Pleeeease make another video, with you two just talking about this kind of stuff. I loved this. This was really interesting. I love all your videos, though, Stefan. But this was really fun to watch.
How do people die because of the weather? :O :O Is it because the wind pushes people into water? Great to learn more about Iceland. Such a beautiful country!
actually, Sweden in many areas have lower taxes than the USA, taxes on companies and investments are lower in Sweden inheritance tax is 0% in Sweden. The only difference is Income tax where Sweden is higher. USA and their low taxes is a myth
@@ankiking Thats not true a wealthy business owner pays a lot less tax in Sweden than in USA. In Sweden, there is easy to avoid capital gains tax when you sell shares in other companies and Dividend income is also almost always structured so it's tax-free. USA is just not managed as well for example USA spends about 3x more or health care sector than other developed countries. Sweden is only a high tax country for middle income and low-income earners. wealthy people don't care about income tax
@@ankiking in the US the wealthy pay almost all the taxes, except for ss, Medicare, and sales taxes. The bottom 50% pay virtually no income tax, with many getting back more than they contribute.
Right now in California the government gave Billions of dollars to prisoners who scammed them for unemployment. Meanwhile I pay over 40% of my income on taxes and this is where it goes!! Makes me sick
Comparing America to anywhere is not fair because America is a very very weird place. If you really look at it it's a really messed up weird place. It defies logic.
Dublin was founded by Vikings and they controlled Ireland and Scotland (Norwegians) and England (Mercia and East Anglia - Danes) for many years. In fact England was almost conquered by a Norwegian and Danish king in 1066 but he was defeated by the Anglo Saxons who were then immediately defeated by William the conqueror from Normandy - also of Norwegian / Danish ancestry - but assimilated into France by then.
This is an extremely important point. In the Scandinavian countries, it’s citizens actually receive real value in each exchange for their taxes. Americans, however, don’t get any value back whatsoever. Our annual budget is roughly $3-4T dollars. 1/3 of all of our tax dollars go to fund “defense spending“ which basically means having 1000 military bases around the world and bribing dictators like Saddam Hussein to do what we say. Another 1/3 of our spending goes to entitlement spending which are payments to people on welfare who refuse to work and to retirees who falsely believe they have “paid into the system”. the remainder is all a bunch of bullshit. For $4T a year we don’t have healthcare and we don’t have free education so of course people are pissed and they either want taxes slashed or they want a socialist utopia. They don’t want 4 Defense contractors to keep getting rich on our backs.
a lot of these things resonate with Swiss people as well. We have a reputation of being cold and reserved, but it is like Arnùlfur said, it's just a non superficial way of being. Swiss are very "a time and place for everything", like do not expect to make conversation with strangers during the work commute on public transport (that's just creepy lol) BUT when we are in party modus, you can basically talk to anyone and have fun with complete strangers because they are in this different mind set at that moment. Swiss people will take a while to invite you to their home. Once you do get invited into their most personal circle, you have a true friend. We hate wasting time with people we might end up not liking that much once we know them better, so the warming up process takes longer. Once you understand this, we are pretty cool people hahaha
I’ve experienced the same with Russians, in public, no bullshit. But once you know them personally, they will bend over backwards to make you feel welcome. Cheers from Belgium
I disagree. Not that I think that a speaker of Modern English would understand it better, but that it would be more or less equally unintelligible. You'd have better mutual intelligibility between modern speakers of Frisian and Anglo-Saxon than either Modern Icelandic or English.
I saw on an other channel a guy reading old english and from the comments it feels like that people with a germanic language understands old english easier than people who speaks modern english
I love Iceland! It definitely feels raw and magical! And one of the things I love most, besides the breathtaking landscapes, northern lights and the many rainbows, is the people. They are wonderful and so real, no BS (at least those whom I had met) and artistically creative! Love that!
@@ignatrip yes, but, it's probably a political/ cultural / geographical e.g. swapping of royal families, insistence of language ( bokmål), Scania ...just blame the Danes (why always blame Sweden?)..Finland , although Swedish influence, linguistically seperate & with Russian influence afterwards plus Finns origins were distinct ethnically from the others? I'm sure I'm incorrect(!).
@@ignatrip - Historically, Denmark used to hold Scania, the south-eastern tip of the Swedish peninsula. Ironically that was the region that gave the name to the whole of Scandinavia. In Roman times this region was called “Scandia” or “Scandza”.
Same, I'm in Nebraska now and it got to freezing temperatures the other day. Everyone else was very unhappy with the cold weather, but I love the cold weather and the snow now (after being in Sweden for a year). I couldn't have been happier with the weather :D
@@Blake101247 Yeah it's like it's a natural law to love hot weather. I know a lot of people who prefer winter or at least not hot temperatures. Some love autumn and I like rainy nights and thunder. 104 degrees last time in Spain without AC or -49 at christmas 1987 I can do without.
I found the weather in both Sweden and Iceland pleasant. Granted, I'm from the Canadian prairies and had the pleasure of living here when it was the coldest habituated place on earth at - 57. Still didn't get a snow day....
Iceland is not nearly as cold as the Midwest because of the moderating marine climate. But it is VERY dark in winter. The problem(?) is that it never really warms up. Summertime highs are in the high 50’s, with 20 hrs of daylight. Beautiful and green. I was there in September and the weather was cool and sunny.
@@KingKong-os7iv exactly! I was born and live in a warm place, it's around 30 degrees Celcius the whole time, we don't notice when it's spring or autums... I find it boring.
i understand where you re coming from with "there are more people in the Us, and its easier for Sweden" but Germany is also capable of doing it with 80 Mill. + people (still a lot less than the Us, but i think its showing that it could work)
Look up Green Mountain Care sometime. It was a form of state-level universal healthcare introduced in Vermont from 2011 to 2014. Its decline and fall tells a lot about the American mindset and how obstacles to healthcare reform in the US run much deeper than just those pertaining to its big population size.
@@Mark-xp3cg it sure is a far bigger problem! the "this person cant/doesnt work, so its ok for them to starve" mindset and the "anything social is communist" mindset are not helping.
