Postcard Iceland August to October 2003

Well I could say I was lazy at writing but that was not the only reason I have not written. I have been very busy. Arriving back in Iceland I only had 1 day off before I started work. There are always lots of things to do when you have been away for awhile. Gay Pride was on the 9^th. The weather was horrible, I haven’t been that soaked for a longtime. There was even someone entertaining from Winnipeg. There were a few summer activities that could still be done. I went to Guðmundur and Ingibjörg´s summer house. We had a barbeque or 2 and showed off photos from Canada and the USA. Mayor Glen Murray was in Reykjavik for a few days. I tried to get to meet with him but his schedule was pretty full. The Reykjavik Marathon and Cultural Night were held on the 16^th. There was lots of people downtown. It seems like more people each year. The fireworks were fantastic. School officially started on the 22^nd of August. The whole week before the start of school the computers were out of commission so there was not much to do. People can´t seem to live without computers. Once the computers were online and school getting going there was lots to do. I did find the time for a few other things like interviewing the new Canadian Ambassador and attending a concert or two. Aug. 30^th I attended Family Day at Sandgerði. The weather wasn’t the greatest but it was still a good time.

September 1^st I started Tour Guide School. The classes went well but there seems to be lots of material to go over. I ended up buying $400 worth of books. It was not required to buy all of them but I picked the best and most interesting. The weather stayed awful but we still went out on a whale watching tour on the 6^th. It had been a longtime since I have been on the ocean but I still had my sea legs, sort off. Guðmundur and I headed to Skagastrond to look at a couple tractors. We had a good day and he ended up buying or getting both of them. September 11^th to 13^th MH, our school hosted a conference for the International Baccalaureate Organization. There were teachers and principles from all over Scandinavia and a few representatives from other parts of Europe. I ended up being chauffeur and official photographer. When the group was to go on a tour I was told I should go and learn something. I always do as I am told and will never pass up a free tour. We had a great tour, a little brennivin and lots of lobster. School kept me busy, some of the classes I had a hard time following everything that we were to learn. On the 27^th we went on our second trip together. This time it was a geology trip. We toured Heiðmörk, Nessavellir and Þingvellir. It was a great trip and I think I learnt more on the trip then I did in all the classes. September flew by and October began the same way. I spent all my time in school, either MH or Tour Guide School. I was able to take in some of the Governor General of Canada’s visit. I was invited to the Embassy for the unveiling of art from the Arctic. The following weekend, October 16^th to the 19^th I headed to London with Guðmundur. We had a great time and saw quite a bit of London. It was kind of cold but nice and sunny so that is much better than rain. October 25^th the Canadian Club held its Thanksgiving celebration. There was about 40 people in attendance and we had a great time. Not much more happened in October except I was able to meet with Atli Asmundsson at the Foreign Affairs Dept. He will be the next Consul for Iceland in Winnipeg. The meeting went well and I look forward to working with him in the future. Maybe this is getting long enough so you will have to read more in the next postcard.