Miss Kolka

I have been reading interesting articles lately on the "mother country". Not about its financial troubles but about all the lists it tends to top - being one of the happiest country, after Denmark, the most peaceful one (with no army), book loving and record icecream-eating nation. Its always possible to find something - as long as it is measured "per capita" - then Iceland has a good chance of being in the top five. Unless its about days of sun per year, or international importance.

What caught my attention was the way Icelanders describe themselves. A feeling I have often had myself without putting it into words. And now according to some international standards such as education and health (men live for an average of 80 years which is a record) Iceland is considered a very good place to live. So why are there so many Icelanders that live abroad? (not that it is a bad thing, in such a small country it is necessary to leave to broaden your horizon at some point)

I have to say that I have always had doubts about the educational system there, its small size and its effectiveness - in comparison with France for example. But it seems that although it can be argued that Icelandic students do not have as much knowledge as their European peers on history or literature - they can at least use their knowledge more effectively after their studies. There is this sense of "making it work" that you don't find easily here in France I have to say. An optimism necessary to keep that little Island going, since it has been ignored for so long by the big super-powers and the decision-making rulers. Even Iceland's foreign minister dreams about negotiating a middle east peace agreement that could be called the Reykjavík agreement (inviting Fatah leader Abbas to talks in the north - which sadly none of the big news channels covered or even knew about). So the Gigantic Iceberg fights to stay afloat and to be noticed, for anything, even if it is only for winning the Eurovision song contest. No battle is too unimportant. Everything is worth fighting for.

So who cares if the average Icelandic person doesn't know much about world history? As long as we continue making the top five of anything - we are still relevant. It is perhaps that line of thought that becomes hard to handle after while, when Icelandic news from abroad only matter if Iceland is mentioned or an Icelandic person was involved. Maybe it is why you have to leave at some point - perhaps only to return one day and accept that its not necessarily better elsewhere - although it is different. And that stories about giving an interesting book to David Lynch at Le Flore may not be part of daily life anymore.

READ More on Mother country in THE GUARDIAN

Kitty is gone home after 3 weeks at palace Lourmel. But while here, she was sly like a fox... got food twice a day - but from each of the two housemasters every day which actually means 4 meals per day.  So what happens when you eat like that? ....

This!

Hitler, Mussolini, Bin laden, Saddam.... and now Fritzl.

A name not difficult to remember. Especially if you work at a news channel. I think its because of the Z.

The day the news broke to the media, with alot less details than we now have of course, I was at work. I remember thinking "intriguing case, but with no pictures, should we mention it anyway? Is it newsworthy enough or simply an incest case among others?"

We decided to run the story anyway, and after seeing the reaction the story triggered all around me, I understood that it was important to talk about it. And then we got the details. A story so terrible that it is worse than any horror movie. A story that struck a cord with viewers, perhaps because it went beyond the worst imaginable things and touches upon the ultimate fear we all have, being locked up - in a windowless cellar and on top of that being tortured every day - for 24 years and by your own father!

However, I still think we should pause and think about how ready we are to reveal the most horrendous details and wonder if stolen pictures of the children of the Fritzl family, especially those hidden in the basement for so long should be shown to the world (these will eventually be caught on tape by the press waiting outside the psychiatric hospital of course). Should these images be broadcasted on all television channels 24/7, and be all over the news stands to become iconic forever? (like the twin towers, Saddam's execution, Tiananmen square? All these though had an important POLITICAL meaning) In this case we are dealing with human beings - and there is even more reason to protect their privacy after what they have been through. Of course, in terms of information is necessary to explain how this was possible, and also to study the effects this kind of treatment can have on people - But do we have to bear it all? Some will no doubt go into as much details as they can but I hope I wont be on duty when it comes to making the call at my channel. I am almost positive that whatever comes in - it will run because the competition is running it and because the audience wants it (well people also go to public executions in some countries, does that make it right?). However we might be opposed to it. I am almost positive our channel will make no difference, but I still have a tiny brand of hope.

I have been hearing about the meltdown of the Icelandic economy for a while now but everytime I ask someone who lives in Iceland or is Icelandic it never seems to worry them somehow. When a fellow journalist at my job asked me about contacts in Iceland to interview for a story I realised that no one really wanted to comment on this "slump" in the once believed to be fastest growing economy in the world. That it was not being seen as problematic by Icelanders themselves. Except that now they are starting to feel the heat of the soaring food prices, witnessing protests due to high oil cost (The word "protest" not existing in icelandic vocabulary for so many years) and panic is also being felt on the housing market. My own uncle - a real estate mogul even considering choosing another field - NOONE is selling or Buying. The Icelandic króna has always been a fluctuating currency but this time it seems different, What ever the "buzz" on the Island's tiny financial market.

By reading an article in the newyorker I finally understood. In the past, when people asked me about Iceland being one the richest countries in the world, I always had some scepticism of my own. What money? I certainly was not seeing alot of it despite having worked since the age of 14 - paying very high taxes and spending money I didn't have to make the best I could (the banks were so eager to lend me all that money as well) Avarage people there are not rich (there's no oil or gold in the ground) but we sure pretend to be. By borrowing money. Iceland has always lived on credit. And now its coming back to haunt us. The Icelandic economy relying so heavily on foreign investment (like other economies as well though) and since there is a global credit crunch on world markets, its affecting the Icelandic economy. All this because a few people predicted some down periods or that there might be an oil shortage in the near future - investors get weary - and it becomes more difficult to find funds to borrow money from. Could Iceland really become the first national casualty of the market crisis? All this due to the small size of the country and lack of resources? Prices continue to rise around the world you might be thinking but I always laugh when people complain of how expensive the "baguette" is becoming in France. "It costs around 1, 10 euro!itz Scandaleuz..."

How can you compare that with prices in Iceland?

Is it even possible to raise the price of chicken? - Two chicken breast already cost around 20-25 euros!!

No one probably knows where this is heading but Im sure glad that Im out of the credit loop and that I've closed down my Icelandic Visa card. Only have to pay my student loans now..

well for the next 60 years though...What a mess we're in.

Note to self: Remember to play the Lottery

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