Babies Sleeping Outside

As we were preparing to depart on Saturday, our hostess Stefania was putting little Styrmir down for a nap - outside. I thought she was joking at first, but five layers later he was ready to be tucked into the blankets and covered in the stroller to be set out on the patio for his nap.

Turns out babies in Iceland have always slept outside. "It supports healthy babies. And, well, that's the way it has always been done."

She was as shocked to hear this would likely be considered neglect in the US (yes, even when it's your own patio) as I was upon the realization she was being serious about putting the 10-month-old outside in Iceland. Right, cultural lenses and different traditions. Got it. (I wish we got to sleep outside more...)

I enjoyed leaving Iceland on a note of recognition that, though in many ways it seemed much like home, our histories and traditions are in vastly different. (Even putting aside the fact that Iceland has centuries on us here in the US...) It is exciting to recognize the similarities and differences between cultures and places of living. Already I am forgetting the harshness of the smell of sulfur as I brushed my teeth in the morning, and being amazed how quickly it became normal to shower amidst the smell. The first few mornings back I was relishing it, and now the memory of the smell is turning from sour to sweet and I debate boiling eggs to get a tease of it. The heart-shaped pepperkaker cookies we brought home are nearly gone, sadly. And we have yet to find a cheese and ham combo that compliments each other as well as those of the breakfasts abroad. (Not to mention Winston isn't here to offer cutting it for us...) Listening to CDs of our host Erikur is not the same as being with him and Stefania and laughing hysterically, but it is nonetheless very lovely and helps us to remember the warm hospitality we were shown. The joy of hospitality has stuck with us, and we've had guests nearly daily at our home.

It is good to be home, and it is beautiful to be able to feel at home while away because of the love and kindness shown to you by yesterday's strangers/today's friends. It makes you feel like you can go anywhere and things will be okay. That's what being shown Christ's love will do to you. Looking ahead to a new adventure for a year (God only knows where...) for internship - this is a beautiful reassurance. Takk fyrir to all who helped plant this seed of remembrance.