Patriotism and Pride

Earth covered in ashes from the
recent eruption

While out on a Sunday brunch with Oscar and family the day before our departure from their warm home, he turns to me with a grin on his face and said, "Yoshi, you should go tell those non-colored people that Japan has better fish, safer neighborhood, and people there live longer". 

Being here for two weeks taught me that Icelanders are very fond of their country and culture, and are not afraid to express their love openly. Above three things are just a few of the many that they are proud of, and one elder even said to me that the weather in Iceland is the best, despite unpredictable forecast, daily gusty wind, and cold, pitch black winter. It is hard to comprehend such patriotism, especially when you come from a country still debating about whether the national flag and anthem should or should not be in public schools. 

Tip of icebergs floating in a river
of 600ft in depth

This love towards their own nation, may be the reason why they take care to preserve the environment as close to its natural form. You rarely see fences or guardrails on roads, and never witness a power-shovel cutting into a mountain or filling a land. Roads are simply paved along the coast line according to the shape of nature, not according to our convenience. In parks and sightseeing spots, off-limit area is often marked with a single rope held with a foot-high wooden pegs. Even toddlers are able to jump over them, but according to local people the safety is, "up to each and everyone of us in order to preserve the natural view of how it is suppose to be". 

When Grimsvötn erupted on the day we arrived, people told us how lucky we are rather than worried about others who's planes were cancelled. This certainly was a surprise. Last year when the rest of European aviation network was in chaos Icelanders sat back and said, "it will stop some day". Icelanders live side-by-side and take care of nature, as nature takes care of them. I hope this uncorrupted atmosphere stay the same and to be passed onto the generations to come.