Hjúkrunarheimili (neut. n.) - nursing home.
If anyone has ever taken the Icelandic Online course hosted by Háskóli Íslands, you’ll know that for some strange reason, the creators decided it was necessary to introduce the beginning Icelandic learner to things like “hello, my name is Jón”, “how are you doing?”, and “I work in a nursing home”. You know, basic survival skills in Iceland.
Hjúkrunarheimili - the pulse of life in Iceland (that’s a joke; there is no pulse) (that was also a terrible, terrible, horrible joke) (*laughs hysterically*)
- hjúkrunar - nursing, nursing care (a form of hjúkrun)
- heimili - home
All nordic countries share the “Nordic cross” as a symbol : it is a unique flag design, featuring a cross representing christianity ; but the Nordic Cross also represents the ties the Nordic nations share with each other.
The danish flag came first and was followed by the swedish, norwegian, finnish and icelandic ones, the norwegian flag being the first to use three coulours.
Many private homes in Scandinavia have a flag pole, enabling citizens to fly the flag during daylight hours, at birthdays or celerations, as well as national days, religious holidays, military commemorations, and even birthdays in the royal families of the country. Finland, which is not a monarchy, celebrate finn culture instead, flying the flag on days commemorating famous finnish people (generals, poets…).
The flags are treated with respect : they should never touch the ground, and are burnt when damaged. Flying the national flag is considered a privilege, not a right.
Denmark
- Name : Dannebrog (14th century)
- Meaning : bravery and strength (red), mixed with honesty and peace (white), according to traditional heraldic codes ; it could also be seen as a symbol of the king’s tunic, stained red from the blood of his enemies, except for his belt and military equipment.
- History : Danes are very proud of their flag : the danish flag was said to have been given to the Danish king Valdemar II by God himself, to reassure and motivate Danish troups during a battle against Estonia in 1219.
Sweden
- Name : Sveriges flagga (17th century)
- Meaning : blue with a yellow cross, with the blue symbolizing truth and loyalty, and the yellow representing generosity
- History : said to represent the golden cross that king Eric the Holy saw in the sky as he landed in Finland during the first Swedish Crusade (….omg *inner shipper squeeing, while Finland winces at the memory*) ; also conveniently uses NO danish color, and is thus a symbol of resistance against Denmark.
Norway
- Name : Det norske flagget (1821)
- Meaning : red, with white and blue cross ; intended as a symbol of freedom, in reference to the french, american and british flags, but is also seen as the symbol of the ties Norway had with Denmark (red and white cross) and Sweden (blue)
- History : Norway kept using the Danish flag until 1821, despite being no longer in a union with Denmark but being with Sweden instead. Only in 1821 was a distinctive Norwegian flag designed and approved by the parliament.
Finland
- Name : Siniristilippu (1918)
- Meaning : white (the winter snow) with a blue cross (the thousand lakes and the sky)
- History : when Finland gained independance, a competition was held regarding the design of the Finnish flag ; some designs used the red and yellow of Finland coat of arms, but it was the blue and white design that was chosen in the end.
Iceland
- Name : Islenski fáninn (1944)
- Meaning : the colors of the elements composing Icelandic landscape, blue for the mountains, white cross for the ice and snow, red for the fire of the volcanoes
- History : the icelandic civil flag had been used as an unofficial symbol since 1913 ; it was officially adopted in 1915 and officially described in a law in 1944, when Iceland became a republic.
Sources:
http://www.visitdenmark.dk/uk/en-gb/menu/turist/turistinformation/fakta-az/flag-days.htm
http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/dk-days.html
http://www.danstopicals.com/flags.htm
http://tmg110.tripod.com/scan_cross.htm
http://encycl.opentopia.com/F/F/FLA
http://encycl.opentopia.com/term/Flag_days_in_Finland
http://encycl.opentopia.com/term/Flag_days_in_Sweden
http://encycl.opentopia.com/term/Flag_of_Denmark
Kolnidur- Jonsi- Go
Witnessing Jonsi’s performance of this song may or may not have made me “sweat out of my eyeballs” a tiny bit. The instrumental build up in “Kolnidur” was so hauntingly beautiful that it will forever remain in my memory as a testament to the power of live music. At some point during the show a stranger hugged me, and maybe it was due to too many drugs or misrecognition on her part (because all pale girls with long brown hair like mine look alike, obviously), but I want to think it was the magic in Jonsi’s voice that compelled her to embrace me when we were both a lil’ teary eyed. Each time I rediscover Go is a pleasant surprise.
Bæjarstjórnarkosningar (fem. n. pl.) - mayoral elections or town council elections.
- bæjar - town (a form of bær)
- stjórnar - governance, leadership (a form of stjórn)
- kosningar - elections
This person is voting - maybe in a bæjarstjórnarkosning?
