Apples, oaks and (mis)translations

Ever tried translating sayings into another language? Imagine from the point of view of a non-native English speaker (sorry all non-native English speakers but this is to make a point): Picture the scene and translating this:

Poor, withered old codger, he popped his clogs and they all thought it was just old age. His old lady though knew that the others were barking up the wrong tree. You see, his niece had this butter wouldn´t melt in her mouth look. She was sweet, pretty with big blue eyes and an innocent air but somehow the old lady just never took to her... just said "I´m not going to bother beating around the bush at my age, she´s not my cup of tea and thats that". Maybe when you are someone´s niece you have some sway with the will-writing plans and this idea just wouldn´t budge from the widow´s head. But would anyone believe her, an old lady, slightly not there in the head, long since lost her glow? She didn´t think so."Lost the last of her marbles with grief and years of bottled up jealousy" they´d say. That girl was going to run off with all the gold and get off scot free.

And, haven´t you always wondered, what was the "best thing before sliced bread?"

In Iceland you can say "Ég borga bara með reiðufé" mistranslating to "I will only pay with an angry sheep", "Hver á þessa bók?" being "Hot spring river this book" or "Hann stóð á öndinni", "He stood on the duck". In Iceland also no apple falls far from the oak tree! Apparently. But then apples are giant heavy American ones with little taste and oak trees are few and far between.

Here is the ever-present issue about how much one understands as a foreigner in a country. I always wondered if many foreign students I met were desperately shy or had little sense of humour but I realise being in Iceland and often being lost in conversations that it is really hard work listening to a foreign language you are not fluent in. Add sleepiness or background music and it is virtually impossible. So.. one can easily become quiet and drift off in conversations to a dreamy world of ones own and rarely will you laugh at jokes or crack your own. It takes a determined and outgoing person to avoid this trap. Things get better though and after a phase of being silent as your learn some words yourself, feeling lacking in a sense of humour and being really frustrated, once in a while you'll laugh out loud at something or answer wittily to some over-blunt Icelandic comment and my, it is nice to feel more part of things. It is like being released from some sort of cage.

"Epli og eikur" (apples and oaks) is a new musical production from the theatre group Hugleikur, written by Þórunn Guðmundsdóttir. I went with Óli to the premier last Friday. It is a twisty-turny story of love and confusion and criminal activity.Even foreigners can follow the plot and get at least one pet worm joke. Many of the songs and jokes are constructed on plays on words so that is difficult, but very funny if you get it.. and if you don't there are always the slap-stick moments and the musical interludes that will keep you amused. If you can go, do.. Möguleikhúsið near Hlemmur for the next few weeks. This is of course a blatant plug for a play with my boyfriend and the two English gentlemen in so I´m not particularly objective. But it is fun. Truly. The music is fun and the acting is really professional. They are another bunch of super-talented musicians and artists, jacks of all the entertainment trades (almost) and masters of many. Möguleikhús is really intimate so you feel like you are in someone´s living room. It´s cosy and nice. I´ll go again.