Lived in Iceland now for 14 years, love the country, love the people, love the language....unfortunately the weather/lack of sun is finally getting to me so I'm taking my Icelandic husband back to the UK with me in the next two years or so.
Your answer made me laugh so badly... I am Portuguese living in UK and feel in UK the same that you feel in Iceland, so when I arrived to the end of your answer I was not expecting Uk to be the country... We all have our references... ahaha
@@Surdeigt Yeah but it's better than here and it's not so much the weather that's getting to us, it's the lack of decent amounts of daylight and a summer that has maybe 5 decent days before it starts turning to winter again. Devon and Cornwall where summer never ends and it rarely snows is what I'm looking forward to the most...it's where I grew up.
@@vineyard93 The weather isn't that bad in Devon and Cornwall which is where I'm from and where I'm returning...blue skies, golden sand beaches, clotted cream...paradise compared to Iceland in terms of weather.
I loved this video! It reminded me why I loved my first trip to Iceland and Sweden two years ago. Going to Iceland and then to Sweden was an amazing trip. I loved everything about Stockholm! Reykjavik and its historic architecture felt so otherworldly to me. Oh and Iceland has the best water I have ever tasted and I have travelled all over the world. Yes, please do another video together. Thank you Stefan, your RUclips channel is awesome!
You should do an episode reading old english and see who understands the most! as old norse is one of the creating languages of old english it should be the icelander that understands it better :P
Haha I think only Icelandic people can understand it. English and danish are closer to each other, than old norse and danish. But I would love to see a video with that anyway :P
So interesting to hear about how old his language is because we don’t think or know that around the world. It isn’t something people think about but it’s really cool
Dude! I’m from Portland too! And I’m living in South Korea and have a channel called The No Experience where I talk about living here! I’m so glad I found a fellow immigrant from Oregon!
Why would we support more taxes in America if you know our government is busy using it to create nuclear weapons & pouring billions of tax dollars into warfare & military.
Yeah, I think that is the difference. Sweden actually invests in its people. America has bail outs for corrupt banks and companies or sends billions away in foreign aid.
OMG this is too funny!! I met this guy when he worked at that craft brewery he mentioned in Reykjavik! I remember him doing magic tricks for us! Fun to see him featured here on your channel!
When French and others fear for the purity of their language, continental Scandinavian just shrugs. Our current languages are diluted by German, French and English but our ancestors had foresight enough a thousand years ago to take a copy and save it away on an isolated island in the northern Atlantic. Thank you Iceland.
Absolutely LOVED this!! I learned so much more from this than some of the travel programs I watch! Totally fascinating!! I loved the info about Sweden and Iceland and adding American comparisons as well. I live in the state of West Virginia in the USA and I will say that when we talk to strangers, it is not insincere. We are just down to earth, friendly people who enjoy good conversation and have concern for other people. I honestly can't speak for every American, though, and I have had limited in person experiences with folks from foreign countries so I don't know if others have had experiences with insincerity from Americans or not. I can only tell you how I feel and most folks from my region. I'm just an open, bubbly person that way! The cost of living sounds scary there... Is it difficult to afford a tourist trip there? I am only just beginning to explore this area of the world with so many new things to learn! Sweden and Iceland are both GORGEOUS countries and since I am from a rural, mountainous state, I adore similar places! Camping, hiking and fishing are some of my favorite things to do! Thank you so much for taking time to video this! I will rewatch this episode several times, no doubt!
I guess they think of the typical american way to say Good day - how are you? If you would that in germanic countries, you might hear terrible. My aunt died yesterday. I once said to a costumer have a great day as well, she turned and asked me how i knew she had a good day. In busses in LA the bus drivers sometimes call you honey or sweetie. Something you only would call your child/partner. But then again there is a huge diff living in a big city like DC or Philadelphia and living in rural areas. If mr Johnson down the street in rural area hasn't been seen for a week, a lot of people are worried. While in a big city you don't notice
@@Dovndyr13I can understand how they would take that greeting quite literally and I would not mind if they wish to share their thoughts. I strive to be a kind and gentle listener. I would imagine that life in a large city is very different and I know a lot of tourists tend to visit them. Ahh, we are all individuals and not every day is a good day for people. That affects mood, etc. I think that it is wonderful when people do share and I can become kindred spirits very quickly. Sometimes the "honey" and "sweetie" comment bothers me as well. I know it's habit, but it feels condescending when someone obviously younger calls me that. I try to let it go, though, because I don't think they mean anything by it. I guess there are things that can be mentioned about every country. But I try not to stereotype a country simply because I don't think it is fair to do so. Very interesting! Thank you for your reply! ☺
@@marshaannswaggerty8608 Oh yeah I agree culture is a interesting thing. In Germany you always talk with a stranger in 3rd person. Every person except friends are called Mr/Miss, like a teacher could be Mister Smith. In denmark if you would do the same people might think you are making a joke out of them. No matter if you are beggar or king, you are as much worth. So you call people by their first name and in first person. I can feel it on my self when people call me sir. If they are friends, i just ask them not to do so. Another thing is how to greet. In northern europe you give a small hug with friends, in the south a kiss on the cheek - in east asia both would be seen as unapropriate
@@Dovndyr13 I have a large book on different customs in different countries - it is overwhelming! But I also understand how it came to be! I am so interested because as an American, we have such diversity because we originally travelled from different places. I would love to talk with my Great-Grandma from Germany and ask her what made them decide to come to America - or her husband who was Welsh. Or my other relatives from Scotland and England. I suspect part of it came from the coal fields that offered work and to worship as they please... But Europe has so many wonderful things! I love my country and my state - West Virginia, but I embrace my European heritage as well. I adore reading and watching so many things European - especially Germany because my late husband had so much German heritage in him. Ahhh... But I am rambling! To sum it up, I love videos like this because I learn soooo much!!
Loved this video. I was born in Iceland but me and my family moved to Sweden when I was 5. Since then my parents got divorced and my father and brother moved back while me and my mother stayed here so we often talk about these subtle but sometimes huge cultural differences.
