Well, in my opinin you missed the most annoying thing, among Icelanders, on your list. Turist (or anyone for that matter) who don't take a shower before entering into the swimming pool or a public hot tubs will get Icelanders very upset...
I met some Icelandic people at a conference in the USA in 2007. It was enlightening. We almost immediately discovered our mutual affinity for coffee and licorice.
Hate coffee and the smell, no coffee in my house (but I always have beer and a variety of tea). Also hate licorice. With a passion. I lived in Florida for 5 years and all my American friends took their shoes off at the door when they saw our shoes were there. Even though we told them it was ok to wear shoes inside.
@@AllThingsIceland Most Europeans are like Icelanders on the shoes in homes front, however. Not to speak of East Asians. I think in this, its not Icelanders who are special, but Americans (and, if I am not mistaken, other English-speakers like Aussies, too).
Not at all. In some parts of the world it would be asocial faux pas. This is a cultural thing. Similar to how making noises at the table in some Asian and eastern countries is a sign of respect for the hosts cooking; in other parts of the world it could be considered poor manners!
@@rhyfelwrDuw Yes, that's it! Whenever I listen to Björk, I always notice that softly rolled "r", and thanks to you, now I realize that it IS a gentle cat purr. Thanks!
I am 52 and every time I meet my dad he offers me coffee. I have never drunk coffee and my dad tries to sell me on the idea all the time by saying stuff like “this is no normal coffee, you’ll like this”!
😂 My brother used to try really hard to convince me to drink coffee. He also made a bet that I would be a coffee drinker by the time I'm 30. A bit counterproductive really as he gave me a monetary incentive not to start drinking coffee. So it took me over a decade, but I eventually won the bet 😂
As an icelandic non-coffee drinker, i get asked wether i drink coffee every single time i visit anyone older then me. Even people who have know me for my entire life, and im very vocal about it not being my thing lol
I shop online, and have my food etc. delivered. I am Muslim, so I do not eat pork or products with lard, or msg. I will be 78 next month, so it has kept me in great health. To each his own, but I try to warn people about pork, and killing each other, for God is not happy, as we can see the disasters. We better behave or else. A hard head makes for a soft behind, and we reap what we sow. Stay blessed everyone and safe.
i grew up in the middle of Brooklyn, in a Caribbean family, and i have NEVER walked into anyone's home without taking off my shoe. my mom would not let you pass the front door with your shoes on, so i extend that same respect when entering other people's homes. as for the sweater... yes please. i am an avid knitter, and i can't stop looking at your sweater, so please tell us more on that front.
In Philippines too. Living in Italy now for 12 years, my relatives get upset to me when I go to their houses in thr Philippines and I don't take my shoes off.
i love the sweaters, but are they all wool and scratchy? i am allergic to that itchy wool...boo for me. plus i live in florida so these are in no way something i would collect, but i'd love to see a video about them.
Yes, I think it was just a given, growing up in BC too, that you take your shoes off at the door. Here in Germany where I now live, often I notice many people don‘t take them off! I find it somehow rude and always ask the people I am visiting if I should take them off. Especially considering that people don‘t always pick up after their dogs!
I really wish the shoe thing picked up in the states. The amount of times I have to remind everyone to take off their shoes is exhausting, I wish it was common knowledge.
I only wear shoes if the homeowner is wearing them, cause I assume that's what they prefer. Otherwise I always take mine off and ask others to do as well! I'm in the US 😊 most people ask me if I want shoes on or off.
My spouse and I took a vacation to Iceland 3 years ago. We loved it. I enjoy your videos becuase it brings back some great memories from when we visited.
If you don’t already know how or have an interest to learn, you are living in one of the best places on earth to be a knitter! Icelandic wool is gorgeous and as you know, everywhere. Léttlopi is one of my favorite yarns and to find it in even the smallest market...bread, milk, eggs, wool! I almost cried the first time I saw it there. Lopapeysa’s are super easy to make too, you can do it. It makes me sad to hear about disrespectful people, it’s not hard to be a good respectful aware and kind traveler. I’m enjoying your videos so much, thank you for sharing☺️🌸
Babe. Thank you so much for creating your channel. Every time you upload, it brings a smile on my face. I especially needed it today after yesterday in NYC. Thank you for your amazing content!