A swirl of smoke danced in the air as Iceland stepped out of the car. Hot air attacked his pale skin as he cringed uncomfortably. After everything that had happened with Liechtenstein and Denmark he had been avoiding most of Europe; one out of embarrassment, the other out of disappointment and frustration. He shut the door and leant against his car, taking the final drag of his cigarette before realizing he hadn’t rolled up the window. With a quiet groan he opened the door and stuffed the butt in to the ashtray before rolling the window up most of the way and making his way to the door.
The sun wasn’t an unknown entity to Iceland; he had to deal with it for 24 hours a day during the summer, yet… It was never this hot. Even the short walk to the door made him feel like he was going to die from sweating so much; perhaps even heatstroke. He wiped his forehead, his bangs starting to stick to his forehead already. This was why he never visited Turkey. Something he’d have to remember.
“Yeah, you feeling that, buddy?” Large hands rolled down a pale spine with a considerable amount of pressure, causing little snaps and pops along the canvas of skin that shuddered under each well-placed squeeze.
“Ah, yeaahhh…”
“Feels pretty good doesn’t it? Just wait, I’m gonna crack you open like an egg and then fry you on a bed of hot coals!” A wide grin spread across the Turk’s face as he took the man’s arms behind his back, pulling at them until a rather noticeable cracking sound came from deep within the other’s bones, reducing the bath-house guest to a groaning puddle on the warm rock station.Yep, he was the king of the massage section.
“Alright, man ~ you’re ready for a dip!” Turkey smacked the guy’s shoulder, only making it harder for him to get up and go have a relaxing dip in the cold pool, and glanced toward the entrance of the bath. Maybe one more person, then he’d call it a day.
Community service at the local bath wasn’t all that bad. Sure you had to wash a few backs, but you also got to step on them as well! And if that wasn’t a good stress-reliever, Turkey didn’t know what was. It was great to work in the steaming heat all day and sweat off all the impurities the weekend often brought in the form of one too many drinks. Not to mention workers got free plunges in the waters during the slow hours at lunch-break, though he usually stole a few more opportunities when his guests invited him along to share their soak-time.
As the little bells hanging above the door rang, signaling the arrival of a new visitor, he straightened up excitedly and fixed the bath-wrap around his waist while he was at it. Summer was definitely his favorite time of year – so many tourists!
Preparing a warm welcome in his head for the next customer to come back, the Turk baulked when he caught sight of just who had shown up. “Yo, Icy-boy~!” What an unexpected surprise! Sure he’d met a few countries entertaining themselves in his baths before, but he had been absolutely sure in his assumptions that Iceland only traveled out of his island-home for World Conferences, the little hermit. “Oh, hey – my station’s open! You better come back to my station, don’t go to Bartu’s ~ he’ll bruise you up good!” He called rather loudly from all the way across the room.
Iceland did his best not to cringe outwardly as he pushed open the door and entered the bath. The light jingling of bells did little to encourage him, and the further he stepped food in to the building, the more be was beginning to question why he had even come. True, he was a hermit, but he did like traveling and seeing other cultures… however, this was one aspect of Turkish culture that he was questioning his interest in. He usually preferred to travel alone, or with humans; backpacking and doing things that the other nations wouldn’t see. Sometimes he had even liked to pretend that he was a human, rather than a nation.
The Turk’s voice was loud enough that he’d heard it before he even entered, and the sight of the man made his cheeks flush with frustration. Iceland cursed under his breath for having taken after Norway’s physique. Not that he wanted to look like some kind of hulk, but being more robust and manly would have been nice at times.
The smaller man folded his arms over his chest and glared defensively, glancing between Turkey and ‘Bartu’. The other man looked even more imposing than Turkey, if that was possible.
“Maybe I’d prefer to be bruised up good.” Iceland said dryly, his face void of any expression with the exception of the slowly waning blush from moments before. He was thankful for the distance between them; surely the Turk wouldn’t have seen his embarrassment from there. He took in a deep breath, willing it to disappear before taking a few cautious steps deeper in to the room.
A swirl of smoke danced in the air as Iceland stepped out of the car. Hot air attacked his pale skin as he cringed uncomfortably. After everything that had happened with Liechtenstein and Denmark he had been avoiding most of Europe; one out of embarrassment, the other out of disappointment and frustration. He shut the door and leant against his car, taking the final drag of his cigarette before realizing he hadn’t rolled up the window. With a quiet groan he opened the door and stuffed the butt in to the ashtray before rolling the window up most of the way and making his way to the door.
The sun wasn’t an unknown entity to Iceland; he had to deal with it for 24 hours a day during the summer, yet… It was never this hot. Even the short walk to the door made him feel like he was going to die from sweating so much; perhaps even heatstroke. He wiped his forehead, his bangs starting to stick to his forehead already. This was why he never visited Turkey. Something he’d have to remember.