Hey great video. I’m an American and I can tell you that we as a whole do not trust government. It’s a necessary evil, but is never to be trusted. I believe I can make much better financial decision with my money then the government will. So I want to give them as little as possible.
Armenians are like that with each other. There's a big worldwide diaspora. Whenever Armenians meet anywhere, there is a bond. We feel an immediate connection. As William Saroyan said, whenever two or three Armenians meet they form a little Armenia.
Hey, Stefan! Seeing as it's that time of the year, why not make a video about Christmas times in Sweden, make a top 10 (or 5) list of your favorite Swedish Christmas songs, activities, foods and/or something of that sort? I'd love to see it. All the best!
Very few Brits would understand English as it was spoken 700 years ago. However Swedish and British from just 400 years ago are both 95% intelligible to modern speakers.
In Scotland we have a different education system in comparison to the rest of the UK. For instance, when we go to university, we get loans from the Scottish Government which essentially pays for our education up to an Honours Degree, similar to how it works in Denmark as far as I'm aware. So University is free for anyone who is native or is an EU citizen currently, (not sure how Brexit affects that though). However if we go back to university for a second time after already having used this funding, it would cost us just under 2000 pounds a year. In contrast, in England they must pay 9250 pounds a year regardless. Just thought it was worth explaining from our perspective. Good Video!
I didn't knew that, that's great news!😉 Hope that there won't be any changes in regards to Brexit😣 We have the same in Sweden, we recieve loans by the government for university (I am pretty sure that you can study for about 6 years full time before needing to pay yourself). On top of that you can apply for and get study grant (?) contribution (?), don't know the word😅. Not as much as a full-time job though but at least it's something!
I am English and when I went to uni here I had my degree paid for by my local authority and got a student loans to live on which i am still paying back.
Wow! I learnt a plethora of new things from the video, as a Russian I knew next to nothing about living in Sweden and Iceland but it elucidated me. You really should do another collab together!
I've been to 15 different countries, but Iceland is still on my bucket list! 😍 I just HAVE to go there, it's sooo beautiful, and there are loads of Icelandic horses! ❤️
Icelandic population is mostly nordic vs irish even scottish. Many stories like Melkorka Mýrkjartansdóttir is a irish princess and in the icelandic stories.
@@helgag.9866 - Exactly. We often forget how commonplace slave-taking was in bygone ages. Female slaves (especially) would be more valuable than almost any other ‘goods’ a pirate landing party would find in a poor coastal community. The Barbary Coast (i.e. North African) pirates took 600-800 Icelandic slaves during a raid as recently as the 1620s.
Very nice and fun video. I think that "loser" label on people for whatever reason is so bad for the society (talking about living with your parents after 25 or similar). Try to see the positive things in people instead of just ignoring them over something that in your life doesn't matter. How does someone living at home at 27 effect your life? Especially if it's someone you don't know very well? There might be more to the "picture" than just someone too lazy or poor (which you shouldn't judge either).
I can’t tell you how tempted my husband and I are to move to Iceland. I mean it’s only a six hour flight to Minneapolis. We traveled to Reykjavik for our honeymoon, and would love to go back.
Americans don’t trust government in my opinion. This last catastrophe who played at being leader of the country enforced this thought. If we had a trustworthy group of leaders, the Icelandic way of life would be amazingly wonderful.
I think some countries don't talk as much to strangers because they like some privacy and don't like small talk.....also if some people talk too much or act over the top, it comes across very Fake.....and they just like more Real, Genuine types of people.
And also funnily enough now that I think about it, as much time as I've spent in Iceland over the years I have never actually spent a single night in a hotel. Every time that I've visited it's always been with Bui ( that's my best friend his first name is actually Gudlaugur but he goes by his middle name outside of Iceland which is Bui) and as such we always stay with his family who are all awesome. 😁
Så snälla gör en video om hur snabbt ni lärde er svenska. Vore intressant och se(höra) vad ni två fann var svårt eller lätt. Gissar på att Arnùlfu lärde sig snabbare :o Stefan min namne, din svenska är jätte bra.
On the Netflix show with zac Efron the guy said the streets were heated to melt the snow.. maybe he meant streets in town. Idk..but they produced enough power to do so. That is a great show if you havnt watch it. Very informative. You learn so much w/o realizing it.
Hey Stefan.... I felt I just had to say ((beyond the usual I love your videos, wich I do) that life in northern sweden is more like Iceland than stockholm in my opinion. it should come as no surprise that the fewer the people around you, the more you appreciate them and their input/output.
I moved from Sweden to the US and still getting used to that lifestyle hahaha. Was in Iceland several times and I think they have unique and great lifestyle, but the language is oh,so difficult . Great video
I’ve lived in Iceland (Akureyri) in 2005 and visited several times and I still feel a very strong connection to this land. I’d love to bring my family back when we can travel again. What a stunning country, people and culture. Loved this video, as I’ve travelled to Sweden a few times as well! x
In the US there are too many who want the socialist benefits without adding anything themselves and this causes resentment from those who contribute. I think in countries like Sweden a much higher percentage of the population contributes to the common good so there's less resentment about higher taxes. Sweden has a higher percentage of billionaires than the U.S.and I bet this surprises people.
If I remember correct... People from Iceland are less "viking" old Norse people due to a lot of celtic heritage (mostly irish and scottish but also some from England and even France). Ofc they are still mostly Scandinavian and the celts chosen for marriage would most likely have been the ones of similar size, appearance and genetics. They are scandinavians.
So funny about "World champions". Here on Gotland we have the World Championship in KUBB. Haha... You who don't know what that is, you'll have to google it... ;) Us island folks have a mutual understanding of "closed in", feeling trapped, although we aren't. We feel the opposite on the mainland, that we can just go everywhere without planning so much. You both should visit Gotland one day when the corona status is better!
When one orders from Amazon.co.uk it (usually before Covid19) i.e. the package takes 2-3 weeks to reach Iceland, but when ordering from Amazon.com it takes at least 12-13 weeks to arrive. Anybody know why? The only explanation we have is that the U.S.A. post keep sending the package from one state to another before somebody really smart, figures out that Iceland is a country, not a town somewhere in Montana or Utah.