Thank you so much for taking the time to do these videos! I have been interested in Iceland since I fell in love with Bjork in the late 90s! Your videos have answered so many of my questions.
The coffee story reminded me of the time when we traveled to Finland. People really love their coffee over there, so much so, that cafés and marketplace buffets have these little self-service coffee stations, where you can just pour yourself a mug, free of charge. It's really good for a little casual coffee, because it's not very strong caffeine-wise, and the flavor is more watery and acidic than bitter, so you can drink a full mug of it, without feeling like it's too much.
Many supermarkets in the Netherlands have a coffee machine with free coffee inside the supermarket! I never thought about it before but it is probably related to the coffee culture too!
#1 is the same in my country, Switzerland. To me is so weird when people don’t take off their shoes inside the house... it’s not just because of respect, but even hygiene. Here people always have shoes outside their houses; sometimes they’re tidy, sometimes they’re messy. But I think it’s so fun to see them.
Yes! More lopapeysa content! I'm a knitter and I love colorwork sweaters, and both of the examples you've worn are exceptionally beautiful. It seems like most of the examples I see online are fairly monochromatic or feature the natural color of the wool. These are lovely, but I prefer more colorful sweaters like the ones you wear.
I used to haaaaaaate real licorice! But then one day the switch flipped, and now I can't get enough. (IKEA is my current "dealer"... 🙃😋) When I went to Iceland and found their chocolate & licorice candies? I was in love. Draumur is THE best! 🖤
I grew up in America and people wear shoes or winter boots in the house so it was normal to me. Then I moved to Canada and I learned so quickly that NOBODY wears their shoes inside. It’s now become a second hand habit and I don’t like people wearing shoes in my house. But it was definitely a culture difference. After getting used to it, I learned that it is the norm to take off your shoes in almost every other country outside the US and it is just so much cleaner, I like that norm.
I live in America we don’t wear shoes in the house. I didn’t grow up doing that. Most houses I to nowadays don’t wear shoes especially if it’s carpet. Some people give booties
I love your videos! My gram passed on in the 90's. What you've shared here, helps me understand her ways of doing things, from eating Ice cream, offering coffee after meals, my love for Licorish, and being respectful of nature and others. I wish I could go to Iceland; I think I would fit right in. Thank you so much for taking the time to make your videos. It is so important to understand the culture before visiting.
I have always been fascinated by Iceland. It is so unique and beautiful! I just found your channel a couple days ago so I subscribed and watched several videos already. Love your personality! You are so intelligent, beautiful and energetic. I didn’t know about the licorice but would love to try it since I like licorice a lot. I would like to know more about the sweaters. They are so beautiful! Some of my favorite topics are clothing and cooking. Are there any unusual foods or clothing items you could show us? Sorry this is so long.💕
I am really enjoying your RU-vid Channel! I'm working on a crocheted afghan that was designed by an Icelandic artist. Watching your video helps put me in the Icelandic vibe while I work on it. Thank you!
I’ve visited Iceland and it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever experienced. Thanks for giving me glimpses of it’s splendor with your channel. 👌🏾
Soo, the salty licorice thing and us Nordic people, I would compare it to the way people in other countries eat sour candy or spicy food. Most of our salt licorice is kind of mild (for Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish and Icelandic taste buds anyway...) like the "salty fish" that you find in the huge "pick and mix" assortments in our countries. There are however some Scandinavians that aren't satisfied with the level of saltiness (and spiciness) that these fish candy offer, just as there are people that like to eat sour candy that aren't satisfied until it tastes like distilled lemon juice (eeew) or chili eaters that aren't satisfied until their eyes water (no thanks). Therefore there are some salty candy available that are a bit extreme even for many of us vikings, like "Turkish pepper" (hard licorice candy with salt and pepper powder in the middle) and "Djungelvral" (which is a softer, chewier candy with copious amounts of salt on the outside). I myself like sweeter "old school" licorice like Bassets "licorice all sorts" and I don't go any furter on the salty scale then the "salty fish" I mentioned... So as with everything else I guess it's a cultural thing, and you like what you grew up with. Like the (in my eyes) poor excuse for coffee that most Americans like to drink. I mean if your coffee looks like tea when you pour it, it's just too weak (it should be black as tar), and don't get me started on decaf, what is that fairy juice about!?... LOL! And yes I would also be more then a little surprised (and a bit grumpy maybe) if you wouldn't serve me coffee after dinner, that's just weird...LOL!
