Chapter Twenty: Iceland

Iceland’s 3,000-mile coastline is surrounded by water: the Greenland Sea to the north, the Norwegian Sea to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west. The world’s second largest island, Iceland is a rugged country of geophysical wonders—spouting geysers, frequent earthquakes, miles-long glaciers, and erupting volcanoes. According to folklore, the country’s most famous volcano, Hekla, at almost 1,500 miles high, was believed to have hidden one of the gates to hell. Iceland is also a land of midnight sun. Each June the sun shines for almost 24 hours a day; each December, it’s dark for about the same amount of time. After long ties to Denmark, Iceland was declared a Republic in 1944.

What Time Is It in Iceland?

Iceland is five hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. When it’s 10 a.m. in Washington, D.C., then it’s 3 p.m. in Iceland.

People

The Norwegians and Vikings were the first to permanently settle Iceland more than 1,000 years ago, and the people of Iceland today are still racially and ethnically similar. Most of Iceland’s people live near the coast, the only habitable area in the country. Here, many of the Icelanders earn a living by catching fish or working in the fish processing plants. The coastal area also supports plant life, which enables many to raise sheep. (Icelanders eat more sheep and fish than anyone does in the world.) The largest city and capital, Reykjavík, is home to about half of the population. The rest have settled in villages and small towns dotted around the island. Icelanders are great readers and linguists, most speaking two or more foreign languages, including Danish, English, German, and Swedish.

Doing Business in Iceland

If you’re planning to do business in Iceland, then here are a few tips you might want to know.

Greetings

• Shaking hands is customary. You might also want to add the expression, Sael (to a woman) and Saell (to a man), which means "Blessed."
• Icelanders expect to be addressed by their last names and a title. Don’t initiate first-name use.

Gestures

• It’s impolite to eat on the street. Ice cream and hot dogs are the exceptions to the rule.
• When dining out, don’t tip your waitress or waiter. Tipping was once considered an insult. Now service charges are included in the bill.

Protocol

• It’s not necessary to make business appointments. "Dropping in" is acceptable.
• Ability is considered more important than one’s position or station in life. Don’t try to impress.
• It’s important to dress neatly and well.
• Icelanders are proud of their country. Good conversation starters include topics on the country’s history, culture, and absence of crime.

Want to know more about Iceland?

Visit www.iceland.org or www. Britannica.com.