flaneuse.org

It’s 8:30 am and I am back at my desk, after teaching until nearly 11 last night, reading a scintillating chapter on reading comprehension for narrative texts and wondering how soon I can go down and have a cigarette. In the rain, which should tell you how much I am enjoying reading this. What is it about textbooks, which can take the most interesting information and wring it of any possible enjoyment or interest? Especially this one, which is a compliation of chapters from different textbooks and so ends up being at cross purposes with itself — different page numbers and layouts and definitions. It’s like a bunch of researchers and authors arguing within the covers, but in the driest way possible, which doesn’t make for the best teaching. It’s funny how much a book can drive a class. If you let it.

Remind me not to back up a late night class to a morning one next semester. Not good for my overall concentration. How much coffee does it take to kick start a blonde? A lot.

Well, I didn’t get a chance to blog while we were there, mostly because we were so busy seeing the city (which is more the size of a large town — perfect for walking everywhere we wanted to go) and watching amazing music every night. Iceland is much like Amsterdam in some ways — lots of bars and coffee shops (no, not like that : ) and book stores and museums, especially for such a small place — there’s only about 150,000 people in Reykjavik itself. Going for the Airwaves festival was perfect because we had wristbands that gave us access to all the clubs each night and every act played for about 30 minutes, just enough to get a taste and go on to the next thing. We heard music from surf-rock inspired by Joy Division to electronic house with an orchestra to Icelandic rap. Bands to check out? Sweden’s Motoboy, The Drums from here in NY, DJ Margulies, and GusGus — the big name that closed out the festival. And the landscape — outside of the city, there wasn’t a tree in sight. Almost like the surface of the moon: mountains and rocks covered in moss — you could imagine the Vikings riding across the crags, fighting for territory and living in sod houses. The sea comes crashing right up against Reykjavik. Perhaps the most amazing thing of all was the Blue Lagoon, whose waters were this surreal ice blue. Warm currents ran throughout, getting even warmer in places and you could stand underneath a waterfall that pummeled your back as you stood there, bathed in the spa water. The white mud, embedded with tiny particles, was slippery through your fingers and you rubbed it on your face to clear your skin — it felt so good and warm, even though it was 32 degrees and raining, we sat in the water with our beers and listened to the music and watched everyone dance. It was one of the most relaxing moments of my life.

In fact, it was easily one of the best trips I have ever taken. Sometimes you have to do the thing that makes little sense, like taking money out of savings and going to Iceland in October. We’ve already started saving for our next trip — Vienna, Prague and Istanbul. Doesn’t that sound cool?

We leave today right after I teach class for Reykjavik — for the Iceland Airwaves Music Festival (will put up a link when I am less hyper and pressed for time). I am so excited — Iceland has always been on my list of places to visit and this is the chance of a lifetime. The economy seems to be just right and we got the chance — so why not? It will seem real when we’re on the plane… and I know I need this vacation. Will be the first time I have had more than a day off at a time (except for being sick) in a year, so I can hardly wait. Will post more when there, and am bringing my camera (knock wood that it works, it’s been so long since I have taken pics) so am hoping to post photos as well.

Five days, a music festival, the northern lights, the Blue Lagoon, Iceland!!! YAY!