It's hard to keep in mind things that don't even register on your radar screen! The two coffee presses have raised their consciousness, and made for a good story.
Ahh Turkish Pepper yeah ... the sweet young when we used to crush that into a powder and mix it with vodka ... eventually the liquor-makers just adapted the whole thing and now make ready turkish pepper liquor :-P
I recently discovered your channel and am enjoying so much! Your sweater is gorgeous! I'm a knitter and will be knitting a first ever sweater with lopi yarn. I vote for an episode about lopapeysas! Thanks and best wishes!
We request that shoes be taken off at the door please. Some guests have resisted as they don’t like to go without shoes so we offer a pair of clean socks, slippers and bench to sit down and change.
Yes on the sweater video! I think that would be really interesting. Also, the coffee thing is hilarious. I'm American and if you walk in my house you're getting offered coffee right away lol. Same with all of my friends. As soon as you walk in the door, it's "let's have coffee".
@@AllThingsIceland You are welcome. I love seeing you happy and the lil community attracted here is positive. Don't be stingy with the 🔨 if any one starts actin a fool though ha... Next stop - that 100k sub Yt plaque!!
Your skin looks beautiful! Love the sweater. I find your videos very interesting...I’ve been binging your videos for two days now. *I was unaware there were black people in Iceland. 😳
I discovered your channel this week and while at work today I was telling my colleges about it while viewing automated picture that came on my screen which happened to be of Iceland. I enjoyed the Q & A with your husband.
Hi Jewells! I reaaally want to visit Iceland someday (perhaps studying there too). Everytime I see your videos, I'm amazed by how beautiful and interesting this country is. Thank you so much for making them. Greetings from Portugal! Edit: Spelling mistakes
😂 I laughed out loud about what you said about the coffee. I'm a Swede and I myself don't drink coffee regularly, but many of my friends actually expect coffee when they visit me, so I have to shape up on that one. It just became so clear when you said it that way.
Very interesting an entertaining video, thank you! Coffee is also a thing here in Spain. Most people will absolutely demand coffee after lunch (not so after dinner, where a shot of some licquor or brandy is more common).
I’m Icelandic living in the USA and sometime people here tell me all about what they know about Iceland, like our horses are Ponies. Yes it’s irritating to hear this about our precious horses, that have more gaits than other horses and people in other countries will pay up to $2.000.000 for (the last I heard about 10 years ago). But when people that have never been to Iceland start enthusiastically educating me about my own weird and isolated country, that they don’t know anything about, I just let them rattle on and nod my head. Sometimes they have an air of haughtiness, as to entice me into a defense or something, but I’m not giving it to them. So thank you 🙏 for clarifying this.
Love this video, and your fun, welcoming, relatable attitude! I'm visiting Iceland later this year and trying to absorb everything I can before then. I can't wait!!
Just subscribed. I live in Orlando, Florida and am a young grandma who have traveled to many parts of the United States but never any where outside the USA. You are such a beautiful young lady and very charismatic and your videos are fascinating and informative. Looking forward to learning more about Iceland and it's people and culture.
I love your videos! I can't wait for quarantine to be over so I can go back to Iceland. With regard to #5 on your list, I have to say that to a person, every Icelander I met was really nice and never in my travels all over the world have I been somewhere where so consistently, each local person I talked to wanted to make sure that I had a great experience. Customer service was amazing everywhere and EVERYONE had recommendations about things to do and see. it was so wonderful and warm and welcoming. I can't wait to go back.
