Reykjavík Grapevine - 03.12.2010, Qupperneq 4

Say your piece, voice
your opinion, send
your letters to:
letters@grapevine.is
4
Letters
Sour grapes
and stuff
MOST AWESOME LETTER
A nice Xmas decoration for your thoughts
We're not gonna lie to you: we really love us some beers. Some folks would call it a problem,
but beer never gave us any problems. In fact, over the years, it's solved most of 'em. A frosty
glass of cold, frothy, bubblicious, golden-tinted beer has consistently failed to let us down. In
the immortal words of the once-reputable Homer J. Simpson: "Mmm... Beer..."
But do you know what’s even more wonderful than beer? Yes, you’re right! Xmas ornaments
for your window, tree or anywhere else you might want to hang Xmas ornaments. The season
to be merry is fast approaching, so decorating your apartment, house or place of residence
seems in order. And what better to decorate with than this cool Christmas Cat ornament,
designed by one Áslaug Saja and graciously donated by the Kraum Design Shop (go check
them out at Aðalstræti 10 – it’s a really nice store}.
Our MOST AWESOME LETTER of the issue will be rewarded with this sweet ornament – if
you are the one that wrote it you should definitely drop us a line to collect. And if you want
one next month, write us some sort of letter. Give us your worst: letters@grapevine.is
MOST AWESOME LETTER:
Giving Blood. Makes My Blood Boil.
Dear Grapevine,
I am somewhat livid. More than slightly con-
fused. Feeling rather upset. Therefore, I need
your help. Here is my story.
Yesterday, I read on http://www.grapevine.is/
a news item regarding an urgent request for
blood donations to the Icelandic Blood Bank
Service. Now, being a public-spirited soul (as
well as an Icelandic resident), this pricked my
social conscience. Due to my suffering from a
lingering cold, however, I decided to call them
first to ask if this was an issue. As I live and
work some distance from Reykjavík, I would
have to take a couple of hours off work, un-
paid, to visit the blood donation center.
When I got through to a nice-sounding
lady at the Blood Bank, I did what I always
do when discussing health-related matters; I
asked if she spoke english. She sounded re-
luctant, but answered in the affirmative. The
conversation went as follows:
Me: I want to give blood, but have a bit of a
cold at the moment, so can I come today or do
I have to wait until it clears up?
Blood lady: You have to be an icelandic speak-
er to be able to give blood. You must be able to
speak and read icelandic or we cannot accept
your blood.
Me: What? This is crazy. Why? But, anyway,
I speak ok icelandic, so I am sure it would be
fine.
Blood lady: No, you have to able to speak very
good icelandic to be accepted. There is some-
thing you have to be able to read. And anyway,
you would have to wait at least a week after a
cold clears up, before you could give blood.
Me: Right, I'll pay a visit in a week or so, and
see if I am good enough for you.
Now then, I was a little annoyed by this
conversation, and it raised some alarm bells
for me, regarding racism, xenophobia etc. I
discussed this occurrence with some of my
work colleagues (there are only two of us
"bloody foreigners" in my workplace) and they
were all appalled.
So, I need your help, Grapevine people.
What is the Icelandic Blood Bank service's
policy on this matter? Why do we non-Iceland
born residents have to possess such a seem-
ingly high linguistic standard to be able to
give blood? If it really is just related to the
comprehension of one or two complicated
forms, then why can't we bring a friend or
relative to translate these for us? And further
to this, it begs the question, "are non-icelandic
residents, therefore, not eligible to receive
blood in this country, if the situation arose?".
I am sure this last question is ludicrous,
but it just shows you how weird reactions can
develop in response to seemingly unreason-
able policies. The "Icelandic System" has been
happy to accept me as a home-owner, worker,
husband to a native-born spouse and father
to two particularly healthy, strong anglo-
icelandic children. Obviously, this last point
technically means that I already infiltrated the
icelandic blood pool, through the back door,
so to speak. Therefore, why is my blood not
wanted?
Kindest regards,
David Kelley
Dear David,
thank you for your letter, and for attempting
to donate blood in a country that we hear re-
ally needs it.
You can rest assured that you were not
our only reader who responded to the Blood
Bank’s call for fluid (we have such awesome,
giving readers), and that you weren’t the only
one to got turned away for not speaking Ice-
landic. Nor were you the only one that got ap-
palled as a result.
We got several such letters, so we decided
to investigate. Our on-line news editor Paul F.
Nikolov wrote some stories. There was a big
discussion on our Facebook comments board,
and on our website. Three of our readers—all
certified medical translators—even contacted
the Blood Bank and offered to translate the
pertaining forms for free.
And guess what! They Blood Bank folks
wrote us and told us they were going to accept
their help and get the forms translated next
month—subsequently English speaking folk
will likely be able to donate blood in Iceland.
It was all very lovely.
Check out ‘Old news’ on http://www.
grapevine.is/ if you want the story, otherwise
thanks for writing. Our readers sure are the
best.
Dear Haukur!

