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Original poster

Immigrant in Iceland AMA

68 replies

Svanhildur · 03/07/2018 12:23

Sorry to add to the pile, it's very quiet at work and I'm feeling a bit bored. If anyone wants to know anything about Iceland or being an immigrant in Iceland, go for it.

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TokyoSushi · 03/07/2018 12:28

Ooh I'm desperate to go to Iceland!

Possibly stupid question: I want to go to 'Winter' Iceland when there's snow and northern lights. What time of year do I go when it's light during the day the longest (I appreciate this might still be very short) but it's also still definitely winter!

Also I hear it's super expensive, would we be ok with a budget of £500 spending money for a 2-night trip?

Finally, would you recommend going on a Golden Circle tour, or not, or doing it yourself, or something else?

Howmanysleepstilchristmas · 03/07/2018 12:38

Ooh, I love Iceland! Do you need to speak the language to work there? What professions can emigrate there? How do you afford the cost of living, are wages higher? Is it an expensive place to live or just to visit? What time of year are you most likely to see the northern lights?

Original poster
Svanhildur · 03/07/2018 12:40

The spring side of Christmas is usually more snowy so if you want snow storms rather than rain storms (Grin) but not to experience the land of the midday gloom, late February or early March would probably be your best bet. The daylight is just about acceptable by then.

Yes, it's expensive. I'm not really a good person to ask about travel expenses though as obviously I don't stay in tourist accommodation and don't work in the tourist industry so a bit out of touch with all that. I'm really not sure, sorry.

I'd recommend hiring a car and doing things yourself if you can afford it and the weather is appropriate as then you can decide how long you want to be at each place. But if it's really snowy it is probably better to leave the driving to people with experience of the conditions.

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Howmanysleepstilchristmas · 03/07/2018 12:40

@tokyosushi We did the golden circle tour ourselves- it was installed on the sat nav in our hire car and was really interesting!

Original poster
Svanhildur · 03/07/2018 12:46

You don't really need to speak Icelandic to work here, but of course it does limit your options. You either need to be working in a field where you are highly skilled and your skills are very much in demand (e.g. computer programming) or in the tourist industry or unskilled minimum wage kind of stuff.

I'm not sure if wages are higher than I would get in the UK, as I emigrated right after university and have never worked in the UK. We do pay a LOT of tax, though, and living expenses are very high. I don't personally have trouble affording things, though.

For the Northern Lights you need dark, clear skies and cold weather is best for some reason (not sure why). So it has to be autumn/winter because summer is light. Winter is very stormy so it's a huge matter of luck whether the skies will be clear. I've seen great Northern Lights all months from August - April but it's basically a gamble because you could be here for a stormy week and then you wouldn't see anything. If I had to bet, I'd probably go for October.

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Original poster
Svanhildur · 03/07/2018 12:50

I must point out that I am very lucky in that we have been able to buy our own flat a few years ago so no longer on the rental market. Rent is absolutely insane in the capital area so not having to pay rent is a huge financial boon for us. A lot of people are really struggling, think it's similar to London in the kind of percentages of wages that go towards rent.

Of course if you go outside the south west things are a looooot cheaper (not for tourists, but accommodation for residents) but hardly anyone wants to live there because almost all the jobs are in the capital area.

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Iwasjustabouttosaythat · 03/07/2018 12:54

Do most of the population really believe in fairies? Really?

TokyoSushi · 03/07/2018 12:54

Fabulous! Thank you!

Original poster
Svanhildur · 03/07/2018 12:57

Do most of the population really believe in fairies? Really?

Haha, no. This is just something Icelanders say to sound cute to tourists. There are a few people who believe in the hidden folk and other traditional folklore, but no most people don't. Just like there are some people in the UK who believe in healing crystals.

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hurrythefuckupgeorge · 03/07/2018 13:00

Do you agree with whaling?

Iwasjustabouttosaythat · 03/07/2018 13:04

Are you desperately in love with the landscape and unable to ever tire of it?

ReadytoTalk · 03/07/2018 13:04

What's your favourite thing about Iceland?

