Iceland Retreat

Posted on Thursday 18 June 2009

I finally left Iceland last Saturday. I didn’t burden myself with most of the stuff I bought along the years. Instead I made a donation to whoever felt like having stuff for free. The last few days off I spent in Reykjavík were very enjoyable. Of course time flew right by, and before I knew it, it was time to go. Right now, I feel as 3 years back, with a full summer vacation and a lot of thinking ahead. I am surprising myself by thinking there is a chance to consider settling down in Paris. It is very possible the daily struggle to live in a country where you don’t master the language and (therefore) cannot be fully integrated to the society is starting to be a big deal after all. I realized during all those years how annoying it was to be seen as a foreigner. Of course I don’t state the obvious but the simple fact that regardless of where you come from you’re always seen as some sort of intruder only here for a short time experiment. Unconsciously, locals treat you that way… Ok this might not make a lot of sense put like this but I don’t have a lot of explanation for the fact that a majority of my friend remain foreigners. Of course the other explanation would be that Icelanders are just a bunch of rude family members convinced that their nation is the greatest(est) on earth and therefore have no need to meet an annoying mainlander. But again, I don’t think so.

This lead me to the subject of Smokeybay’s future. The blog has now no purpose anymore. Although my life won’t be disconnected to Iceland and is still tied to it personally and financially. I will certainly not have much to write about life in Reykjavík. The same way I left Iceland, I won’t make up a conclusion in here. I am simply leaving. Adios !

Mal @ 3:04 pm
Filed under: Away From Iceland and Daily post
Iceland Almighty

Posted on Sunday 7 June 2009

I had the great chance to travel around the country last week. From west to east and south to north. I spent 4 nights in cute little cottages with 2 friends of mine who came from the mainland. We had blazing sun, occasional showers, light clouds, thick fog, hail and even sand storms. I’ve seen things I have never seen before, familiar sceneries I saw with new eyes, landscapes varying in a different weather. Needless to say that this week flew away like wind blowing.
The few days following this break were supposed to be dedicated to pack my stuff at the office, say goodbye to colleagues and enjoy the few last game of pool in the basement. Instead I managed to get swamped into an heavy stress prior to a deadline. The results led to awkward moment, brief instant where nothing seemed to show that it was time for me to go. I barely, if not at all, say goodbye to anyone. As a matter of fact, I saw almost no one. Everyone was in meetings, working from home or god knows where. I forgot half of the things in my office and sort of went AWOL. To be honest I couldn’t care less. This past few months were not the best working-relation wise and I didn’t feel having been treated specially well. I just had time to speak with the very few people I cared about and that’s what matters to me.
On the other hand things went great at home. It’s the first time I am spending time in the house doing pretty much nothing else than cooking and going in town. It feels wrong but I succeed doing it. I am very proud to have managed avoiding any kind of dead boring ceremony for my leaving. I don’t count the number of people who asked me when was my goodbye party. Everybody expected me to host one of those big party our place is usually synonym of. A lot were disappointed, few understood. I don’t know why I hate those events. Likewise I don’t need to do a particular thing for one last time. What, on earth, would one have the urge to do one more time when living in Reykjavík for more than 3 years? I don’t see. The bank and the tax office turned out to be easier that I thought it would. Apparently I can still have full power over my bank accounts without being physically present. Icelandic bank security sucks, yes, but now I think it’s safe to say that no one would aim a coup in a shipwrecked icelandic bank. The same applied to my tax revenue: The old lady looked at me surprised when I ask what was the formality when one is leaving the country. She just told me that I would have to send my tax return via mail before next year’s deadline. Silly me, even after all those years living abroad I have the bad reflex a Frenchman has when it comes to paperwork. I am always expecting something long and painful. The last step will be the, oh so famous, kennitala to inactivate and I should be pretty much set.
I still have no clue what the following weeks will look like. Oddly enough I am not anxious about it. I am also very excited about the traveling I have ahead. I am looking forward going to Finland this summer. I have been to Finland countless time but Finnish summer is still something I am not familiar with. Of course, spending time with my friends will be the main point of the trip. It goes without saying that a week or two at my sis in Spain is mandatory for my quota of sun and heat. And finally because it’s generational, I will attend a wedding in south of France sometimes in July.

This summer feeling has inevitably been reflected in what turns into my playlist.
Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend has teamed up with Wes Miles of Ra Ra Riot to create Discovery. “Osaka Loop Line” has some interesting computer effects, synthetic beats, and vocal distortions. It’s interesting to have a indie rocker going to something seriously electronic.

Discovery – Osaka loop line

French electropop trio Pony Pony Run Run just released the single “Hey You”. The original version is most probably getting big in France as I accidentally heard it in Oui FM, my favourite Parisian local radio. I’m 100% positive this will be a summer hit.

Pony pony run run – Hey you
Mal @ 7:16 pm
Filed under: Business & Work Related and Daily post and Music
Get Off My Back

Posted on Tuesday 26 May 2009

It must be yet again another conspiracy to make my life miserable. After no signs of life from anyone from work for the past 4 days, today on my first official day of vacation, my mailbox gets swamped by emails of angry people. Fix that, do this, why is this thing not working, the deadline is getting closer how are you going to get than done and so on and so forth…
Why did I check my work email a first place? That I honestly cannot tell but one thing I am sure I now can’t “unsee” them. And I would feel very guilty in the middle of Iceland’s desert having ignored all those requests, questions and whatnot. So here I am at home with a coffee in front of my laptop sending emails, fixing bugs, reading documentations, searching contacts on my first day of holiday. This is sad.
In other news, weather is still absolutely stunning: sunny,bright and warm. Setting aside yesterday side when I went to pick-up S at the BSÍ station. I arrived soaking wet although the station is a 5 min walk from the house. We took a cab on the way back, what a shame ;)

Mal @ 11:07 am
Filed under: Business & Work Related and Daily post