Has ever happened to you to find yourself in a new place, not having a clue about what’s going on? It’s like that all the time for me, but I must say, it’s always been like that. Iceland feels like any other place in the world I’ve been to, from this point of view. Back home most of the times I didn’t have a clue either, despite being in theory accustomed to the local habits, despite experience, despite prolonged observation, despite being a native speaker, despite countless other things. Looking back now, everything feels so absurd, and also it feels like I’ve been blessed for not completely losing the sense of reality – a very common illness I feel it’s spreading in my native country. I was a stranger in my own homeland; it’s not very surprising then I am a stranger here as well. Only real difficulty for now is the language, which still sounds to me very similar to Simlish.
Sometimes I just have a look around and I see all sort of things I can’t really understand. Very intriguing or curious events going on. Today for example. I went to the Kringlan for extensive shopping – expensive also, since I visited the Vínbúðin – and just as soon as I set foot on the parking’s paving, I started seeing… things. Mirages. Visions. Outside a horde of Warner Bros characters roaming the mall’s surrounding area. Inside a bunch of girls in leopard print dresses and weird make-up. Men in leopard print dresses and make-up too. And then other weird costumes with my poor knowledge – or due to the poor craftsmanship of the costume designer – I couldn’t identify, attached to many more bodies, going around as if it were a crazy carnival party. I got home and then got out once again for an appointment. People in costumes were everywhere in downtown. I had the pleasure to see more fancy ideas embodied by people with a lot of guts and a passion for… mainly the American style? I saw spacemen and Duff beer cans taking a stroll along Austurstræti as if it were the most natural thing in the world. And bikers, but those I’m afraid were not people in costumes. As the saying goes, it takes all sorts to make a world.
I’ve been googling for some time now and still haven’t a clue. All I know is: today is Friday and tomorrow will be Saturday and Verkalýðsdagurinn (aka Labour Day), all rolled in one. Labour Day and Warner Bros don’t mix in my book. But I could be proved wrong.
Sounds thrillingly great. Could you say if the “scenes” were actually “about” something?
I’ ve seen something very similar for the first time in my life also in downtown Rvk some years ago. There were people on Ingólfstorg dressed in white costumes interacting with each other and with the people who were sitting on benches. I was very irritated.
It’s interesting what it makes to feel strange somewhere and also what it makes to feel less strange. But isn’t it also wonderful to be absolutely without a clue? As if ones senses are then more open and thankful towards the outer world.
I don’t think they were representing scenes about something. Not from what I could see. Not at the moment I saw them. People were just walking around in those costumes, without actually doing anything unusual.
But yes, the fascinating part is also not knowing. Like you said, it’s sort of thrilling. Refreshing also. You don’t feel under the pressure of being informed, but you feel curiosity and eagerness to explore and find out. And if you can’t find out, the epiphanic quality of the experience remains.
Those were most probably people who are about to graduate from “High School” or Menntaskóli. It is traditional to dress up in a costume (and most of the time get drunk as well) to say goodbye to your school, and have a day of fun with your schoolmates before the final exams, this tradition is called “Dimmisjón”.
Thanks Agnes, that explains a lot! It’s an interesting way to celebrate pre-graduation =)
Sounds thrillingly great. Could you say if the “scenes” were actually “about” something?
I’ ve seen something very similar for the first time in my life also in downtown Rvk some years ago. There were people on Ingólfstorg dressed in white costumes interacting with each other and with the people who were sitting on benches. I was very irritated.
It’s interesting what it makes to feel strange somewhere and also what it makes to feel less strange. But isn’t it also wonderful to be absolutely without a clue? As if ones senses are then more open and thankful towards the outer world.