An Icelandic migrant living in The Bay Area. | Blog of Erna Gylfadottir Mendez

Á þessu heimili er íslenskuátak. Í kvöld allaveganna.

Var ég ekki búin að tala um að skrifa á íslensku á mánudögum? Spyr sjálfa mig hvort ellin sé að berja að dyrum.  Læt vikur jafnvel mánuði líða án þess svo mikið sem að slá inn eitt orð á íslensku! Ekki furða að ég frussi og slefi þegar ég reyni að tala mitt ástfagra móðurmál við elstu prinsessuna á heimilinu. Tala nú ekki um þegar ég er að reyna að siða hana til! Í huganum á mér skammast ég mín fyrir minn eigin fátæklega orðaforða sem mér finnst stundum vera á við páfagauk þegar eitthvað mikilvægt krefst útskýringar! Og komst ég í hann krappann þegar ég fékk óvænt símtal fyrir tveimur dögum frá íslenskumanni miklum, sem er ekki frásögum færandi. Ég hrærði öllum orðum saman á íslensku og ensku, og hafði engin tök á einföldustu orðasetningum og beygingar og sagnir komu úr öfugar, úr samhengi. Hroði!

Þetta hefði verið afsakanlegt ef móðir mín væri ekki íslenskukennari, foreldrarnir ekki svo vel að sér í skrifuðu og rituðu máli, og ég hefði fallið á samræmdu prófunum og hætt í skóla eftir 10. bekk.  En ég er vel komin á fertugsaldurinn, og vissulega ef tungumálastoltið (já viðurkennum það bara elskurnar, þetta er þjóðarstolt) er bogið og beyglað, þá er nú ekki miklu að flagga. En svo kemur að því að kellan komi heim og þá tekur nú bara örfáa daga að fægja málið að nýju. Mér er fyrirgefið.

Ég tók íslenskusyrpu á þær ynsgu í kvöld og Elena spurði af mikilli forvitni “mom, how  do you say a toast in Iceland?” -”Ristabrauð”. svara ég. “Ristabrauð með smjöri, ristabrauð með smjöri, ristabrauð með smjöri”. “But mom, how to you say building blocks in Iceland?” – “Kubbar. Kubbar, kubbar kubbar. Gulir kubbar, bláir kubbar, rauðir kubbar.” Svarar mamman. Soffía spyr: “Mom, how do you say a robot in Chinese?” (Eins og stendur kemst fátt annað að hjá henni en grimmileg vélmenni eða “scary robots”) – “Vélmenni.” Svara ég. Og þannig gengur kennslan fyrir sig.

“Hrísgrjón og egg! Hrísgrjón og egg! Hrísgrjón og egg! Hrísgrjón og egg!” Dansar húsfrúin á elshúsgólfinu. Þær litlu stara á mig eins og ég sé alveg gengin af göflunum. “Borða allan matinn! Borða allan matinn! Borða allan matinn! Borða allan matinn!” Dansinn heldur áfram og verður æ ákafari. Ég geri bara eins og í Yo Gaba Gaba á Nick Jr. Nota endurtekningu (heilaþvott), söng og fáránlegan dans. Ég trúi að það virki eins of ofurlím. Festist alfarið í minni.

Jæja elskurnar, tími til að fleygja sér í bæli. Ég er orðin rangeygð af þreytu.

I have NOT stopped making oatmeals and some less than average pretty food. Oh no! I made an oatmeal this morning and whoever is in my way, has to eat my oatmeal. Husband was the guinea pig this morning. For lunch I had smoothie with oatmeal in it. He had some 2 dollar Tostinos pizza from Safeway with pepperoni (rightfully said, electrocuted pig).

I think for the first time in my entire AAU life that I will get 7 hours of sleep before class. My range is usually 2-4 hours, sometimes none.  A progress, whoohoo!

I also think I am trying to avoid getting sick and tired of thesis too soon into the semester. Need to move fast from one thing to the next. Designed shopping bags and wrappers today, tags and business identity yesterday and finalizing things.

Thesis almost feels like trying to making a fabulous cake with basic ingredients. It’s just a matter of how many shapes and forms of this cake you make before you vomit.

I will keep on posting my recipes online, and everything else that is designed, food or else. Below are my miniature shopping bags, good for squirrels and mice!

…

…are all the birthday greetings from all over the world! What a way to wake up!

I also had text messages from our family all over Texas and even Colorado, people wishing my happy b.day.  Cousin Ricky called from San Antonio to wish me a good day, and what a sweet and thoughtful that is. He was our great host after our wedding in 2006, and made it even more special. My brother sent me a thoughtful email and a picture from this morning (see below). He never forgets my birthday. What a deal.

Just got news from my dad. My mom is at the hospital and is in good care, showing already a progress.

I started the morning and fed the girls and read them some books. Then I took them to Jing´s and made myself some incredible oatmeal with pine nuts and honey. Cup of coffee and big smile on my face. Husband wants to take me for lunch in SF today. My only concern is the I went to see the orthopedist yesterday and he was moving my kneecap around and bending my legs in all directions, so I am a little sore and need to stay away from as much as I can from biking and walking today. But I can in the meantime prepare nice dinner for everybody including the cake, because the girls are the most excited ones about another birthday in the family. Good day, so far. Here are pictures from the weekend.

