Did you ever have to jostle at work for a project you really wanted?
Guaranteed there was jostling on my third grade team
when it came time to teach our geography unit on Europe.
Usually we team taught this unit, dividing countries among us
and teaching our chosen countries to all of our students
who rotated from teacher to teach in class groups.
That way each teacher prepared lessons for only one or two countries,
while the students got to know all the teachers, and we got to know all the students.
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First Glimpse of My Chosen Country
June 11, 2014
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
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My colleagues jostled over who would get to teach France, Italy,
the United Kingdom, or other popular countries.
Me? No jostling. No one ever clamored for Iceland but me.
I wanted Iceland for three big reasons, all contained in this photo:
First, Iceland has the oldest surviving Parliament in the world, the Althing.
It dates back to 930 AD, and in 1930, on the Althing's 1000th anniversary,
Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park was established on the site
where the Althing met until 1798.
Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park
June 12, 2014
Photo by Terry Barbour
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved
It dates back to 930 AD, and in 1930, on the Althing's 1000th anniversary,
Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park was established on the site
where the Althing met until 1798.
19th-century rendering of the Law Rock in Þingvellir
by W.G. Collingwood
Second, I loved the delicious irony that Iceland is not continental.
It is oceanic and straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Even if no one else in the world found humor in this (including Terry),
I took great delight in it.
It is oceanic and straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Even if no one else in the world found humor in this (including Terry),
I took great delight in it.
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The Trace of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge Rift Valley
Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park
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Third, I'm a geologist, and the one story I remember from my grade two reader
was about an Icelandic family that went on a picnic
and boiled eggs in a hot spring near a geyser for their lunch.
I fell in love with Iceland, its marvelous landscapes, and its geology.
Right then and there, all of eight years old, I swore that I would go to Iceland.
was about an Icelandic family that went on a picnic
and boiled eggs in a hot spring near a geyser for their lunch.
I fell in love with Iceland, its marvelous landscapes, and its geology.
Right then and there, all of eight years old, I swore that I would go to Iceland.
The Calm Before an Eruption
Geysir, Iceland
June 12, 2014
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved
The Geyser Erupts
Geysir, Iceland
June 12, 2014
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
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standing in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge Rift Valley,
with my hand on the North American tectonic plate
where the Althing met for hundreds and hundreds of years.
Am I thrilled or what?
I never had the opportunity to boil eggs in a hot spring,
but I did something even better.
I soaked in the Blue Lagoon with Terry,
a man-made pool heated by geothermal water from the Mid-Atlantic Rift.
The Blue Lagoon
Iceland
June 14, 2014
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved
Terry
Blue Lagoon, Iceland
June 14, 2014
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved
Me (Louise)
Blue Lagoon, Iceland
June 14, 2014
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved
I always had a blast teaching Iceland to the kiddos.
I covered everything required by our curriculum and standards,
but I squeezed in a lot of extra material, especially geological.
My goal was to awaken my students wonder about our amazing planet and how it works.
And I'm sure there's more than one kiddo who became passionate about geology
and promised himself or herself a trip to Iceland someday.
It's important to keep those early promises you make.
Till next time ~
Fundy Blue
Happy in Iceland ~ A Promise Kept
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Fundy Blue
Happy in Iceland ~ A Promise Kept
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Isn't our world just amazing?
ReplyDeleteI am glad to have read this and that you taught about this exceptional place to the class.
The Blue Lagoon...do you remember that movie? Brooke Shields. Was it named after this place? Because in the movie nothing was blue. 😀
And...is that salt from the water on your faces?
Thanks for your comment, Sandi! You've given me a topic for next week's post. I can see that I didn't add enough information. The white on our faces is silica mud. The movie and the pool are not connected. I hope all is well with you!
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What a FANTASTIC post! I want to go to Iceland with you and Terry!!
ReplyDeleteNow, I did the same thing as a kid with wait for it...FRANCE!
I did, it had to be an oral report on a country and you had to make a map also. I remember standing up and pointing out Paris and speaking of "The City of Lights" and then, I spoke of France during the Occupation of WW2 and how they hid the art from the Nazis and of the D-Day landings and how grateful the French were to the Americans. And I spoke of castles and champagne and lavender and the artists and Pasteur and....why, at the end of it, my fellow students were staring at me with open mouths. And then, there was a giggle. The teacher said, "You really fell in love with France, didn't you Kay?" (That was followed by that giggle.) Going back to my seat, one of my friends said, "THAT was a great report." That helped from having to hear snickers!