"Yesterday afternoon judge Joseph Buffington ruled on assisting psychological aid in suicide-manslaughter by licorice and..." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/24/man-licorice-dies-massachusetts
@@pontus778 yeah those finn's really love their licorice... I don't like it but people here travel to finland to buy that stuff (and cheaper alcohol, tobacco and better meat ... well you know :-P, and tupla chocolade ... but there I just have to place my foot down, there just is nothing like norwegian milk chocolade :-)
My husband and I visited Iceland last Sept and fell in love! I wish I had found your videos before we went, but love watching them now and getting to enjoy bits of the country thru you. Luckily I was with an Icelander for the first half of my 3 week stay as I was on a photography workshop. The local photographer, Thor, helped with not making some of the mistakes you mentioned. Respecting nature is HUGE, and one I can absolutely appreciate. I am so envious that you get to live there. I came home with 6500 images because everywhere you look it is just stunning.
Ég er frá Québec og ég er að læra íslensku. Myndböndin þín eru æðisleg. Ég heimsótti Ísland þrisvar og mun koma aftur. Takk fyrir og gleðilegt nýtt ár líka!
Perhaps you could offer up some advice about anything that a visitor to Iceland might do to make. their Icelandic hosts feel especially appreciated.....
An excellent idea! More specifically, are there things that are universally considered good gifts for giving to a family that has you over as a visitor? (Other than being respectful? )
Bring something from your own country! I love when people do that. Like some Canadians brought us really nice maple syrup and some japanese folk brought us matcha flavoured kit kats. Every time we have norwegian friends over they bring us things like brunost.
I just found you a week or two ago and keep watching. You are addicting! Iceland is on my bucket list for sure. Thank you for all you are doing. And I LOVE those sweaters! ♥️
Girrrl, I had to look on the map to see where Iceland was, Lol!! I knew the vicinity but not that far up North. I have been watching a few of your videos and how you and your husband met, but did I miss how your family feels & do they like your husband? You would think your husband would have told you about having coffee around, Lol!! I don't drink coffee either. And I don't know if the liquorice tastes the same as in the U.S. but I LOVE liquorice!! People think I'm nuts for liking it. I really am enjoying your videos of Iceland. Take Care, Sylvia
1. Walking in to someone's home with your shoes on is just a sign of disrespect. Unless it's family or close friends and you ask first "Is it okay if I leave my shoes on? They're clean". 2. The Icelandic horses are NOT ponies. They're a strong and regal tank of a creature that have adapted to the climate and harsh landscape here. I'd rather take one of them in to battle than an Arabian horse (but they're nice too). 3. I don't even drink coffee, but I always have coffee and a coffee maker for friends and family who come visit. Especially important after dinner. 4. Liquorice was one of the few "treats" kids got during WWII, so it became a big thing. We've found many different ways how to make it more interesting. As a kid you eat it, as an adult you take it as a schnapps (or a shot) 5. "We" have been here for 1200 years and kept the place pretty much pristine. You are all more than welcome to come for a visit, but just keep in mind that we have some dangerous elements and situations that you might get your self into if you don't know what you're doing. It can be a hassle for volunteers to save a group of tourists who gut stuck on a mountain road, in the middle of winter, wearing jeans and sneakers... Driving a Yaris. And yes that happens more than you would think. Respect Mother Nature and her forces You summed it up well, one might think you'd spent some time here 😂
Content about the lopapeysas would be awesome 😻 I'm currently staying in Iceland for a semester abroad and would love to buy one now that it's getting colder. But I'd love to learn more about the culture behind them before doing so Also the video was super fun and the coffee thing cracked me up 😂 my Icelandic guest family doesn't drink coffee either though (but they do have a coffee press somewhere in the back of the cabinet :D)
Awesome to hear you want to learn more. I hope your studying is going well. That fascinating to hear that they also don’t drink coffee and I’m not surprised that they have a coffee press just in case. 😂😂😂
@@AllThingsIceland Studies are going very well, so far I've made nothing but positive experiences with HI. Thank you for asking :) Yes, the presence of that little stamp now makes much more sense 😂
Plus, when you get friends over, you might score a left side slippah cause you wen lost yours at the beach. No need match colah if da buggah fit, yeah?
