the freedom to express yourself without the limitations of the identity you others have attributed to you during your youth. Iceland does seem beautiful and as a yarn crafter I know Icelandic yarn is considered high quality and very unique. Someday I hope to visit, but I think the cost of living and the chilly climate would put me off living there full time. It's also intimidating to learn such a drastically different language.
I always enjoy your videos and different sweaters in each one. Thanks Jewels for sharing!
Thank you and my pleasure 🤗
Top job ! You're excellent at presenting and I could listen to you all day :) It's excellent that you talk naturally from you're experience as these are the sorts of topics people want to know about instead of some dry ramble by a holiday Company lol
We fell in love with Iceland when we were there in May this year. It is so beautiful and the people are so lovely! We had amazing sunny weather and very little rain. One morning at breakfast we looked outside to see a few snowflakes falling. The wind was always there and always chilly but we are from Canada which gets even colder than Iceland so we were fine. I also watched a lot of vidoes from people like yourself so knew what to pack and things to do or not do while there, which was immensely helpful. We loved just about everything in Iceland, the nature, the food, the people! We went on 3 single day tours, Golden Circle, South Coast to Glacier Lagoon and Snaefelsnes, all were amazing! We are now planning a return trip to Iceland, can't wait!!
Great video! I actually arrived early this morning and I was pleasantly surprised at the diversity.
This was a lovely video. It wasn't one of those formulaic RUclips vids of "147 I Love About Iceland". It was more like sitting down with a friend and asking: "So why are you here?". As I said, it was lovely. Thank you.
I love how the sunrise (maybe not sunrise??) is just touching the top of your head as you close this segment. Great timing! Stay safe out there!
Vibrant colours, beautiful.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for all your videos!
Traveled to Iceland in September and all your tips were super useful.☺️
I loved everything about Iceland it was an amazing trip. Can’t wait to visit again
That’s amazing and I’m so glad to hear that. It’s my absolute pleasure to share. 🤗❤️
I would love to hear about the roundabouts. They have incorporated them into the Canadian city that I live in as a traffic calming measure. Needless to say there were many fender benders during the first couple of months. I really like them though.
Ok, awesome. Yea, they are much better than traffic lights here, in my opinion. Glad the fender benders have calmed down.
You have a beautiful voice. ❤😊
Your English is really good. I also lived in the USA ( NC) and other countries and I picked up different accent. Well done. I am an native icelandic - spanish native.
Glad to see your videos again! Can you talk about some of the places you like to hike ? How do you adjust to the sunless days?
Thank you and yes! I can definitely do that. Thanks for asking. 😊
Please share about round abouts. Here, they've stuck in many in a short time, all different, and people are not used to them.
Ok, will do! Thank you for letting me know it’s of interest to learn about the roundabouts.
The feeling really comes through your video. It would be nice to be there right now. The usa feels cray cray at the moment. Its difficult to disengage. I might move, not sure...
I've been exactly where you are standing many times. I can tell by that one rock on the right. I left it there in 1978. ;)
LOL nice! I love this area.
Iceland ❤️
Super jealous. Love seeing you in Iceland. Such a beautiful country and I also love Icelandic horses. How about you?
Thank you! Yes, I do love the horses. I don’t interact with them a lot but they are such cuties. 😍
Me and my mum went in september for two weeks and it was amazing I got to see the northern lights twice 😍, and the nature is just amazing it's like you're not on planet earth, but unfortunately I had a cold the whole time I was there, and I don't know if I was unlucky or just people in iceland don't like the way I look I didn't find them to be very friendly, I would smile and they wouldn't smile back ,I would say thank you and they wouldn't reply and give me a not so nice stare, only in the vegan places I found them to be super nice and polite except vegan budin. But all in all I really enjoyed my whole stay there and did so many things and still I haven't seen it all.
Good morning,I really love your videos and would like to settle in Iceland but i would like to know whether there are job opportunities especially for accountants in Iceland
So you may not have realized this as it tends to be glossed over a lot. Seltjarnarnes is the name of the entire peninsula that most of Reykjavík is on. For the longest time all the land in Kópavogur and in Reykjavík what is now south of Miklabraut and east of Snorrabraut belonged to the township of Seltjarnarnes 🤷♂️
It’s funny you say that because I have heard that some people in Seltjarnarnes doesn’t want to be considered Reykjavíkur, which I don’t understand. 😂
Thanks for sharing!
Helooooo to my favorite Icelandic jewels 💎💝💝💝
Hiiiiii!!! 🥳🥳🥳❤️❤️❤️
have you done any videos with regards to housing and or real estate in iceland? the government site explains some of the process, but im having trouble finding realtor sites online
You're going to see a lot more volcano eruptions. Not all of them are going to be nice lava eruptions.
I’m considering moving to Iceland in about a year, what areas do you suggest?
Is it true that you have to go at the university of iceland to be a tourist guide
Was it hard getting use to the cold weather?
It was a little hard at first. It took me a couple of years to feel like 60 degrees Fahrenheit in summer was nice weather. LOL
Definitely not as multicultural like you said in big countries. But as what I understand it's way different than 20 years ago. And many foreigners coming to work and asylum seekers (refugees) been coming and the Icelandairs had many babies during covid so it's being said the population will cross 400,000 within 2 years now
Yea, it’s amazing how fast the country is changing.
@@AllThingsIceland You mean how fast it's being destroyed. Seems like your just there to preach about how wrong they are for not having a multi cultural society.
The Icelandic NHS is like the rest of the scandinavian countries, like in Denmark. But how is it if you have to go to the dentist. Here in sweden is can cost a alot. Not that it is like in the U S. But certenly is not cheap. How is it in Iceland. And, who does those famous icelandic sweaters
Yea, the dentist here is also expensive. I wish that there different because dental health is so crucial for overall health.
There are few different sources that I use to get my sweaters. One of them is The Icelandic Store icelandicstore.is/?aff=3
@@AllThingsIceland I shall check what the Icelandic stor has, thanx for the tip.
það væri næs ef þú myndir starta podcast á spotify eða einhvað🤷♀️🙏
Ég á hlaðvarp á Spotify. Það heitir All Things Iceland. 😊
The seaweed makes me think of dirty baby diapers😂 sorry about that 🇨🇦Canadian eh?
😂 that is one way to look at it
Jeez, if you can't navigate a roundabout, you'd better give up your driving license.
The two lane roundabouts have a different rule in Iceland than in the rest of Europe.