Chapter 16 - Update...

Horray... I got a job! I´m working in a cool little cafe downtown. It´s nice to be downtown in amongst the action. The money is pretty bad and the job involves working some nights and weekends, but it will suit me fine for the next six weeks or so. It´ll be great to earn some money again and the other bonus is that the staff and most of the customers speak english (as the majority are foreigners). I feel heaps better now that I´m working again... being active... and because my back feels better now than it has in weeks! And a special mention to the weather Gods too - it has been beautiful lately - mild, warm, sunny looooong days! It´s been really nice!

And whilst on the ´horray´ note... I graduated from my icelandic course! It is something that I am really glad I did (even though I´m sure I only learnt the tip of the iceberg – but hey, you gotta start somewhere). Given that the language is obviously a big part of Birna´s life, I felt it was important for me to do this. It´s so funny... when I try and talk a bit of icelandic to Birna´s parents, they get very excited... it´s really sweet.

So what else is new? ...Well last week we saw the national women´s soccer team play - Iceland versus Serbia. It was a great game and the atmosphere was fantastic! It was the biggest crowd to have watched a women´s game in Iceland - nearly 6000 people. Iceland beat Serbia 5-0. The game was part of qualifying for the 2009 European Championships. A week earlier, they also beat France 1-0. Iceland is currently at the top of their group, which includes France, Serbia, Greece and Slovenia.

And whilst on the topic of sport, one thing I have noticed here is that when you watch the news or pick up the newspapers, women´s sports get just as much coverage as men´s sports – it´s fantastic! This is something that you do not see in Australia (and I´m sure in many other countries).

I have to say that I am really impressed with how advanced this small country is in so many areas, like equality in sport, as well as the child protection system, and of course, gay rights. (Birna wants me to add these things to my ´pros´ list, haha). But seriously, Australia should take note – they could learn a few things!

Today, 25th June, was the day I was supposed to fly back home. How strange that feels. I would not have been ready to leave today... but probably won´t feel ready on 27th August either! It is a very sad feeling to know that the day is coming when Birna and I will be separated again. It´s all very surreal though... we went from a whirlwind romance in Oz... to being separated for 3 months... to now living with each other and spending all our time together... and soon to be separated again for months... followed by an unknown future. But we are not thinking about the future yet – we are living in the present and enjoying the time we have together. I feel that all the rest will become clearer with time.