Where I come from (Bosnia) we take our shoes off as well, but here in the US people don't respect that. Don't even ask or care, just not a big deal for most people while for me it's so disrespectful and it's dirty.
But it is just not common in many countries Many people don't even know that it is normal in other countries so please understand that it's not to meant rude
Did i hear a mention about doing a vid on folklore? Because that would be so amazing. (Wait, i went back and listened again. Folklore fridays on patreon.)
Also a lot of Icelanders don’t like being called Vikings. Of course we are proud of our heritage, but the vikings murdered people over very little and we don’t like it. We can call ourselves Vikings, but you can’t. It’s kind of like calling a Japanese person a ninja. Don’t do it, you never know how someone will react.
Well I actually think that is also due to a misrepresentation of what a viking is. Going to "viking" was to do those things. But not all vikings were murderous bastards, some were merchants and farmers. But I guess this is just semantics at the end of the day. I'm personally quite happy to be called a viking.
@@hannatara02 wow...I never would of thought of that. I'm ignorant to Icelandic culture so when I think viking I don't necessarily think anything bad. That's good to know
@@hannatara02 Yes I understand. I on the other hand don't get uncomfortable. I just was being pedantic bastard for no good reason. The word used to be used for going on a raid "viking" and was not really used about groups of people. That was a modern invention. But like I said I was being pedantic for no good reason. So never mind.
I got used to taking my shoes off in the US when I lived in southern CA for 26 years (I still miss it so much). There are a ton of east Asian-Americans there, and the habit seems to have established itself out there thanks to them. At this point back on the East Coast, I cannot stomach the feel of shoes on when I'm in my home or anyone else's.
I am so glad, that me and my boyfriend aren’t the only people in the world who don’t like coffee :-D I do have coffee at home for guests only 😅 and I also hate liquorice 🤢 I don’t understand why this I such a big thing in Scandinavia - I was in Sweden last month (because we couldn’t come to Iceland 😭) and there are sooo many sweets with liquorice available.
I don’t see how anyone could be sad or down when wearing a sweater like that. So bright and cheery. Just seeing it made me smile. I could deal with that and a pair of jeans. Maybe you could start a lopapeysa business. I would buy one. Or two even! I would have to carry a pair of slippers or something. My feet get so cold so easy!
I love your videos! I was in Iceland when I was very little while my mom was stationed there at the Navy base. I've always wanted to go back. These videos are a fun way to mentally build myself up to that goal. Yes please on making a video on the sweaters. I'd love to learn more about them. Yours is lovely. I didn't realize there were some varieties with buttons. I only ever see the pullover type.
Interesting, I live in Italy, and if you take your shoes off entering in a house, you are seen as...rude 🤷♀️. Well, the world is beautiful because every place is different 🙂
@@simona_ab Here in Mexico it's the same. You'll look weird if you take off your shoes, it's not that common. But if your shoes are a mess and really dirty...you take off your shoes, you clean them or you wait outside
Thanks so much for sharing this info! I visited a few years ago, and am definietly taking notes for when I'm able to travel again! I love coffee but only ordered espresso while I was there, so, I'm especially curious about how folks drink it at home. Do they generally make it a certain way, like with percolators, a French press, or just a regular drip coffee machine? Since you don't drink it, is it also rude to offer to guests that they can make it, so they're sure it's how they like it? Or is it important that the host is the one that makes the coffee?
I asked our guests to make it because I am not experienced with doing it. They seem fine with that. 😊 Many people have fancy machines here for expresso and so on.
I'm older, and have issues with my feet. I'm pretty uncomfortable without shoes. I certainly understand that people don't like dirt and stuff marks in their homes. I suppose I should try to find a small slipper when visiting Scandinavia.
I know a little bit about Lopi yarns and sweaters, having knitted a few myself - I'm a grandmother who has been knitting since I was 9 years old! - but I would love for you to share what you know about them, too. Love your other videos. I am working my way through them just having discovered your channel a week or so ago. Thanks, Jules!
Most of the people in the world do remove their street shoes at the door. Half of the world's people are Chinese, and an awful lot more live in India. How about slipping on a pair of clean socks at a shoes-off house? Would that solve the problem?
