Lögberg-Heimskringla - 31.08.1990, Síða 3

Lögberg - Heimskringla • Föstudagur 31. ágúst 1990 • 3
The blending of cultures
by
Dilla
Narfason
Often people in this commnnity look
forward to having company from Ice-
land during the time of the
íslendingadagur. Marie and Sveinn
Ambjörnsson have visitors for Iceland,
not only at this time of year, but any
time of year, as well as, making their
place a second home to Icelanders who
have come as students to Manitoba.
Marie and Svienn have had their home
open to Icelandic visitors ever since
they moved here from Iceland them-
selves in August, 1987.
Sveinn is apprenticing as an aircraft
mechanic with Northway Aviation at
Arnes. Marie works for Sooters Photo
and is presently, the treasurer for the
Gimli Chapter of the Icelandic National
League. They have no difficulty with
the English language but when you
hear them speak Icelandic you just
know they come from Iceland.
Interestingly though, Marie is a Ca-
nadian, from the Banera family near
Camp Morton, just north of Gimli. She
is from a Ukrainian/Polish background
and made her way with a number of
other young people from the Interlake
to Iceland in 1982, to work in a fish
factory at Djúpivogur. It was during
this time she met Sveinn, who came
from Höfn.
Language was not a problem for
Marie, while working in the fish fac-
tory, but after the nine month commit-
ment of employment, she decided to
stay on an d began working in a Hotel in
Höfn. Although it was difficult at first,
Marie had no choice but to leam Ice-
landic. Often she found she was on her
own and no one else around to answer
the telephone at the Hotel. But she felt
she improved the most with the lan-
guage while working in a Daycare
Centre. She gives creditto the children
saying, “Children are your best teach-
ers, and it’s easier to take criticism
from them”. Marie was able to develop
the correct accent and she found that
Icelanders often thought she was a
native of the country, that is, unless
she should happen to use incorrect
grammar.
The situation was different for
Sveinn, whohad taken English in school
from age eleven. At that time he had
little use for the language and less
interest but when he met Marie he had
to use his English and found that with
practice, it came along quickly.
The couple have predominantly used
English when conversing with each
other. However, they tend to converse
more so in Icelandic with their friends.
Other families, like the Skúlasons,
Einarssons and Axelssonshave a simi-
lar situation where the wife is Cana-
dian born and the husband is Icelandic
bom. Some of these women also went
to work in the fish factory or went to
Panorama of lceland
onstage in Reykjavík
Visitors to Iceland with a penchant for
absorbing the countrys history in quick,
dramaticfashionshouldsee“LightNights.”
The production, a combination of live
theater and audio-visual techniques, re-
creates Old Iceland from the Viking era to
the modem age. Among the highlight ele-
ments is a scene from the turf-roofed
farmhouse days of 19th Centuiy Iceland in
which a storyteller recounts folklore of the
past, including readings from the Sagas,
medieval Scandinavia’s greatest classics.
Another feature of the show recalls the
settíement of Iceland in the 9th Centuiy,
during which successive waves of Vikings
ventured from Norway and Denmark to
the westemmost land mass of Europe.
Folk songs and chanted hhymes provide
musical accompaniment and interludes in
the one hour and fifty minute show. Per-
Lögberg-Heimskringla
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Sveinn and Marie Arnbjömsson
study in Iceland. This common bond
has meant that their initial friend-
ships have even grown more over the
years.
These couples exemplify the blend
of two cultures, not only Icelander and
Western Icelander (as Canadians of
Icelandic decent are called), but also, a
blend with Canadians from a much
different cultural background. This is
not unique in our area - it is the Cana-
dian way - but we don’t usually find
such diversity of language which is a
joy to be heard.
Western Icelanders are more and
more fourth and fifth generation Cana-
dians who share in the blend of cul-
tures, in what has become known as
the Canadian Mosaic. V/e cannot expect
that they will maintain the Icelandic
language as their grand-parents did or
even their parents in some cases. But
to take pride in one’s heritage and to
become familiar with other ethnic
backgrounds brings about a more tol-
erant community. This is certainly a
goal worth the effort ff om all of us and
if we learn another language or two or
three, we are that much the richer for
it.
formances take place at Tjamarbíó, a
theater on the bank of a small lake in the
middle of Reykjavík, every Thursday, Fri-
day, Saturday and Sunday at 9 pmthrough
Sept. 3. Tickets cost about $20, and the
entire show is in Enghsh.
Star ofthe eveningis Kristín G. Magnús,
a reigning queen of the Icelandic theater.
Ms. Magnús serves as narrator and story-
teller of the production.
Tickets are available in Reykjavík at
various hotels and at the Alafoss woolens
store, and at the theater box office on
performance nights.
For further informatíon or a brochure
describingthe evening, write to Icelandair
at 21 Penn Plaza, New York, NY10001, or
call toll-ffee 1-800-223-5500.
Gordon S. Garner
Sales Representative
of the year:
Lorna Tergesen
Lorna Tergesen, Stanton &
MacDougall’s Manitoba and Lakehead rep,
has been named Gordon S. Garner Sales
Representative of the Year by CBA mem-
bers in the Prairie region. Of the four fi-
nalists, Tergesen received the highest combined marks for service,
reliability, follow-up sensitivity to store environment, and commitment
to special promotions.
Tergesen has been with Stanton & MacDougall since 1980, when she
began her career as a rep after raising a family. She notes that the
Lorganizational skills and diplomacy” she developed as a parent of fíve
chil dren have contributed to her successful career as a rep.
Lorna is the daughter of Stefan and Olla Stefanson of Gimli, Mani-
toba.
Courtesy ofQuill & Quire, July 1990.
the giýt that lasts all year i
A subscription to Lögberg-Heimskringla is the perfect gift
for those special people of lcelandic descent
and those interested in the lcelandic heritage.
Subscription rate: □ Canada and USA $25. □ lceland $30.
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