Never smile at a stranger. They will think you are about to start a conversation and it will freak them out. This is from Henna who likes to pass as an Icelander when walking to and from class.

It is always hard to understand the nuances of a different culture. It is almost impossible to do so when unable to understand a single word from that culture. So we misread everything. The Icelandic families at the pool seemed unfriendly to us. They did not return our smiles unless they had something to say. Now we understand why.

The best part of returning to Reykjavik of course is seeing Henna. Henna loves the city. That she feels comfortable in St. Paul is one thing. That she also knows Reykjavik is impressive.

The third act of our summer trip begins tomorrow (Tetons, the Westfjords and other such places and soon Paris). It will be the first time the three of us will be separated by an ocean. Feels good though knowing Henna feels at home here in a small city where life thrives just below the Arctic Circle.