Icecap Blues

When there is ice at Greenland
then it ś green at Iceland.
When there is Hollywood
we stay in woolly hood.
When there ś a summertime blues
we are its rainy day.
When there is Disko-Island
then we are at Hangover-Iceland.
When there are polar bears in the world
we shoot and drink them.
And when it is nine-eleven
- then there must have been two red cards.
skál.
kveðja Katharina
Dear Katharina:
When we got your letter
then we wondered: Huh?
When we read it a second time
we kept right on wondering: Huh?
When we wonder about stuff so much,
we think: “What a wonderful world.”
Huh?
Dear Grapevine!

I first would like to begin to thank you for this
great magazine that has helped me keep up
with what is going on in the Icelandic society
today, where as I do not speak Icelandic f lu-
ently but I am learning as hard as I can.

I came here three months ago for a brief visit
to see the country with my own eyes after be-
ing a big fan of the Icelandic music scene for
couple of years. I fell completely in love with
the country and so I decided to stay longer.

The reason why I send this letter to you is
because I am searching for a person. About a
week ago I stumbled into this bar called Facto-
ry, I had never been there before but someone
recommended that place for me to go and see
bands play. So I went there on a Friday night
not sure if there was a band playing or who
would be playing. I walked upstairs and no-
ticed quite a lot of people, a girl was standing
on the stage talking into the microphone and
the whole room listening. I was not sure what
was going on (it came to my mind that the girl
could be a host for the band who was about
to play) so I decided to grab a beer at the bar.
The girl kept on talking for a while and then
I realised that she must have been a stand up
comedian where as most of the people were
laughing at what she was saying. For me I
could not understand anything what she was
saying so I decided to just drink my beer and
leave. After the girl finished another girl came
on stage. And I swear that my jaw dropped on
the f loor when I saw this other girl. Never in
my life have I seen such a beautiful woman
like her, and never in my life have I wished
so hard that I could speak Icelandic f luently
so I could understand what she was saying. I
do not know what it was, but I could feel my-
self falling in love with her instantly. She had
the most incredible smile, and a long wavy
dark hair. After she finished her performance
she came to the bar next to me and ordered
a beer, I really wanted to talk to her but I felt
intimidated and shy. I stood there for a while
trying to decide what to do but by the time I
had the guts to approach her I saw her put on
her jacket and leave. Now for a week I have not
been able to stop thinking about her. Maybe I
am losing my mind, but I have never felt this
way about anyone in my life, and I am sure
that there is a reason for why I feel this way. I
am sure that this girl is a stand up comedian,
but I do not know here name. So dear Grape-
vine could you help me? She has long dark
hair, and does not have the typical Icelandic
look, dark skin and eyes. Is it possible that you
might know who she is? If I could have her
name I would like to contact her.

With best regards:

Crazy in love.
Dear Crazy in love,
here’s to you. Dear mystery brunette: if you
read this, drop us a line so we can forward you
Crazy’s contact info.
Viking hotel
Viking restaurants
Viking live entertainment
Viking Souveniers
For booking and further information:
Tel.: (+354) 565-1213
vikings@vikingvillage.is - www.vikingvillage.is
Strandgata 55 Hafnarfjordur
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