Missing Iceland

I told my workmates today that I am leaving in August.

Not the most emotional way to begin a blog, but today it feels like I am mourning something. The problem is, that telling my workmates that I am leaving means that it's real, that I am leaving. And it's dawning on me that I am leaving this place. Just as six months ago it dawned on me that I really love living here, and that I love the people (imperfections included).

Life has been good here in Iceland, the air always smells fresh and if you want to get away from people it's easy. And if you want to talk to people they are there, too. They don't say straight out that they are going to miss you. But you can tell they do, just in the way they joke about it. Icelanders don't usually say things straight out when this happens. They might blink, and then tell you that it doesn't matter because they wanted your desk anyway. But the way they smile slightly when they say it lets you know what they really mean. And I'm going to miss them so much.. the hardest found friends are always the best ones. Nobody invites you out for at least 3 months (if you are lucky, otherwise try 6), and then after you've proven that you're going to be around and they have decided they like you, suddenly there is no shortage of things to do. People invite you to their parties, invite you for coffee, movies, you bump into at least 3 or more people you know when walking around down town - even just the guy that served you dinner at a restaurant last week is happy to have a chat for a minute or two.

To the casual observer, Icelanders are cold and unfriendly. I say that they are just reserved, and that they open up once you get to know them. Sticking in there is the hard part, but once you get to know them it's the best feeling in the world.

It feels difficult to leave now, but is it always that way? When you finally know for sure that you are leaving someplace that you like, do you start to wax nostalgic immediately? I'm trying to think positively about the move to Stockholm, and I am excited, but at the same time all I can feel is sad. I feel like I'm leaving something important behind. If you asked me what that is exactly I don't think I could tell you. It's just a feeling that this place is special.

I know that Iceland isn't going anywhere anytime soon, and that I can come back in the future. I guess I just need to keep that in mind.

I wondered today if I am being a bit melodramatic with myself about this. But then I figured it's fair to be happy and sad about two things at the same time. So I'm reserving the right to feel sad about leaving.. but with the caveat that I make the most of moving to Stockholm. There are definitely positives to it (else I might not be going :-) ), picking up another language not the least of them.

Við sjáum til.