I’m in Ireland and we also have to wait a long time from Amazon.com versus .co.uk or .de I suspect the goods are transported via ship/ they wait to fill a container. In addition, .com goods are checked by customs for VAT compared to when it comes from the EU. That slows it down. I don’t buy anything from US sellers anymore because of this. Sadly, now the UK will probably be the same.
Oh and funny thing how genes are generally mixed in Europe, cause I know a couple of Polish guys who look exacly like the Iclander (maybe a little more blond but the face features very similar)
People traded moved got around more intermarried... people weren't THAT insular as we like to think. Just like when Mr Iceland said, he moved to Sweden for better job opportunities. People will continue to do so
When I prepared to move to Sweden, I got a tourist guide out of the library for Scandinavia. I also covered Iceland, and my room mate was fascinated that apparently they do not have a word for computer, but used a literal description of the mechanics.
That is not true. We made a new word, one of the few languages that didn't just use the word computer in their pronunciation. Tölva is an homage to the völva from the old norse religion, völva was a seer, a soothsayer, and the t comes from the word tala which means number. So it is basically a number seer
We have always had a word for a computer = tölva. We also have one word for married people (=hjón) that is... amazingly..... not available in either english or Swedish!
I heard that the Icelandic language was originally Norwegian, but then Norway was invaded by Denmark and the Norwegian language changed. There were also moves in Norway to adopt Nynorsk, which is said to be more like the original Nowegian.
I had public transportation in the town were I was a kid, it was free and I could go anywhere as old as an 11 year old. It was great when you were poor and didn't have a car the bus was always on time and would come again in 15 min. I miss that so much. I now want to visit Iceland I in the warmer months . I don't cold well because of reynaulds but it sounds beautiful 😊
Nice video ! I am half icelandic and half Faroese (faroe island) and hopefully there will be another one of this video. I live in Copenhagen and Maybe we might walk across one another in Copenhagen or at your town !?
Wow! Sounds like both Iceland and Sweden are a paradise for introverts.
Very well said
Thats why i moved in sweden, im so blessed ❤
I agree. I'm African American, and I love Nordic countries. Fortresses of Solitude for introverts
And a hell for extraverts 😅😅
@@julusiak1 LOL!!!
Pleeeease make another video, with you two just talking about this kind of stuff. I loved this. This was really interesting. I love all your videos, though, Stefan. But this was really fun to watch.
I'm down!
Hey man this was so fun! This we should 100% do again!
Absolutely!!
JAG ÄLSKAR DIN DIALEKT! (I love your accent) it reminds me of Scottish!!
How do people die because of the weather? :O :O Is it because the wind pushes people into water?
Great to learn more about Iceland. Such a beautiful country!
Arnólfur eða Arnúlfur?
@Runar a men tydligen inte skriva också! Detta är inte en seriös kommentar, men...
actually, Sweden in many areas have lower taxes than the USA, taxes on companies and investments are lower in Sweden inheritance tax is 0% in Sweden. The only difference is Income tax where Sweden is higher. USA and their low taxes is a myth
The difference is that the wealthy are not exempt from paying tax which means there is money to support and take care of everyone.
@@ankiking Thats not true a wealthy business owner pays a lot less tax in Sweden than in USA. In Sweden, there is easy to avoid capital gains tax when you sell shares in other companies and Dividend income is also almost always structured so it's tax-free.
USA is just not managed as well for example USA spends about 3x more or health care sector than other developed countries. Sweden is only a high tax country for middle income and low-income earners. wealthy people don't care about income tax
@@ankiking in the US the wealthy pay almost all the taxes, except for ss, Medicare, and sales taxes. The bottom 50% pay virtually no income tax, with many getting back more than they contribute.
Right now in California the government gave Billions of dollars to prisoners who scammed them for unemployment. Meanwhile I pay over 40% of my income on taxes and this is where it goes!! Makes me sick
Comparing America to anywhere is not fair because America is a very very weird place. If you really look at it it's a really messed up weird place. It defies logic.
You can hear the Nordic invasions remnants in the language of the north of England and Scotland. I love it.
Geordie dialect😁👍
Dublin was founded by Vikings and they controlled Ireland and Scotland (Norwegians) and England (Mercia and East Anglia - Danes) for many years. In fact England was almost conquered by a Norwegian and Danish king in 1066 but he was defeated by the Anglo Saxons who were then immediately defeated by William the conqueror from Normandy - also of Norwegian / Danish ancestry - but assimilated into France by then.
This is an extremely important point. In the Scandinavian countries, it’s citizens actually receive real value in each exchange for their taxes. Americans, however, don’t get any value back whatsoever. Our annual budget is roughly $3-4T dollars. 1/3 of all of our tax dollars go to fund “defense spending“ which basically means having 1000 military bases around the world and bribing dictators like Saddam Hussein to do what we say. Another 1/3 of our spending goes to entitlement spending which are payments to people on welfare who refuse to work and to retirees who falsely believe they have “paid into the system”. the remainder is all a bunch of bullshit. For $4T a year we don’t have healthcare and we don’t have free education so of course people are pissed and they either want taxes slashed or they want a socialist utopia. They don’t want 4 Defense contractors to keep getting rich on our backs.
I instantly thought it would be pretty easy for a Gaelic native speaker to say his name!
The Icelandic guy is attractive
Super
Masculine
Yes I am
Já,his hair just shine as the sun.And I like his viking undercut hair.His eyes colour are deep blue,just like Icelandic lagoon.
Looks like a good kisser.
a lot of these things resonate with Swiss people as well. We have a reputation of being cold and reserved, but it is like Arnùlfur said, it's just a non superficial way of being. Swiss are very "a time and place for everything", like do not expect to make conversation with strangers during the work commute on public transport (that's just creepy lol) BUT when we are in party modus, you can basically talk to anyone and have fun with complete strangers because they are in this different mind set at that moment. Swiss people will take a while to invite you to their home. Once you do get invited into their most personal circle, you have a true friend. We hate wasting time with people we might end up not liking that much once we know them better, so the warming up process takes longer. Once you understand this, we are pretty cool people hahaha
I’ve experienced the same with Russians, in public, no bullshit. But once you know them personally, they will bend over backwards to make you feel welcome.
