Living like a local in Reykjavik

DW (English)

Iceland's nature is world famous, but what do people actually know about Icelanders? Euromaxx reporter Brant Dennis spent a day in Reykjavik like a local and learned a few things.

Transcript

00:00 Oh my god, hey bro, that smells so bad.

00:02 It's a cold country.

00:03 Where is your Icelandic spirit, Brent?

00:05 Do we have to do this now?

00:07 Yeah, let's do it.

00:08 Okay, okay, okay.

00:09 Sylværði!

00:10 Oh, Brent, you don't actually have to say like hello to everyone on the street.

00:13 Iceland, the land of ice and fire.

00:19 I'm here in its capital, Reykjavik, and I don't want to be just a tourist here.

00:23 I'm going to learn what it's like to be a local Icelandic person

00:29 with the help of a friend called Ingún.

00:31 Nice to meet you.

00:32 So lovely to meet you.

00:34 That's a typical greeting, a kiss on the cheek?

00:37 Yeah, I mean, I would like one kiss on the cheek.

00:39 Do you like my attire? Do I look very Icelandic?

00:42 Oh no, you look a bit touristy, Brent.

00:46 Why?

00:47 The pom-pom hat that you're wearing, like, I don't think I've ever seen like an Icelander

00:53 wear a tip and you probably won't need the umbrella.

00:56 Iceland is one of the windiest places in the world.

00:59 Um, where are we heading off to?

01:01 Well, let's start our day by going swimming.

01:03 Yay!

01:03 No more hats.

01:05 Ingún seems to like it, but what exactly is she up to?

01:08 Ingún, what are we doing here?

01:16 It's like freezing and you want to go swimming?

01:19 Yes, we have to go swimming.

01:20 Every Icelander, well, most Icelanders start their day with a nice swim.

01:25 Usually people would go to their local pool,

01:27 but the most hardcore ones will go, you know, have a nice dip in the ocean.

01:31 Before subjecting myself to that, I'll take a hot shower.

01:35 Hygiene is taken very seriously in Iceland and I was told to wash myself thoroughly,

01:40 naked, so I did.

01:41 The hot tap water is a bit funny though, since it has traces of sulphur.

01:44 Smells like eggs.

01:47 I'm asking myself, am I hardcore enough?

01:51 Ingún definitely is.

01:54 Look how happy she is, she's running, running to get in this icy cold water.

01:58 All right, now it's my turn.

02:01 All right, if we're going into the ocean, you should know it's going to be a bit cold.

02:08 So just remember when you go out into the water,

02:12 don't let the cold take over, just take nice deep breaths.

02:17 If this is what it takes, come on.

02:19 Holy cow!

02:20 Come on, Brad, you can do it!

02:22 Come on, Ingún.

02:23 Come on, come on.

02:25 Oh!

02:27 She's crazy.

02:29 She's crazy.

02:31 She's actually crazy.

02:33 Oh.

02:35 I hate this so much, I'm going.

02:37 I'm out.

02:39 Like I'm shaking.

02:41 Shaking is actually that bad.

02:43 I hope you got all this, because I'm not doing it again.

02:47 I'm so proud of him.

02:49 You're going in this?

02:51 You're going in?

02:53 You're crazy, bro.

02:55 To warm up, we now go for a dip in the hot pool.

02:59 Every town around Iceland has one of those.

03:01 Most of them are heated with geothermal energy.

03:03 We head back to the city centre and decide to take a walk,

03:11 since Reykjavik, with its 140,000 inhabitants, is quite small.

03:15 In this country, there are no trains or trams.

03:17 Next, Ingún gives me a little small talk lesson.

03:21 How do you say good morning here?

03:23 Yeah, so you would say "Koan tai in".

03:25 Koan tai in?

03:27 Koan tai in.

03:29 But it sounds like, you know, going dying.

03:31 Yeah, it sounds a bit terrifying, because it sounds like the English "Go on dying".

03:35 But yeah, "Koan tai in" would be your regular, normal greeting.

03:39 Okay, "Koan tai in".

03:41 "Koan tai in".

03:43 "Koan tai in".

03:45 Are there any words or gestures or things that I could say to make it sound like I'm Icelandic?

03:53 Oh yeah, well, okay, so if you're having a normal conversation,

03:56 and you want the person to know that you're listening and you're paying attention,

04:00 you can sort of nod and go "Jó, jó".

04:03 And do like a...

04:05 No, but on your in-breath.

04:07 Jó, jó, jó.

04:09 Next task, a restaurant visit.

04:11 People here love to go out.

04:13 Iceland spends an average of 3,500 euros a year in restaurants.

04:17 Ingunn orders a must-try for me.

04:20 Mashed fish, dried fish, smoked trout, smoked lamb, and...

04:27 So, this is one of the more traditional Icelandic foods.

04:30 Definitely something I don't have every day, but on special occasions.

04:34 So this is fermented shark.

04:37 Oh my god, hey bro, that smells so bad.

04:42 Yeah, and it doesn't taste good.

04:45 No, that was not good.

04:47 I also have more if you'd like.

04:50 Worst thing I've ever put in my mouth.

04:53 How much am I going to tip now?

04:55 Okay, so in Iceland we don't really have a tipping culture,

04:58 so you don't actually have to tip.

05:00 People actually make a really decent wage in Iceland.

05:04 Last item on the agenda, I test what I have learned on Ingunn's friends.

05:08 Tyler, Tyler, come play here.

05:11 Okay, Tyler.

05:13 Went off without a hitch.

05:15 So, Brant, you've had your full Icelandic day.

05:20 So, in honor of that, we have decided to give you an Icelandic name.

05:24 Brant in Icelandic is...

05:27 Brantur, a common cat's name, by the way.

05:30 So what is your father's name?

05:32 Mark.

05:33 So you will be Brantur Marksson.

05:36 Cheers.

05:38 Cheers.

05:40 (laughing)

Category

Transcript

Recommended