Outside of my brother’s place in Reykjavik, Iceland, this morning. I like the snowman and those tiny houses.

Below are pictures from the weekend and Sophia this morning, reading one of my design books in her pjamas.

Today was a little bit sad day. I got news from my dad that my mom had fallen in the stairs in front of their house and broke her pelvis. I just want to say that she is on my mind right now and there is nothing more I want now than to be with her. I haven’t heard anything more for now but I am just praying and hoping that she will have a successful recovery.

My mom is sixty years old and has always been very active and very healthy. She fought off and recovered from breast cancer a little over two years ago. My mom and dad love to take long walks frequently, and she likes to run, too. She walks to work and to get the groceries, goes up and down many set of long stairways to do the laundry, and takes such good care of everybody that are in her life.

So I know how hard it is for her to be injured and not be able to move around, let alone the pain and all the physical difficulties she is going through now. For you who are reading this, please pray for my mom´s recovery. I would really appreciate. Her name is Svava Árnadottir.

Luis, mom and dad with the girls, late December 2008.

A simple food day. I needed a lot of detoxing elements because the common cold got me on Sunday. It really, really worked!

Breakfast. Very conventional Oatmeal with blueberries and honey and cashews. Doesn’t fail. Ever.

Lunch. El Smootho del Azul. More blueberries. Thank you, Blueberry God!

In between meals: Roasted plantains, nuts and a banana. Short, triple Americano with extra room.

Dinner. Greens. Lots of Herbs. More cashews, poppy seed dressing, roasted sunflower seeds and some pearl Cous Cous… And the soup: Butternut Squash with fresh bell pepper and black beans. Won’t get better. Took about 10 minutes to prepare. Took about 3 minutes to eat! *

Did I mention diet or dieting anywhere in these food posts? No. I am an anti-dieter, and haven’t tried any diet since Herbalife that July in ‘98. Eating healthy is a direct result of an abundant life of happiness and a lot of love. That’ s what is worth striving for.

*It is hard to look relaxed like the cows when eating greens.

Icelandic Sunday, so to speak. Our friend Oli came from Berkeley bringing some silk screen frames with him.  Made the infamous Icelandic Pancakes a la amma. I am mastering my flipping skills and making a steady progress.  None got damaged or over burned. Sprinkled with sugar and rolled up. Added some whipping cream and jam to the table. The stack was devoured (mainly by the females). A feast that will for sure need some special attention later on today.

The females (4/5) took a walk in the rain while the male minority worked at a local coffee shop. Splashed in puddeles and played some catch.

Pancake recipe is in the right column.

My dad sent me a picture from their dinner table from last night, a continuation of the last discussion of this blog. The conclusion is, that ugly dinner is usually very good, and how heartily I agree. When ugly food tastes the best of all food, it automatically becomes beautiful!

This is a very traditional Icelandic dish – sheep heads, (in fact my all favorite) gnawed to the bones. Beauty.

I am so exhausted. Need something fast. Already walked the girls and did some good leg workout. I have a LOT of work to do today, and I really want to try something a little different. My oatmeals have been fantastic throughout the week, but they can also be made  in all sizes and shapes. I need something that I can eat throughout the day. Lets see how the experimentation goes!

First I need the ingredients. It takes me about two minutes to think the recipe through and find them. In the meantime, I roast sunflower seeds. They are delightful, tasty and crunchy. Good with everything and plain – and good for tummy.

As you can see I have a good chunk of my daily fiber, carbs and proteins, vitamins and antioxidants.

Apples and bananas and blueberris. The Holy Trinity.

Dear yolk,  I am sorry and I love you, can´t get enough of you, but I have to discard you just like everything else I tend to misuse.

In the meantime, I roast sunflower seeds.

What a beautiful group of loving friends.

All in one orgy – until it finally becomes messy.

You must admit that grouchy isn´t that bad looking. I tried to add some facial lift to him with some slices of bananas. The sunflower seeds didn´t help, visually. And possibly the color, too. And now I am going to eat it, because the smell has the promise of the best possible cake recipe. No sugar added, though.

I have to admit though, that I felt a little sad after cutting his face in half.  But nevertheless, he tastes wonderful with a little soy peach yogurt on the side.

I know the birds in the yard envy me.  I can hear it on the chirp that they want to feast on this too. But I deserved this, earned it, made it, and am about to eat it. Sorry!

How brutally good looking can you be?

We all deserve some sunshine and oatmeal every once in a while.

I found this recipe on www.cafesigrun.com, an Icelandic website with lots of good, healthy choices. I made my version of it. Added onion, honey and apples. Used cashews instead of almonds for allergic reasons. Used plain yogurt instead of sour cream. Super duper.

I hate eating out these days. Nothing new, even Whole Foods is getting boring. So I made enough so I can snack on it for the next days. Thrifty me – Thanks mom!

The Teen was the first guinea pig, and she gave it thumbs up and ate two rounds.  Still well and happy.

I spent only three hours in the kitchen, including cleaning. I have some work to do after that, the pile is still sitting on my bed.

Recipe in the right column. Enjoy!