Hi, Kay! I love the memory you shared. I can see the interests you share in your blog go way back to that report, obviously even earlier ~ all that WWII history and heroes of the resistance. I will never forget my fist glimpse of the Eiffel Tower. I had shivers right down to my toes at the sight. I absolutely love the City of Lights, and I long to return. All the best to you, my friend!
DeleteThat's wonderful you got to travel there and see everything you'd only read about. I would love to soak in those hot springs.
ReplyDeleteThose hot springs are marvelous for your skin, Diane. The water makes you feel fabulous. It can do a number on your hair though You have to make sure your thoroughly wash it all out or your hair will be brittle. I long to return! Have a great weekend, my friend!
DeleteIceland is such an interesting country. I was there only a day--in 2011--when on a Holland America cruise from Europe to the US with stops in Ireland, Faroe Islands (my favorite), Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland. It was incredible--I took the trip to the rift instead of the blue lagoon soak, but I was so amazed and would love to go back. As a geologist, it's easy to see why you picked Iceland.
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Hi, Jeff! I'm glad that you enjoyed Iceland. It truly is an incredible place. I would have loved your cruise. I owe myself a trip to Newfoundland and Greenland, because I now have walked/hiked well over 6,000 miles since I retired. I think I've "walked" all around Greenland by now, but I haven't tallied it on a map for a while. The never-ending "ToDo" list! Have a great weekend, my friend!
DeleteWow, amazing! You've actually been to Iceland. What a great trip.
ReplyDeleteHi, Martha! I dearly love Iceland! I long to return. I would love to see it on December 21st when it's mostly dark. I hope that your week has gone well. All the best to you and George!
DeleteI didn't know that about Iceland.I will have to use that on my new Neko Random and give you credit
ReplyDeleteYou bet, Adam! All the best to you and Daisy!
DeleteThat is great that you taught and inspired the kiddos, at least a few hopefully, to go want to visit. I always liked when teachers when above and beyond the curriculum. Felt you actually learned more then. Cooking eggs may be a let down after having fun in the warmth there. Great that you held onto that dream and got to go indeed.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pat! Now if I could just get caught up and stay caught up. I've just reread your "The Connective" and "The Disconnective." Now I'm enjoying "The Elusive." maybe that's why I'm falling so behind ~ LOL! You can spin a tale, my friend!
DeleteI haven't made it to Iceland YET but I want to go! My favourite factoid about the Althing Parliament is that, in the pre-literate Viking society, the Law Speaker recited FROM MEMORY all the laws of Iceland and that's how people knew what the rules were. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteYou'll get there, Debra! You must! That is an amazing fact. We have lost that ability, I fear.
DeleteA geologist's dream, I can see our grandson there. He us in the last year if a masters and already has a position with a geology firm starting next March. They do work worldwide so who knows what is ahead.will update where I am after dr rounds, think it might be going home as they have almost decided not cardiac at all
ReplyDeleteHow frustrating for you ~ all the doctors second guessing. But likely it's a relief! Congrats to your grandson on landing a job. Geology is fabulous. Take care, my friend!
DeleteYour love for Iceland parallels to my love for Japan and I also went above and beyond the basics. Passing on a passion is often a spark for a few students as they move on and seek to explore for themselves.
ReplyDeleteHi, Heidrum! How I would love to visit Japan! It's a fascinating country and culture ~ not too bad for geology either. Take care!
DeleteThis did me good to read Louise, loved the photo's also.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
I'm so glad to hear this, Yvonne. I've been struggling this past week or so, hence I'm so behind. I hope you are doing well hanging in there and that you're extra careful as the UK opens up.
DeleteIceland caught my eye a while back too. It's a fascinating place. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Hi, Anna! I want to go back to Iceland so much! Right now a trip to the grocery store is an exciting and unusual event. Take care!
DeleteI think if your colleagues had actually been to Iceland, they would have clamored for teaching that instead. I've been a lot of places, but Iceland was by far the most beautiful. But, I am sure you were the best lady for the job. I think you love Iceland as much, if not more, than I did!
ReplyDelete