Cheers from Belgium
Nordic inludes finland and iceland and faroe Islands too, Scandinavia doesnt include finland and iceland
Correct. Its almost as if you read the text in the video.
I suspect the Icelandic guy could read old English like Beowulf better than a speaker of Modern English.
I disagree. Not that I think that a speaker of Modern English would understand it better, but that it would be more or less equally unintelligible. You'd have better mutual intelligibility between modern speakers of Frisian and Anglo-Saxon than either Modern Icelandic or English.
I saw on an other channel a guy reading old english and from the comments it feels like that people with a germanic language understands old english easier than people who speaks modern english
Tbh it has changed very little compared to english. English is spoke all over the world after all.
@@reineh3477 i saw that video and as a swedish speaker, i understood more than the people who didnt speak a germanic language or the english speaker
I had 3 years of German and a semester of Old English and I was surprised at how many Icelandic words I recognised in context.
I love Iceland! It definitely feels raw and magical! And one of the things I love most, besides the breathtaking landscapes, northern lights and the many rainbows, is the people. They are wonderful and so real, no BS (at least those whom I had met) and artistically creative! Love that!
In Iceland there is a phone app to make sure you are not dating your cousin
Are you sure? Not a database?
I love his heavy accent when speaking English hahaha
His accent is wonderful. Very barbaric.
Same here
Reminds me of Morges
His accent is the most stereotypical Icelandic accent you can find
@@rodosianpalms2440 gotta love it
Scandinavia = Sweden/Denmark/Norway (i.e. the Scandinavian penninsula). Nordic region = Sweden/Denmark/Norway/Finland/Iceland/Faeroe Islands
Only Sweden and Norway are located in the Scandinavia peninsula.
@@ignatrip yes, but, it's probably a political/ cultural / geographical e.g. swapping of royal families, insistence of language ( bokmål), Scania ...just blame the Danes (why always blame Sweden?)..Finland , although Swedish influence, linguistically seperate & with Russian influence afterwards plus Finns origins were distinct ethnically from the others? I'm sure I'm incorrect(!).
@@ignatrip - Historically, Denmark used to hold Scania, the south-eastern tip of the Swedish peninsula. Ironically that was the region that gave the name to the whole of Scandinavia. In Roman times this region was called “Scandia” or “Scandza”.
@@ignatrip the very top of Finland is too
Finland hör till Skandinavien och Färöarna räknas som Danmark!
Arnúlfur not only sounds epic, the meaning is also epic: Eagle Wolf!
"The weather is horrible. And, I like that."
Same, I'm in Nebraska now and it got to freezing temperatures the other day. Everyone else was very unhappy with the cold weather, but I love the cold weather and the snow now (after being in Sweden for a year). I couldn't have been happier with the weather :D
@@Blake101247 Yeah it's like it's a natural law to love hot weather. I know a lot of people who prefer winter or at least not hot temperatures. Some love autumn and I like rainy nights and thunder. 104 degrees last time in Spain without AC or -49 at christmas 1987 I can do without.
I found the weather in both Sweden and Iceland pleasant. Granted, I'm from the Canadian prairies and had the pleasure of living here when it was the coldest habituated place on earth at - 57. Still didn't get a snow day....
Iceland is not nearly as cold as the Midwest because of the moderating marine climate. But it is VERY dark in winter. The problem(?) is that it never really warms up. Summertime highs are in the high 50’s, with 20 hrs of daylight. Beautiful and green. I was there in September and the weather was cool and sunny.
@@KingKong-os7iv exactly! I was born and live in a warm place, it's around 30 degrees Celcius the whole time, we don't notice when it's spring or autums... I find it boring.
Icelandic people in Sweden: "Hmm... it's ok but... not enough daily pain and dreary life threatening weather"
heeeey, it can get way colder in sweden then in iceland, and we dont have free hot air coming out of the ground.. :P
@@audhumbla6927 That's the experience you get if you stay and live in Stockholm. I guess he hasn't found out about our subarctic climate yet.
i understand where you re coming from with "there are more people in the Us, and its easier for Sweden" but Germany is also capable of doing it with 80 Mill. + people (still a lot less than the Us, but i think its showing that it could work)
Look up Green Mountain Care sometime. It was a form of state-level universal healthcare introduced in Vermont from 2011 to 2014. Its decline and fall tells a lot about the American mindset and how obstacles to healthcare reform in the US run much deeper than just those pertaining to its big population size.
@@Mark-xp3cg it sure is a far bigger problem! the "this person cant/doesnt work, so its ok for them to starve" mindset and the "anything social is communist" mindset are not helping.
Lived in Iceland now for 14 years, love the country, love the people, love the language....unfortunately the weather/lack of sun is finally getting to me so I'm taking my Icelandic husband back to the UK with me in the next two years or so.
Your answer made me laugh so badly... I am Portuguese living in UK and feel in UK the same that you feel in Iceland, so when I arrived to the end of your answer I was not expecting Uk to be the country... We all have our references... ahaha
Isn't the weather in the UK also bad? And it's even worse in Iceland?? :O
Haha isn't UK known for its bad weather?😅
@@Surdeigt Yeah but it's better than here and it's not so much the weather that's getting to us, it's the lack of decent amounts of daylight and a summer that has maybe 5 decent days before it starts turning to winter again. Devon and Cornwall where summer never ends and it rarely snows is what I'm looking forward to the most...it's where I grew up.
@@vineyard93 The weather isn't that bad in Devon and Cornwall which is where I'm from and where I'm returning...blue skies, golden sand beaches, clotted cream...paradise compared to Iceland in terms of weather.
I like Red, he is a modern viking. great personality
Stefan; this one of your best guest vids.
I loved this video! It reminded me why I loved my first trip to Iceland and Sweden two years ago. Going to Iceland and then to Sweden was an amazing trip. I loved everything about Stockholm! Reykjavik and its historic architecture felt so otherworldly to me. Oh and Iceland has the best water I have ever tasted and I have travelled all over the world. Yes, please do another video together. Thank you Stefan, your RUclips channel is awesome!
