Stars in Iceland

by Braeden Black (United States of America)

Making a local connection Iceland

The night sky never looked more alive. The stars seemed like diamonds, beckoning to my being behind the ethereal green and blue of the glorious Aurora Borealis. I invested in coming to Iceland with a certain romance, to taste crisp clean air, feel freezing glacier water, hear roaring waterfalls, and see the deep, vivid greens that existed here. All via camping gear and rented car. Now that I was there, I yearned to discover more; a feeling I can’t quite articulate or understand. Despite the cold night sting on my nose, I was comfortably warm in my sleeping bag and the soft, mossy ground provided profound cushioning for my tired body. With this magnificent scene above me and that odd feeling cradling my mind, I was lulled to sleep by the sound of waves from the not-too-distance ocean. I was woken up the next morning by rare sunlight on my face. The sun rose and became suspended between the horizon and the clouds that consistently cover Iceland. Daniel, my travel companion, and I broke camp, willing the light illuminating the breathtaking world around us to warm our stiff, cold bodies. We packed up, made breakfast from hot oatmeal and fruit that satisfied taste and hunger, then got on our way as the first cold raindrops began to fall. The day was characteristically wet, and the roads became increasingly underdeveloped and muddy as we traveled farther around the island. It was in these conditions that, not long into this soggy day, we came across another car. It was odd to pass others on the open road like this, though we soon saw the reason; this car was mid-tire stuck fast in the grey, thick mud. We pulled over. Growing up with the Utah snow, we knew the stuck car situation well and trudged through the sticky, heavy mud to see how we could help. The vehicle owner, engaged in scraping gritty mire from his tires, turned and gave us a tired smile. In accented but proficient English he gratefully accepted our offer to help. With the man’s wife in the driver’s seat, the three of us positioned ourselves behind the car and braced ourselves to push. Our first heave resulted in nothing more than the squelch of slipping footholds and mud spattering around our legs from futilely spinning tires. The aroma of burnt rubber filled our nostrils and we gave another heave. Movement! A third heave, a little more ground. The fourth and the car was free and moving forward. The couple empathically expressed their thanks and, to our surprise, soon invited us to their home to get out of the rain and warm up. Despite how genuine and eager their invitation was, I glanced sideways at Daniel with an unsure look. He met my gaze and, after a short hesitation, replied with an easy shoulder shrug; “we would love to.” We followed them along the road, rain tapping hard on our windshield, and soon arrived at their home. It was small, paneled with worn yet sturdy looking wood. Once inside and seated at their table, the man buoyed up the fire until warmth was spilling out onto our freezing fingers and faces. The women made something that filled the air with a sweet, relaxing aroma and, listening to the rain on the window, we felt very at home. Three kids appeared, a teenage girl and two younger boys, and we soon engaged in asking each other questions, they about us and the States, and we about them and their lives in this amazing place. Their life was filled with hard work and collaboration, between family and community. Though they hadn’t traveled much themselves, their life seemed serene, full of wonder and interest. They were not missing out on seeing the world, rather the world was missing out on what this family had here at home. The interaction with this family is what I remember most about Iceland, it was the most enriching part, which is no small claim compared to our adventures there. We’re still in contact in fact! If I ever go back to Iceland, it would be to visit them.