The countdown is on! There are only 6 days left until I return to the land of Fire and Ice, and I can hardly contain my excitement! This will be my second excursion to this winter wonderland while the holiday season is in full swing, and I have a feeling that this trip will be just as special as the last. This festive time is a joy to behold and I feel fortunate that I get to experience it again. I can just picture the brightly colored lights on people’s houses; the thick layer of ice that coats the sidewalks; and the little children happily waddling along in their puffy snow suits. The giddiness that tickles my soul has been accompanied by many other emotions. This whirlwind of feelings has inspired me to reflect on how much has changed in the last year and think about my expectations for this upcoming trip.

First Impression

During my first visit, I was overwhelmed with this foreign place, because I was taking in so much at once. I was hearing Icelandic constantly, meeting my partner’s family for the first time, and we were always busy stuffing our faces with delicious holiday treats. It was a lovely assault on my senses and a fantastic time, but I was only able to absorb so much. This time around I get to build on my previous experiences.

Even though, I am returning with a familiarity of the landscape and language, I now have a better understanding that I am only touching the tip of the iceberg when it comes to communicating in Icelandic and understanding the culture. Five months of studying has brought me leaps and bounds ahead of where I was when I first started, but there is still a ton more to learn.

Swimming in a Sea of Emotions

I knew that starting this blog would be a challenging way of holding myself accountable to becoming a polyglot, but I underestimated the pressure I would feel to succeed. As the days draw closer to my trip, I am flooded with emotions ranging from giddiness to intense nervousness.

I have announced to the world that I am learning Icelandic and now I am going to a country where everyone speaks the language! I thought that knowing more than 1300 words would give me comfort, but I am still limited when it comes to having basic conversations. Questions and doubts have started to flood my mind and I find myself asking, “Will the people I attempt to speak to be disappointed that I have to constantly say, ‘Ég tala bara smá Íslensku’ (I only speak a little Icelandic) or ‘Ég skil ekki’ (I don’t understand)?” I want to do well and feel like my studying was not in vain, but I find myself struggling with coming to terms with my limited knowledge.

Jumping in Feet First, Eyes Open

I am sharing my raw feelings about this trip because I realize that they are a part of the process. The journey wouldn’t be realistic or interesting if I didn’t share the times when doubt creeps in or when I feel challenged. These times don’t feel good but acknowledging them takes away their power and encourages me to keep pushing toward my goal.

Am I going to screw up by mispronouncing words or phrases while on my trip? Will there be times when I will have no idea what a conversation is about because I can only recognize a couple of words in a sentence? I am fairly certain that the answer to both of these questions is a resounding YES. However, I feel that the most important question is, will I allow a few bumps in the road to deter me from giving my best effort and keep me from using this unique opportunity to build on my language learning experience? I can honestly say ABSOLUTELY NOT! 🙂

The dive might be a little scary, but I think that once I have settled in that I will find that the water feels just fine.

Þakka þér fyrir að lesa og sjáumst fljótlega (Thank you for reading and see you soon)!