Day 145-Annar í hvítasunnu

Brynja soaks up that high-latitude Sun. 

   May 28-By chance, America's Memorial Day (observed) happened to fall on Whit Monday this year.  So, Icelanders got to enjoy a long weekend, just like Americans.  The similarities don't end there, though.  Like most Americans use the day for outdoor activities, rather than actually memorializing, most Icelanders skip church services and use the time to be outside as well.  Luckily, the weather cooperated fully.  Today was absolutely gorgeous.  We even donned our shorts, which was a first for all of us, expect Spencer, who has been wearing his shorts for the past month. 

Summertime and the living is easy.

   Brynja stopped by in the late morning and invited Alex out to go play in the river Kiðá, which flows into the southern side of Hreðavatn.  Alex readily agreed and spent the rest of the afternoon with her and other families who headed over to a waterfall near the mouth of the Kiðá.  They sunbathed, swam in the pool at the base of the waterfall, and jumped into the pool from the cliffs around it.  It was a warm day (meaning the temperature nearly reached 60 degrees Fahrenheit), but the water was ice-cold, so they returned to Bifröst and warmed back up in the school hot tubs.

Shan and Spencer cruise in front of the Kaffi Bifröst.

   Meanwhile, Spencer was antsy to get out biking again.  So, Sally and Shan took him out for a spin around the campus.  Afterwards, we loaded up our swim gear and headed to Borgarnes.  Unfortunately, two of the hot pots were closed for maintenance, but we still had plenty of fun soaking in the remaining hot pot, swimming laps, and relaxing in the Sun.  Afterwards, we made our usual post-swim ice cream stop at Hyrnan, before driving home.
   We had Sígrun (yoga instructor, mid-level manager and social coordinator at Bifröst, and mother of Alex's friend, Brindís; that's right, the titles get longer, the longer we stay here) and her two daughters over for a raclette supper tonight.  Sígrun had eaten raclette once before, but it was completely new to her daughters.  They all agreed that it was great and will be on the lookout for a raclette to buy!  Sígrun was actually the second person we met at Bifröst.  She lives in the house next door to the Samkaup store on campus and saw us exiting the store our first day on campus.  She introduced herself to us and warned us that the prices at this store were rather high compared to the grocery stores in Borgarnes.  She also made sure that we got a shovel the next day to clear the snow off the steps (for the first of many times.) 


Joslyn, Sígrun, Brindís, Spencer, and Alex.

   As is probably quite obvious, she has been an extremely pleasant and helpful woman and we are very happy that we finally found a time to have her over, since her last day working at Bifröst is on Thursday.  She has lived here for several years and her daughters, now 12 and 14 years old, would like a more urban environment, so she has bought an apartment in Reykjavík.  She is spending June fixing it up and then she will move.  She is currently looking for a job in Reykjavík as well, so hopefully that goes smoothly and she gets one by the time July rolls around.  Otherwise, she will join the faculty who commute out to Bifröst a few times a week for work, while she continues job-hunting.  She hopes to have us over to her place once she is settled in.  We hope that works out.