7:00
“Iceland has a population as big as what..? ...like Uppsala”
Made me laugh 😂
Greetings from Uppsala
Not true, as big as Uppsala län .
Uppsala (city, not province) is officially 172,000. Iceland is about double that.
Icelands population is closer to Malmö
You should do an episode reading old english and see who understands the most! as old norse is one of the creating languages of old english it should be the icelander that understands it better :P
Haha I think only Icelandic people can understand it. English and danish are closer to each other, than old norse and danish.
But I would love to see a video with that anyway :P
I don't know how I ended up on this channel, I'm here for it
So interesting to hear about how old his language is because we don’t think or know that around the world. It isn’t something people think about but it’s really cool
Q q
Dude! I’m from Portland too! And I’m living in South Korea and have a channel called The No Experience where I talk about living here! I’m so glad I found a fellow immigrant from Oregon!
We don't like taxes because we don't get anything in return that justifies it
Why would we support more taxes in America if you know our government is busy using it to create nuclear weapons & pouring billions of tax dollars into warfare & military.
Yeah, I think that is the difference. Sweden actually invests in its people. America has bail outs for corrupt banks and companies or sends billions away in foreign aid.
Super interesting!!! Somthing about Iceland is so mystical and intriguing 😍 and i looooove his tiktoks!! So beautiful photos!!!
He’s a legend! 😍🙌🏼
Stefan Thyron mhm
OMG this is too funny!! I met this guy when he worked at that craft brewery he mentioned in Reykjavik! I remember him doing magic tricks for us! Fun to see him featured here on your channel!
When French and others fear for the purity of their language, continental Scandinavian just shrugs. Our current languages are diluted by German, French and English but our ancestors had foresight enough a thousand years ago to take a copy and save it away on an isolated island in the northern Atlantic. Thank you Iceland.
🤣
Icelandic language sounds really cool
Its a pain 😂
@@elite_rock_god2292 Ok, it has a harsh beauty then, O(∩_∩)O
it does, a modern version on ancient norse.
@@elite_rock_god2292 Hvaða kjaftæði!
@@rufeilrahtieh7885 som sagt, isländska är komplicerat som fan 😂😝
Arnúlfur's ponytail is the only one I've seen on a man that looks great. It just fits his rugged looks and red hair.
Absolutely LOVED this!! I learned so much more from this than some of the travel programs I watch! Totally fascinating!! I loved the info about Sweden and Iceland and adding American comparisons as well. I live in the state of West Virginia in the USA and I will say that when we talk to strangers, it is not insincere. We are just down to earth, friendly people who enjoy good conversation and have concern for other people. I honestly can't speak for every American, though, and I have had limited in person experiences with folks from foreign countries so I don't know if others have had experiences with insincerity from Americans or not. I can only tell you how I feel and most folks from my region. I'm just an open, bubbly person that way! The cost of living sounds scary there... Is it difficult to afford a tourist trip there? I am only just beginning to explore this area of the world with so many new things to learn! Sweden and Iceland are both GORGEOUS countries and since I am from a rural, mountainous state, I adore similar places! Camping, hiking and fishing are some of my favorite things to do! Thank you so much for taking time to video this! I will rewatch this episode several times, no doubt!
I guess they think of the typical american way to say Good day - how are you? If you would that in germanic countries, you might hear terrible. My aunt died yesterday. I once said to a costumer have a great day as well, she turned and asked me how i knew she had a good day. In busses in LA the bus drivers sometimes call you honey or sweetie. Something you only would call your child/partner.
But then again there is a huge diff living in a big city like DC or Philadelphia and living in rural areas. If mr Johnson down the street in rural area hasn't been seen for a week, a lot of people are worried. While in a big city you don't notice
@@Dovndyr13I can understand how they would take that greeting quite literally and I would not mind if they wish to share their thoughts. I strive to be a kind and gentle listener. I would imagine that life in a large city is very different and I know a lot of tourists tend to visit them. Ahh, we are all individuals and not every day is a good day for people. That affects mood, etc. I think that it is wonderful when people do share and I can become kindred spirits very quickly. Sometimes the "honey" and "sweetie" comment bothers me as well. I know it's habit, but it feels condescending when someone obviously younger calls me that. I try to let it go, though, because I don't think they mean anything by it. I guess there are things that can be mentioned about every country. But I try not to stereotype a country simply because I don't think it is fair to do so. Very interesting! Thank you for your reply! ☺
@@marshaannswaggerty8608 Oh yeah I agree culture is a interesting thing. In Germany you always talk with a stranger in 3rd person. Every person except friends are called Mr/Miss, like a teacher could be Mister Smith. In denmark if you would do the same people might think you are making a joke out of them. No matter if you are beggar or king, you are as much worth. So you call people by their first name and in first person. I can feel it on my self when people call me sir. If they are friends, i just ask them not to do so.
Another thing is how to greet. In northern europe you give a small hug with friends, in the south a kiss on the cheek - in east asia both would be seen as unapropriate
@@Dovndyr13 I have a large book on different customs in different countries - it is overwhelming! But I also understand how it came to be! I am so interested because as an American, we have such diversity because we originally travelled from different places. I would love to talk with my Great-Grandma from Germany and ask her what made them decide to come to America - or her husband who was Welsh. Or my other relatives from Scotland and England. I suspect part of it came from the coal fields that offered work and to worship as they please... But Europe has so many wonderful things! I love my country and my state - West Virginia, but I embrace my European heritage as well. I adore reading and watching so many things European - especially Germany because my late husband had so much German heritage in him. Ahhh... But I am rambling! To sum it up, I love videos like this because I learn soooo much!!
This video was fun and informative! I’d love to visit Iceland someday, seems so magical and I love that guys pictures!
Awesomeness .... love Iceland, born in Finland, lived 3decades in Sweden and now in SF NM us ... fantastic countries 🌀🔵🟤
Loved this video. I was born in Iceland but me and my family moved to Sweden when I was 5. Since then my parents got divorced and my father and brother moved back while me and my mother stayed here so we often talk about these subtle but sometimes huge cultural differences.
