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I learnt something new about the time of the earliest settlers in Iceland. The Saga Museum intimately recreates key moments in Icelandic history, moments that have determined the fate of the people and which give a compelling view into how Icelanders have lived for more than a millennium.

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I have learnt that Iceland has been built on conflicting and yet harmonious ideals guarded by one individuals significant choice. Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði’s decision impacted the course of Icelandic tradition and myth, preserving an undercurrent of varied belief. It is amazing to see the survival of Icelandic myth and legend when many other countries have lost that part of their history. It has reinforced the belief that Icelandic history is a large part of their modern culture.

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The view over Reykjavik from Hallgrímskirkja April 2022

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During today, it has reinforced to me that historical Iceland was not a country for the faint-hearted. The Saga Museum showed how violent the history of Iceland was as well as how difficult it was to settle. It also showed that Iceland had some remarkable historical figures, some violent, some brave, some courageous and some, like Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði, who our current world leaders could take a lesson from!

After our initial meeting, we resumed our exploration of Reykjavik and we continued to be in awe at the country’s dramatic natural beauty, from the snow-capped mountains we saw from the top of Hallgrímskirkja to the incredible countryside outside of Reykjavik (including having confirmation of seeing my first volcano) to seeing (and luckily experiencing) the phenomenal Blue Lagoon!

I also learnt that, regardless of nationality or language, if you put a group of teachers together, they will start talking!

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Today (yesterday) I learnt how much history has affected the beliefs of the people of Iceland and how strongly these beliefs are linked to nature. This creates a strong sense of respect for nature in the people of Iceland, which encourages them to protect it but also allows them to harness its incredible power.

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Today (yesterday) I enjoyed visiting the Saga museum, sharing a meal with great company, followed by a visit to the church and then the Blue lagoon.

The recurring theme was how the natural world influences every aspect of life in Iceland.

The original settlers and people of Iceland endured extreme weathers, influencing how they housed themselves, how to produce food and survive.

The Hallgrímskirkja church was designed to resemble the trap rocks, mountains and glaciers seen in Iceland.

Blue lagoon is a boast of Icelander’s ability to harness the power of the natural forces around them to produce energy for the people.

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I have learned a number of things from our first session, but maybe the strongest impression made upon me is that of the Icelandic people's identity. It is fierce, and I use that word to imply more than one meaning.

It is literally fierce: their history has been built upon war, hardship and strength. They are also fiercely independent: their culture has been preserved with purpose, pride and honour (I think here of the man who allowed Icelanders to worship their old gods in private). And finally there is a fierceness in the way that the unique, harsh and beautiful natural world has influenced the culture of Iceland. It is unforgiving, wild and stunningly beautiful, and to thive in such surroundings, the people of Iceland have had to accept and grow to love it.

I'm exceptionally grateful to have been given the chance to experience this incredible country and its people and am looking forward to seeing what the next few days will bring.

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Iceland has been captivating and dramatic today with an impression that nature has dictated this nation's path at every turn. From early settlers using wildlife and waves to dictate places to settle, with dramatic representation in the Saga Museum, to the beauty and harnessed power of nature of more modern pleasures at the Blue Lagoon. My image choice today reflects that Icelanders are acutely aware of how nature has dictated where they have come from and the potential that nature has to harness a brighter future.

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What have I learned today? Good question. I think it has been a cultural and human lesson with which I have raised several questions, including one of them going through war, an unfortunate hallmark of human beings.
The meeting with Rita and fellow teachers in the presentation of the course, has been exciting. Listening to her (and also watching her) emotionally narrating the great respect Icelanders have for Nature and for its spiritual inhabitants "elves and trolls" has moved me but I have also smiled imagining the examples that Rita narrated about "I don't believe in elves but. .."
On the other hand, I have discovered some aspects of education in the UK thanks to the pleasant conversation over lunch with my colleagues from the UK.
And, of course, the Saga museum has been a discovery by offering us historical notions about the origin of this beautiful country of Nordic and even Celtic conquerors, capable of developing a form of assembly government that surprised those who arrived in Iceland accustomed to tyranny. of kings and oppressive norms.
An island where the purest, most powerful, most creative and devastating force of Nature is the essence of magical Iceland

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During the interesting tour of the Saga Museum, I noticed that throughout the centuries individual personalities have always shaped the fate of people/countries. Associated with this were progress and well-being on the one hand and destruction and decline on the other.
Transferred to a small everyday example of this afternoon, this statement has also been shown on a small scale: when we visited the nearest tourist information office,  we met an unmotivated employee who was unable to help us with any of our concerns.
Later, by chance, we stopped by another office and found out the exact opposite.  All questions were answered professionally and it was a very friendly consultation. So it depends at every point on the individual person how he fills his position and what amount of energy he is willing to give away.

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Today I have learned that it is important to know where we come from as what we are, is determined by our antecessors.
In this world of globalisation, stress and capitalism, it is important to know our own traditions and work hard to mantain them; it is essential to slow down and be peaceful woth ourselselves; and when we arrive to a new place, we should always observe the surroundings and what do they do in their daily life, trying to break barriers and what is determined by our thoughts.
I have learnt about the origins of the Icelanders and their democratic way to organize themselves since the very beginning.
I have been speaking about education in different countries and exepriences that others have lived. This lead me to increase my passion about learning more and more to get the best version of me!
Thanks to the course and thanks to Rita to help us to turn mirrors into windows.

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Wojtek: The raven - Iceland's national bird

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Wojtek: The raven - Iceland's national bird

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According to legend, Iceland’s first settler took three ravens with him on his voyage from Norway to help him find Iceland, which had no name at the time. When he let them loose, one came back without having found land, the second one flew to the Faroe Islands and back and the third did not come back, so the sailor followed its course and found Iceland.

Hrafna-Flóki, as the settler was called, knew who to put his trust in. Ravens are incredibly smart. Among other things, they have been observed to work out complex strategies and use instruments to get and hide food. They appear to show empathy by consoling other ravens. However, over the centuries, they have come in for a good deal of bad press for their association with death, due to them being carrion animals and congregating at battlefields. Many traditional associations of the colour black have not helped, either.

It seems many peoples’ negative view of the raven needs an overhaul. Iceland has done her bit.

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Looking at the pretty painted and/or colorful houses in the Streets as well as the gorgeous buildings I've understood that color und creativity are necessary ways of surviving cold and dark times.

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Christoph: Science and local beliefs influencing each other

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Christoph: Science and local beliefs influencing each other

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Learned today how closely science and research on the one hand and tradition, legends and nature on the other hand coexist in Iceland. They are not necessarily seen as two different things, but one influences and supports the other, and vice versa. Learned about this in the Aurora Reykjavik museum, amongst other places. They presented the most recent scientific findings concerning the phenomenon next to centuries old local beliefs about, and it became clear how everything influences everything. Quite the experience.