Things I've Had to Get Used to in Iceland

Moving from America to Iceland has taught me that things are definitely different.

It has been about a month since I have moved to Iceland, and I am still getting used to things. While I had never been out of the country, I had no clue what to expect. Luckily, I moved to the city and I feel at home. However, I still have some adjusting to do. Here are some things that I am still getting used to while living in Iceland.

The Icelandic Krona can be in a paper or coin form.

The different currency.

Obviously this will be something that is hard to adjust to in any new country you visit, but the Icelandic Krona (ISK) throws me off every time I walk into a store. 1 kr (symbol for Icelandic Krona) can be converted to $0.00815... Which means what costs $1 in America will cost you 122.7 kr in Iceland. This makes it hard for me to determine what is "expensive" to buy and what is "cheap" since everything has such a high price point. For example, a coffee at a coffee shop may be 1,500 kr and a pack of chicken at the grocery store may be 2,000 kr. When I shop at the grocery store, I have difficulty figuring out if I have enough money for what I need. I have been using my American bank card, and converting dollars to kronas on the spot is not too fun. Yes, I want to cry when I go to checkout and frequently see a total of 10,000 kr.

People mind their own business in stores.

The mannerisms of Icelandic people.

It took me a while to realize that people aren't rude here, but instead very straight forward. Icelandic people think that Americans are overly nice in social situations, and I can see why they would think that based on how they interact. In America, you will get dirty looks if you do not say "please," "thank you," or "sorry" in almost any situation. However, the Icelandic language does not even have a word that translates to "please." When people in Iceland ask for things, they simply ask for it. It is kind of nice to not have to worry about sounding "nice" or "polite" when people almost always mean well when they are upfront. It will be difficult to get used to here since I tend to say those three phrases a lot. "Sorry" has been a frequently used word in my vocabulary up until now, and I am trying to get used to not saying it as much. In stores here, there is no need to say sorry. Usually people in America will move around others and say things like "excuse me, so sorry," but in Iceland you would just move to where you need to go without saying anything. It is honestly refreshing to not have to constantly apologize for my actions, but I still catch myself doing it. The perfect way to explain how people are in Iceland is this: they just get where they need to be and do what they need to do. If somebody is in the way, they don't wait for an apology and instead just move around. It is a very refreshing way to live, and it has taught be that you can be polite and patient without all of the "please's" and "sorry's" all the time.

A skatepark in Reykjavik.

The freedom children have.

With all the crime that goes on in America, I was terrified to see so many young children roaming around Iceland without adults. During the summer, almost all children have bikes that they will ride all over town together. They will shop, play soccer, go to skate parks, and just roam around the city without adults. Usually, kids will stay out later than 10:00 pm with their friends too (since it doesn't really get dark until about 11:30 pm)! I couldn't believe it, but it is honestly so nice to see kids be able to have fun without any worries. Iceland is one of the safest places in the world, so safe that parents even leave their babies outside alone to sleep! I don't think I will ever stop thinking about how crazy it is that kids are so free here. I had grown up with so many restrictions and rules as a kid in America, and those bad "what if" thoughts will always pop up in my head when I see children out and alone.

Road in Reykjavik.

Driving on the roads.

Did you know that in 2019 the total amount of vehicle-related deaths that have occurred in Iceland is only 3?? I think that is amazing. Roads in Iceland are full of roundabouts. I thought living in Arkansas would have me prepared for any amount of roundabouts... But boy, was I wrong. In a 7 minute drive, I would probably go through 4 roundabouts in Iceland. Roundabouts are all over roads to decrease traffic, and it definitely helps. It doesn't make driving here that fun though. People in Iceland fail to us their indicators on roundabouts, and it will leave you in a guessing game on whether or not you should yield to them.

Another thing that is strange is that people either drive really slow or really fast here. I usually try to stay right at the speed limit, and I can possibly get caught behind somebody going 15 mph slower than me OR I will have people zooming around me because I am the one going too slow. While driving on a smaller road, you may encounter a section that goes down to one lane. In these situations, I might have to yield to oncoming traffic so that they can pass by. I have always had trouble deciding whether to go or to wait for a person to pass. I don't think I will get used to it.

In general, Iceland is absolutely different than America. I have adjusted to having to explain to people that I speak English, the types of food that they have available, and many other things... But these four topics might be something that I just won't get completely used to. Isn't it so strange how you can be living in one place your whole life that you cannot wrap your head around another way of living? I'm working on it, but until then I thought I would share this is you guys.