Hey great video. I’m an American and I can tell you that we as a whole do not trust government. It’s a necessary evil, but is never to be trusted. I believe I can make much better financial decision with my money then the government will. So I want to give them as little as possible.
*than. That's great if you're wealthy. Not so if you're middle class.
Armenians are like that with each other. There's a big worldwide diaspora. Whenever Armenians meet anywhere, there is a bond. We feel an immediate connection. As William Saroyan said, whenever two or three Armenians meet they form a little Armenia.
Well hello fellow Armenian !
Hey, Stefan! Seeing as it's that time of the year, why not make a video about Christmas times in Sweden, make a top 10 (or 5) list of your favorite Swedish Christmas songs, activities, foods and/or something of that sort? I'd love to see it. All the best!
I can't understand Swedish from a thousand years ago even though I am a native Swedish. Swedish has changed so much.
Very few Brits would understand English as it was spoken 700 years ago. However Swedish and British from just 400 years ago are both 95% intelligible to modern speakers.
@@sirrathersplendid4825 true true
Nice conversation...very interesting to learn more about these 2 countries.
Awesome video guys! Can we get a part two? :)
In Scotland we have a different education system in comparison to the rest of the UK. For instance, when we go to university, we get loans from the Scottish Government which essentially pays for our education up to an Honours Degree, similar to how it works in Denmark as far as I'm aware. So University is free for anyone who is native or is an EU citizen currently, (not sure how Brexit affects that though). However if we go back to university for a second time after already having used this funding, it would cost us just under 2000 pounds a year. In contrast, in England they must pay 9250 pounds a year regardless. Just thought it was worth explaining from our perspective. Good Video!
I didn't knew that, that's great news!😉 Hope that there won't be any changes in regards to Brexit😣
We have the same in Sweden, we recieve loans by the government for university (I am pretty sure that you can study for about 6 years full time before needing to pay yourself). On top of that you can apply for and get study grant (?) contribution (?), don't know the word😅. Not as much as a full-time job though but at least it's something!
In Sweden you get paid to go to school, like a monthly sallary. lol
I am English and when I went to uni here I had my degree paid for by my local authority and got a student loans to live on which i am still paying back.
Wow The US is robbing students
Super cool interview. Thank you from New Orleans.
Wow! I learnt a plethora of new things from the video, as a Russian I knew next to nothing about living in Sweden and Iceland but it elucidated me. You really should do another collab together!
I've been to 15 different countries, but Iceland is still on my bucket list! 😍 I just HAVE to go there, it's sooo beautiful, and there are loads of Icelandic horses! ❤️
I did a stop over, loved the country. It was expensive, but what an experience.
I have a friend who might move to Iceland and I am preparing to move to Sweden. Really appreciate this video :)
That icelandic guy has a really nice laugh!
Mhm
How funny I commented the same before I saw this. It must be true!
I'm from Ireland and he looks more Irish than me?...
I believe Vikings were a mixture of Gallic and Norse peoples. Thus there is much Celtic blood and culture.
Icelandic population is mostly nordic vs irish even scottish. Many stories like Melkorka Mýrkjartansdóttir is a irish princess and in the icelandic stories.
They have a lot of Irish dna from the female slaves the Vikings took from Ireland. A lot of online articles about it.
@@helgag.9866 - Exactly. We often forget how commonplace slave-taking was in bygone ages. Female slaves (especially) would be more valuable than almost any other ‘goods’ a pirate landing party would find in a poor coastal community. The Barbary Coast (i.e. North African) pirates took 600-800 Icelandic slaves during a raid as recently as the 1620s.
Terrific video. Please do another one with your friend. My husband and I enjoyed throughly. Happy holidays!!!! 🎄🎉
I’ve been to New York and la and I find that New Yorkers were so cold and didn’t wanted to talk to you. In la people were so nice and warm.
Great video and guest!
Isceland football team did great at the world cup. I supported them all the way. Greetings from Uruguay.
Uh? They went out at the group stage.
Make another video, I really liked it. I wanna hear Arnùlfur speak Swedish!
Its Arnólfur
@@islenskfrandiefni2186 No, it's not. Look at his channel, he writes his own name like "Arnùlfur"
Very nice and fun video.
I think that "loser" label on people for whatever reason is so bad for the society (talking about living with your parents after 25 or similar). Try to see the positive things in people instead of just ignoring them over something that in your life doesn't matter. How does someone living at home at 27 effect your life? Especially if it's someone you don't know very well? There might be more to the "picture" than just someone too lazy or poor (which you shouldn't judge either).
Well said!
I can’t tell you how tempted my husband and I are to move to Iceland. I mean it’s only a six hour flight to Minneapolis. We traveled to Reykjavik for our honeymoon, and would love to go back.
Americans don’t trust government in my opinion.
This last catastrophe who played at being leader of the country enforced this thought.
If we had a trustworthy group of leaders, the Icelandic way of life would be amazingly wonderful.
I watched this because I was trying to decide if I should learn Icelandic or Swedish. This a great video! New subscriber💗
Great video guys!! I love Scandinavian/Nordic culture. You should keep sharing videos about it.
I think some countries don't talk as much to strangers because they like some privacy and don't like small talk.....also if some people talk too much or act over the top, it comes across very Fake.....and they just like more Real, Genuine types of people.
The Icelandic guy sounds similar to a Dutch speaker.
Iceland reminded me very much of Ireland with the treeless open spaces & rocky coast.
And also funnily enough now that I think about it, as much time as I've spent in Iceland over the years I have never actually spent a single night in a hotel. Every time that I've visited it's always been with Bui ( that's my best friend his first name is actually Gudlaugur but he goes by his middle name outside of Iceland which is Bui) and as such we always stay with his family who are all awesome. 😁
Danmark, Sweden and norway are Scandinavia, Finland and iceland are Nordic countries
Så snälla gör en video om hur snabbt ni lärde er svenska. Vore intressant och se(höra) vad ni två fann var svårt eller lätt. Gissar på att Arnùlfu lärde sig snabbare :o
Stefan min namne, din svenska är jätte bra.
