Lögberg-Heimskringla - 13.11.1992, Qupperneq 4

4 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 13. nóvember 1992
Ambassadors from lceland
By Linda Johanns
ednesday
encounter
e
Iceland
accompany
a
m
July 29,1992 was my
with Ferenc Utassy, Maiy
a
Before departing Winnipeg, I
a copy of Lögberg-Heimskringla, a map of the inter
questionnaire
members of the
oir. It was
Lundar, my
.ve
privilege
hometown.
presented each
in English. Here is a con-
densed ve English, rsioi i of their replies, v ratte :n by them in

Ferenc Utassy, the conductor, is
originally from Hungary and
now residing in Reykjavik. He
has just finished his “Bacculus
Philologus Islan<ficus” at the
University of Iceland. His previous
diploma was from the Ferenc Liszt
Academy of Music in Budapest.
His memorable moments from the
visit were:
1) the concentration of his choir
members at the Eaton Celebrity
Concert in Gimli,
2) the visit by Dr. George Johnson,
3) the visits with the residents at the
Betel Homes in Gimli and Selkirk,
and the Personal Care Home in
Lundar
4) the visit to Lundar, especially the
Icelandic pioneer monument
Ferenc was not prepared for the
fact that the prices marked on items
were not the final price. We add on
the provincial tax and G.S.T.
He was most surprised how many
3rd and 4th generations speak and
imderstand Icelandic.
He thought our weather was like
Iceland’s, that Manitoba is really
friendly and a little bit too flat,
though it would not be difficult to get
used to it.
Ferenc Utassy sends his thanks for
the enjoyable stay and encounters
with Lögberg-Heimskringla readers
in Manitoba and Minneapolis.
Auður is from Reykjavík, the
daughter of Jón Þorberg
Kristjánsson and Hjördís
Inga Ólafsdóttir. Her most memo-
rable moment was meeting two ladies
walking in Gimli, one being 103 years
old and singing an old Icelandic
song. She marvelled at the longevity
of the people and how very proud
they are of their Icelandic descent.
She expected more sun and thought
Manitoba very friendly and very flat.
She was not prepared for the mosqui-
toes.
1h* ryndís is from Húnavatns-
sýsla, the daughter of Sigurður
JLJ Sigurðsson and Jóhanna
Blöndal. She is studying at the
Reykjavík College of Music. Her spe-
cial moment was the visit to the leg-
islative Building and meeting their
Honours Dr. and Mrs. George
Johnson. Mrs. Johnson was discov-
ered to be a relative. Her problems
were changes in the weather and the
mosquitoes. She was surprised how
many know Icelandic, but hesitate
speaking. She encourages everyone
to practise even though they make
mistakes. She thought the pioneers
had found a charming place for their
new homes.
Mary is an American from
Minneapolis, U.S.A. Her
parents are John Robert
and Jane Sherman Earl. Her most
memorable moment of this visit was
hearing “Sofðu Unga Ástin Mín”, an
English madrigal, and Swedish fíddle
music floating over a lovely north
woods lake at evening as they
rehearsed for the concerts to follow.
During the trip, she was not prepared
for the Icelanders first encounter
with mosquitoes. She learned how
hospitable we are, how marvellous
the weather is, and how flat, beauti-
ful Manitoba is and how so many
people here seem to love music.
Mary wants us to know that
Iceland is a compelling place, full of
bright, industrious, and witty people.
She encourages us to consider mak-
ing visits of more than a few weeks
so we can appreciate our heritage
and its result there, more fully.
■jr Trnnur is from Höfn, Horn-
m I afjörður (east coast of
Iceland). Her parents are
Hermann Hansson and Heiðrún
Þorsteinsdóttir. She has graduated
and is a pre-school teacher.
Her experiences were like the oth-
ers. She liked the Legislative
Buildings and enjoyed the fluent
Icelandic speaking seniors. The mos-
quitoes were irritating. She found the
weather hot for Icelanders but want-
ed more sun. Though Manitoba was
wonderful, she missed the moun-
tains.
•trjfr"ristjana is from Kópavogur
and her parents are Magnús
XV. Gunnlaugsson and Rikey
Einarsdóttir. She is studying. at the
University of Education in Iceland.
Like Auður Jonsdóttir, she enjoyed
meeting the 103 year old woman who
sang, “Hvað er svo glatt sem góðra
vina fundur.” To her, the mosquitoes
were aggressive. She missed the sun,
but thought Manitobans were just as
friendly as the license plates say.
“Thank-you for your hospitality.”
■jr jr eiðrún is from Neskaup-
*—J staður and her parents are
X X Helga M. Steinsson and
Einar Már Sigurðarson. She is study-
ing physical therapy at the University
of Iceland. Her special moment was
the entrance of the Fjallkona at
Islendingadagurinn as the choir sang
“ísland ögrum skorið.” The mosquito
bites bothered her. She leamed with
great surprise that many Canadians
speak Icelandic very well.
rynhildur is from Reykjavík
and her parents are Ásgeir
X..X Einarsson and María Þuríður
Gísladóttir. She is at the University of
Education in Iceland. She will always
rem«mber singing for and being
joined by the people in the old folks
home. She had to buy an extra
pullover for the cold weather and
thought our summer was like
Iceland’s. She enjoyed visiting the
towns and felt a warm welcome in
each. She feels strongly about the
people here and learned how proud
they are of their Icelandic descent.
Sigríður is from ísafjörður but
now lives in Hafnarfjörður.
Her parents are Jakob Ólafs-
son and Pálína Helga Adólfdóttir.
She is studying anthropology and
French. She enjoyed íslendin-
gadagurinn and felt like the others
conceming the weather, mosquitoes,
and people. She thinks Manitoba is
beautiful and would like to return
soon.
Soprano
Picture (above:.l to r)
Auöur Jónsdóttir, Bryndís Siguröardóttir
Blöndal, Mary Earl, Unnur Hermannsdóttir.
Alto
Picture (left: I to r)
Kristjana Rlkey Magnúsdóttir, Heiörún
Helga Snæbjörnsdóttir, Brynildur Ásgeirs-
dóttir, Sigrlöur Jakobsdóttir.
Photos by Linda Collette
Om is from Hafnarfjörður and
his parents are Sigríður
Jónsdóttir and Örn
Sigurðsson who died in 1980. He is
studying Icelandic at the University
of Iceland. His most memorable
moment was in the graveyard at
Hecla Island. He had to accept the
mosquitoes and thought it wonderful
that we still have the great Icelandic
hospitality. He thought that
Manitoba was flat, but the trees beau-
tiful. Örn said that the culture of
“Westem Icelanders” is an important
part of Icelandic culture as many of
their greatest poets and writers have
visited and lived here. This fact made
this trip even more exciting for him.
/ngólfur is from Hafnarfjörður
and his parents are Sigríður
Jónsdóttir and Örn Sigurðsson.
Many of his sentiments have already
been expressed by the other choir
members, but he too wants to return
soon and extends a thank-you for the
hospitality and friendly attitude.
Sveinn is from Hveragerði and
his parents are Erlendur
Finnbogi Magnússon and
Sigurdís Sveinsdóttir. He is studying
computer science at the University of
Iceland. The visit to Betel in Selkirk
was memorable. He was surprised to
learn how many Canadians of
Icelandic descent there are.
Martin is from Sweden and
now Reykjavík. He is
studying Icelandic at
Háskóli íslands. His memorable
moments were the concert in Lundar,
talking and singing with the people
there, and the Eaton Celebrity
Concert in Gimli. He was not pre-
pared for the lack of trains. He
leamed how eager we are to keep our
bond with Iceland, but we should try
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