Iceland

 Ok, I figured out how I was matching so many Icelandic folk genetically through my habitual watching of YouTube videos (ok. let's just be honest, I was being obsessive) but, during one video in particular, I was starting to feel a connection to the landscape. Now, I realize that no video recreation comes close to capturing the sensation of being there, but I felt a renewed attachment to this frigid landscape that I do not feel when viewing  Scotland or Norway, in all of their beauty. Although, I had no actual ties to Iceland I could not dismiss my attachment. So, as I listened to ancient sagas at one point it was described how the early settlers were mostly Irish Scottish Women and Norse men. Ah hah! I am Scottish on my mom's side and Scandinavian on my dad's side, no wonder I share detected genetic similarities.

I determined that I would renew my attempts to learn the Icelandic language, maybe just to write a good ballad for a saga or two. As I did, I noticed a strange thing. beyond any other language I had learned or excelled at, The very alphabet just felt good and natural, it seems like the way I ought to speak. I hope I still feel that way a year or so from now.....well, I really did like Scottish Gaelic as well, but the impression caused my speaking it did not cause the same sensation

In Spanish I just give up in trying to roll my r's. In Hebrew, though it sounds so beautiful, the most beautiful actually, just say the word Shalom, see? Peaceful, huh? Anyhow, I struggle with the ch sound you know, the phlegmy sound. Oh another story! when I was in Belgium, a girl was helping me learn Flemish by pointing at an object. I would say the word in English and she would say it in Flemish, and then French, and lastly in German. The funny thing was when we got to the word Sticker. She pointed, I said "Sticker". She nodded and said, "Sticcc(clearthroat)ccker", after which my laughter covered anything else she said, confused she asked what was wrong. I simply said that I understood now why it is called Flemish. Anyhow, so in Icelandic, I got to the letter "r" and without any worry or stress rolled my r perfectly as if it were completely natural to me! I cannot wait to be able to speak and sing in Elfish, uh, Icelandic!