Iceland

     According to the yesterday's TV news, Iceland are about to go bankrupt now. If Iceland were a company or a household, I would understand or imagine how it could be. However, Iceland is a country that is a member of the UN. What will become of Iceland. I was thinking something like that during the last night's dinner. At that time, I came up with a great idea suddenly. "Go and see Iceland!" I felt someone shouted behind me. The strong yen would be favorable to me.
     My youngest daughter, A, was in front of me and I suggested her, "How about going Iceland with me?" She replied, "Yes" in a snap. I was surprised by her reply because she had never taken my advice or suggestions since this time last year. I think that she has been in the phase that many teenagers must pass through. Anyway, the last time that she had answered "Yes" clearly was when I told her about the ski in Whistler. (The pictures of 2008 Whistler are posted in the left column of this blog.)
     I looked for discount tickets on the internet and found that the price was not so high. Spring wouldn't be a high season in Iceland. The climate of the land of Ice would be so harsh, I guess. In the morning, when I asked A her schedule of next spring break, my wife screamed, "Wasn't last night's story kind of a joke?" "No, I'm serious," I answered. She continued, "A is preparing for university exams. Are you insane?" Finally, our half-made plan was stopped.
     Hang on! My wife just said, "It wasn't good for A, not me." I'm thinking that I would take my first or second daughter with me. My first daughter can speak French and my second daughter, German. At least both are better speakers than I am. I mean both are convenient in Europe. My wife doesn't know this idea is still smoldering in my mind.

(Vocabulary)
Hang on  待てよ
smolder  くすぶる

　昨日のテレビニュースによると、アイスランドは破産寸前だという。もし、アイスランドが会社か家庭であれば、なんとなく想像はできる。しかし、アイスランドは国連にも加盟しているれっきとした国家である。アイスランドはどうなってしまうのだろう。昨夜の夕食を食べながらそんなことを考えていた。そのとき、突然ある考えが浮かんだ。「行って見てくればいいじゃないか。」誰かが後ろでそう叫んだような気がした。円高が僕を後押ししてくれている。

　三女の杏里が目の前に座っていた。「一緒にアイスランドへ行ってみるか?」と問うと、瞬時に答えが返ってきた。イエスと。この１年、ほとんど口をきかなかった杏里からの返事だったので驚いた。思うに、まだ思春期の難しい時期にあるのだろう。この前にこのような返事を聞いたのは去年、ウィスラーへ誘ったときだった。(左の欄にそのときの写真を載せている。)　ネットで格安チケットを探すとそう高くはない。春先はまだハイシーズンではなく、気候はまだ厳しいだろう。
　今朝、杏里に来春の予定を確認すると、カミさんが「昨晩の話は冗談ではなかったの?」と聞く。「いいや、本気」と答えると、「杏里は受験ですよ。」と一言。結局我々二人の半分できかかっていた計画はつぶれた。

　しかし、待てよ。カミさんが言ったのは、杏里には都合が悪い、であって自分ではない。長女か次女を連れて行くことにしたらいいではないか。長女はフランス語を使える、次女はドイツ語だ。少なくともこれら二言語は僕よりうまい。つまりこの二人を連れて行くと便利だと言うこと。
　カミさんはまだこの計画が僕の脳裏にくすぶっていることを知らない。

Comments

[Sarah]

I have always wanted to go to Iceland! I think that it is a beautiful place. Good blog. If you go to Iceland please upload some pictures. I would love to see them.