Is there discrimination in Iceland?

I HAVE never experienced any form of discrimination in Iceland, no the Icelanders are too polite for that. They are straightforward folk with the highest birth rate in Northern Europe who are open-minded enough not to refuse same gender unions. Screw the moralists, so they say.

Of course, there is no discrimination in Iceland. My employer and labor union are both scrupulous about following wage laws. In fact, my employer has tried to make me a permanent employee but was refused by the Utlendigastofnun (Bureau of Immigration). Never mind that I try to be a goofy good worker and actually employed before I arrived.

Who says Icelanders are intolerant? In an effort to help me adjust, I have been made to understand that learning the language is vital and because of this, my employer has paid for Icelandic language courses that I truly need to take. I go to work feeling guilty for explaining myself in the language I know best. I say to myself that sounding ignorant is a temporary thing (3 years being the time needed to grasp the language…yes, not learn it in its entirety). It is a sink or swim proposition when it comes to understanding Icelandic.

How can there be discrimination in Iceland? Laws are passed and a minister appointed to oversee immigrant concerns. There is even a cultural center that provides translator services, immigrant activities (heck, there is even a bingo night), a multilingual magazine even an in-house lawyer. At the moment, I am even attending a course called The Settler’s School. It has advanced Icelandic, an introductory computer course, some Icelandic history, geography, a couple of visits to the library, a token hello to the big dogs at the Alþingi (we are supposed to be suitably impressed) and of course, a night at the theatre. The computer course is sooo much fun. They are teaching us how to use Word, how to do an internet search (you just have to use Google Iceland) and other sundry stuff that are IMPORTANT. I am told that I am in the wrong course because I probably know too much about MS Word. I think not. There is no other course that will teach me something about Iceland. I am in the curious netherworld of wanting to improve myself at work but cannot because all the courses are in Icelandic and I know only enough to function. Repeat: It’s a sink or swim thing.

I am getting used to being part of a minority. The brown-skinned group from that part of the world called Asia. I have learned to ignore the pained face of that snot-nosed kid who sees a different face in the checkout counter. No darling, I whisper to myself, you don’t need to speak Filipino.

And yes, there is no discrimination in Iceland. The only time I remember something resembling such was a snide aside strangely enough made by another foreigner trimming hedges. He mockingly called out to me in fake Chinese. It sadly negated the beauty of his blue black skin. Funny boy, so proud of his ignorance. It did not even remotely sound like the literary rhythm I learned to love in China.

No complaints really from my end. People like me are “new” to this part of the world. How I live is different and anything different is a scary thing. You need to learn to harden your heart against the beauty of this land.

Loving an Icelander is also not an option. Otherwise, you will have to stay and know in your soul of souls that your children will also see the pained face of that snot nosed kid in the checkout counter.

Once more, there is no discrimination in Iceland. In fact, it is the happiest country in the world.