Original poster
Svanhildur · 03/07/2018 13:06

No, I don't agree with whaling. Whales are more profitable to Iceland as a tourist attraction than as a food.

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MismatchedStripySocks · 03/07/2018 13:06

Can you recommend any lagoons apart from the Blue Lagoon. We are off there in November and would love to go in a Lagoon but the blue Lagoon seems very expensive.

AussieOzborn · 03/07/2018 13:06

What is the appeal of Iceland? Why did you choose it? It's the last place on earth most people would emigrate to.

fourquenelles · 03/07/2018 13:10

I love Iceland. Been twice to coincide with the Airways Music Festival in early November. What's it like for a retiree? Would it be possible to live half the year in the UK and half in Iceland?

Original poster
Svanhildur · 03/07/2018 13:10

Are you desperately in love with the landscape and unable to ever tire of it?

Yes.

What's your favourite thing about Iceland?

Hmm, probably how safe and relaxed it is as a place to raise a family.
Before I had DC I would probably have said something trivial like the endless hot water! The views are pretty incredible, as well.

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halfwitpicker · 03/07/2018 13:12

Are all the men gorgeous? All the ones I've seen seem to be!

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Svanhildur · 03/07/2018 13:13

The Blue Lagoon is bullshit, it's just an artificial lake full of the run-off from the power plant. If you want to go in a hot spring I particularly enjoyed the one in Vatnsfjörður. That is up in the West Fjords, though. There used to be a lovely one in Hvalfjörður but I think not anymore..

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hurrythefuckupgeorge · 03/07/2018 13:15

Thanks Op, I also disagree with whaling and am so gutted it is happening again. I have been to Iceland 3 times and absolutely love it.

I would love to emigrate but sadly my job is unlikely to be in demand!

Original poster
Svanhildur · 03/07/2018 13:17

What is the appeal of Iceland? Why did you choose it? It's the last place on earth most people would emigrate to.

I was a Norse mythology and Tolkien nerd as a child and I decided to learn Icelandic and it just sort of spiralled out of control, I guess! Grin

What's it like for a retiree? Would it be possible to live half the year in the UK and half in Iceland?

I don't know as I am only 30. It would probably be very expensive I think! And 6 months of Icelandic winter is very trying so you'd better pick the summer, not that we seem to be having a summer at all this year.

Are all the men gorgeous? All the ones I've seen seem to be!

No, but my DP is! Though I'm a little biased.

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Cattenberg · 03/07/2018 13:18

I spent a few days in Iceland in March 2016 and went on a tour of the Golden Circle, Vik, Jokulsarlon and a couple more places in the South East. I was surprised by how popular and crowded most of these places were in March.

Are there any spectacular places that are still quiet and peaceful (perhaps even in summer)?

ReadytoTalk · 03/07/2018 13:26

I agree blue lagoon is not worth the money.

What's your favourite natural element of Iceland? Ie which specific waterfall/mountain etc?

Original poster
Svanhildur · 03/07/2018 13:32

Hmm, not sure as I haven't been touristing myself in a few years. It used to be that if you got out of the south west things quietened down a lot and I am sure that is still the case to some extent. Go hike up a mountain. If it's a place you can just stop in your car, walk 50 metres and see the waterfall or whatever, then it will probably be crowded. Go for a proper hike (obviously stay safe and don't do anything rash) and you can still easily find tranquility even here in the south west, especially if you have a 4x4 car to access some of the more remote paths.

One of the most magnificent hikes I have ever done (and there was absolutely nobody around but us) was Hafursey which is right near Vík. Don't want to send crowds of Mumsnetters up there but if you can get a 4x4 to the foot and walk up there the views of Mýrdalsjökull will blow your mind.

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Original poster
Svanhildur · 03/07/2018 13:38

My favourite waterfall is Glymur in Hvalfjörður. Also a lovely, if steep, hike, though I believe it is rather popular now.

My favourite mountain is Esja. Not the most spectacular, but it's our 'home mountain' here in the capital area. Can't beat Esja on a nice summer's evening.

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