On the Netflix show with zac Efron the guy said the streets were heated to melt the snow.. maybe he meant streets in town. Idk..but they produced enough power to do so. That is a great show if you havnt watch it. Very informative. You learn so much w/o realizing it.
Hey Stefan.... I felt I just had to say ((beyond the usual I love your videos, wich I do) that life in northern sweden is more like Iceland than stockholm in my opinion. it should come as no surprise that the fewer the people around you, the more you appreciate them and their input/output.
5:12 I like D Trump ;) Great vid, super interesting! Regards from Sweden, lol.
MAN this was fun and interesting, great vid guys!!
I moved from Sweden to the US and still getting used to that lifestyle hahaha.
Was in Iceland several times and I think they have unique and great lifestyle, but the language is oh,so difficult .
Great video
I’ve lived in Iceland (Akureyri) in 2005 and visited several times and I still feel a very strong connection to this land. I’d love to bring my family back when we can travel again. What a stunning country, people and culture. Loved this video, as I’ve travelled to Sweden a few times as well! x
Great video guys. Really interesting.
Traveled both and enjoyed exploring them!
Interesting discussion by charming men.
I really like both of you. Great stuff.
I can’t even pay attention to what they’re saying he’s too attractive
In the US there are too many who want the socialist benefits without adding anything themselves and this causes resentment from those who contribute. I think in countries like Sweden a much higher percentage of the population contributes to the common good so there's less resentment about higher taxes.
Sweden has a higher percentage of billionaires than the U.S.and I bet this surprises people.
Exactly.
Trying to get around with public transportation from Vík to Reykjavíkur, was a nightmare, but people were very friendly and helpful.
This was a fine interview. You should have Arnulfur on again for another interview.
Fascinating! My father in law was one of this Americans in the submarine s. Also I studied Scandinavian studies at UCL - you guys did a great job! 🙌🏻
Awesome video
Thank you for sharing it with us
Hmmm... maybe “What’s like living in USA vs Iceland” 😂
I come from the northeast of Brazil, where is always warm, but I'd looooove to visit Iceland one day. It's very exotic for me.
If I remember correct... People from Iceland are less "viking" old Norse people due to a lot of celtic heritage (mostly irish and scottish but also some from England and even France).
Ofc they are still mostly Scandinavian and the celts chosen for marriage would most likely have been the ones of similar size, appearance and genetics. They are scandinavians.
much of our celtic anchestry has it origins in slavery,
Very informative and thoroughly enjoyed the video!
Your discussions and coversations are so intressting. Maybe you should start a podcast with this guy and invite others aswell????
Very enjoyable video. More please!
The Icelandic guy looks much more Irish. That's from all those Irish women that were taken.
Very funny and as well correct.
Or Scottish.....
His voice sounds like water over rocks to me.
Definitely a ‘gravelly’ quality about it. Like water gurgling randomly over small rocks in stream.
So funny about "World champions". Here on Gotland we have the World Championship in KUBB. Haha... You who don't know what that is, you'll have to google it... ;)
Us island folks have a mutual understanding of "closed in", feeling trapped, although we aren't. We feel the opposite on the mainland, that we can just go everywhere without planning so much. You both should visit Gotland one day when the corona status is better!
It's not just because iceland is isolated that the language is very similar to old norse. They refuse to use loanwords and make up new ones instead
When one orders from Amazon.co.uk it (usually before Covid19) i.e. the package takes 2-3 weeks to reach Iceland, but when ordering from Amazon.com it takes at least 12-13 weeks to arrive. Anybody know why? The only explanation we have is that the U.S.A. post keep sending the package from one state to another before somebody really smart, figures out that Iceland is a country, not a town somewhere in Montana or Utah.
I’m in Ireland and we also have to wait a long time from Amazon.com versus .co.uk or .de I suspect the goods are transported via ship/ they wait to fill a container. In addition, .com goods are checked by customs for VAT compared to when it comes from the EU. That slows it down. I don’t buy anything from US sellers anymore because of this. Sadly, now the UK will probably be the same.
Oh and funny thing how genes are generally mixed in Europe, cause I know a couple of Polish guys who look exacly like the Iclander (maybe a little more blond but the face features very similar)
People traded moved got around more intermarried... people weren't THAT insular as we like to think. Just like when Mr Iceland said, he moved to Sweden for better job opportunities. People will continue to do so
Super great video ! It was very interesting about Iceland
When I prepared to move to Sweden, I got a tourist guide out of the library for Scandinavia. I also covered Iceland, and my room mate was fascinated that apparently they do not have a word for computer, but used a literal description of the mechanics.
tölva is Islenska orðið for computer
That is not true. We made a new word, one of the few languages that didn't just use the word computer in their pronunciation.
Tölva is an homage to the völva from the old norse religion, völva was a seer, a soothsayer, and the t comes from the word tala which means number. So it is basically a number seer
Well in Finland the word for computer is tietokone. Tieto=knowledge and kone=machine. So we call computers knowledgemachines 😂
We have always had a word for a computer = tölva. We also have one word for married people (=hjón) that is... amazingly..... not available in either english or Swedish!
I heard that the Icelandic language was originally Norwegian, but then Norway was invaded by Denmark and the Norwegian language changed. There were also moves in Norway to adopt Nynorsk, which is said to be more like the original Nowegian.
Icelandic is descended from Old Norse, and is the closest you can get to it. Norwegian is a Germanic language.
I had public transportation in the town were I was a kid, it was free and I could go anywhere as old as an 11 year old. It was great when you were poor and didn't have a car the bus was always on time and would come again in 15 min. I miss that so much. I now want to visit Iceland I in the warmer months . I don't cold well because of reynaulds but it sounds beautiful 😊
drive in stockholm is hard?
Gothenburg: hold my beer
really great video with Arnùlfur,
Nice video !
I am half icelandic and half Faroese (faroe island) and hopefully there will be another one of this video.
I live in Copenhagen and Maybe we might walk across one another in Copenhagen or at your town !?