Moving to Iceland

Sandymountgreen

Hello guys I've been long term homeless due to mental health issues, over the last 2 years I've gotten back working I am an engineer.

I was offered a move last week to Iceland flying this day week for 7 months then money while there will end homelessness for me when I return home.

Has anyone been before I'm moving to the East of Iceland which is quite remote. Very little to do, or spend money on so will be working 220 hours a month and on travel money could potentially have a sizeable deposit for a house when home.

Could you give me some idea of the way of life. Job have applied for my Kinnatala (insurance number) just need to get there now.

Any advice will be amazing.

greasepalm

I do wish you well and hope its not near any volcanoes that are running amok.

Sandymountgreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122184321#Comment_122184321

It's not thank god I'm moving to East Iceland Egilsstadir. No volcanoes haha

It's an amazing country. Very expensive so just accept that a main meal will cost what it costs in a restaurant.

Explore it while you can. It's summer with a lot of daylight.winter will roll along soon enough.

Hope it works out for you.

black & white

Spent a few days there before Christmas, fabulous country and has been said already extremely expensive. People are nice although a bit reserved so you might have to get out and about to make friends, plenty of activities to do if you’re into that. Best of luck with it.

igCorcaigh

That sounds like an amazing life changing opportunity, I hope you enjoy it, and I'm sorry to hear about your experience of homelessness.

Hopefully that will be behind you now, but do apply for Cluid or other housing associations right now for when you come back here to live. Plan ahead, and keep your health in check.

I know nothing about Iceland, so I have no advice to offer, but I wish you the best of luck. 🌻

Sandymountgreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122184875#Comment_122184875

I'm on the housing list quite a few years I will keep applying for my choice based lettings as I'm away. Hopefully by time it rolls around I'll be due to come home to a house if not I'll be quite well off either way.

magicbastarder

i once chatted to a lad who moved to iceland and got a job as a binman (his partner had gotten a job in a university there) and he said it was great - even as a binman, he had job benefits you wouldn't expect that sort of job to enjoy in ireland.

220 hours a month strikes me as quite the workload though!

Sandymountgreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122184968#Comment_122184968

I'm out in a fjord where there is literally nothing, no bars, 1 gym, 1 grocery store, and water ha.

55 hour weeks is fairly standard for most engineers working on utilities. In Iceland anything above 168 hours a month goes into overtime earnings. So want to come back here in a few months time with at least 20k saved

Brussels Sprout

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122185084#Comment_122185084

Given your history with mental health issues I hope that this sort of isolation will not have a negative affect on you, especially during the very long winter nights that far north. Might be worth doing some research into how other people combat that sort of thing in similar scenarios (such as the research scientist who go to Antarctica for example).

tohaltuwi

Tiny population in East Iceland, you are likely to get to know locals very well for all the upsides and downsides of that. Might be the best thing you e er do or might be a real struggle coping. Make sure you have mental health supports and access to medications, the local doctor etc, as might be needed.

On a positive people speak English fluently and in my experience of visiting are by nature very patient because they are used to nature’s obstacles. They are friendly in a quiet way, and experts probably used to dealing with mental health issues the way people living in relative isolation tend to be.

Jim2007

What exactly is your objective in going there? You mentioned having a deposit for a house, but the reality is that it won't make any difference to the banks, because you won't have a permanent job nor a the history of having had a permanent job. You mentioned that you have had mental health issues and you are not proposing to move to a remote location in another country where you don't speak the local language (I assume) what does your healthcare professionals think of the idea?

Have you lived abroad before? What is the backup plan if things go wrong and you want to bail? I have lived in Switzerland for over 30 years and I have seem lots of people come and go, some after a couple of months. Those that find themselves imbedded in a large expat community do fine because they have plenty of social interaction, but those who don't and end up in remote areas don't do so well because while English is widely spoken on a functional basis socializing is done in the local language and they are left out.

To me it does not sound like much of a plan if Ireland is where you want to establish yourself.

pgj2015

Maybe the op is an introvert and will be happy in their own company? not everyone needs to socialize.

tohaltuwi

https://island.is/en/o/hsa/mental-health-hsa

At least in theory they are set-up to support mental health in the region. And English is so well-spoken in Iceland that even young kids can converse with you. They are a truly multilingual nation.

https://visitreykjavik.is/news/yes-we-speak-english

Sandymountgreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122185163#Comment_122185163

I'm with my employer 2 years and I'm going there with them as a chief engineer to installation of Gas mains coming into the east of Iceland running off to salvage point on route to Greenland.

I worked for 7 years with my current employer before my breakdown after my masters. I will be financially in alot better place then most in Ireland when I come back home so homelessness will be done that's for sure.

From your post I understand you don't know alot about Iceland as in as far as People in Iceland speak English better then some folk in Ireland.

I am indeed nervous regards isolation, but I've huge supports in place my employer is well aware of my struggles. Financially it is a plan. It takes my wage from around the 50k mark or slightly under to nearly 90k annually. I cannot turn my nose up at this if you lived in my shoes for the last 10 years you'd make this move too.

Sandymountgreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122185118#Comment_122185118

Yes definitely I have all my supports in place and I've came off my medication 2 years ago in my recovery but will bring with me just to ensure if there is any relapse. But I am generally excited for the change. Life's been tough here.

tohaltuwi

Best of luck with it, and it is “first world” isolation, and a stunning place few get the opportunity to see. It’s going on my bucket list. The most scenic parts of Iceland are away from the area that was easiest to settle.

Sandymountgreen

Definitely this is my one concern I have spoken with a mental health group Reydarfjord which is 20 mins from where I'll be staying. They've several Irish and British members who are working in production and construction in the Fjords.

Sandymountgreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122185436#Comment_122185436

I am going to use this thread to update with pictures and stories. Like an online diary per se

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122185423#Comment_122185423

From your post I understand you don't know alot about Iceland as in as far as People in Iceland speak English better then some folk in Ireland.

Pretty much everyone in Switzerland under say 40 has a good command of English as do many people in mainland Europe for that matter, but that does not mean they want to socialise in a foreign language to accommodate one "Johnny Foreigner". I remember one English guy in particular who was well accommodated at the start, but he made no effort to learn the local language and we all just got tired of have to continually translate and speak English all the time, so pretty soon people just started to leave him off invites to lunch, parties etc…. People will accommodate you when it is work or you are doing business with them, but very often that does not translate into socializing that it the point I'm making.

Sandymountgreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122185662#Comment_122185662

Rubbish. Switzerland everyone speaks in English my 2 years there socialising and work in Lucerne nobody spoke anything other then English. Where are you living?

Sandymountgreen

Greetings from Iceland. View from my bedroom isn't too bad.

herbalplants

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122211364#Comment_122211364

Brilliant. It will do you good the change of scenery. Well done

Mo Ghile Mear

Hope it all works out well for you Sandymount. Lots of people would love to be in your shoes getting this shot at something completely different and adventurous. Do keep in touch here and let us know how you’re getting on.

Sandymountgreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122211458#Comment_122211458

I felt I owed it to myself to give it a shot if it doesn't work I can transfer home back to Dublin but where I stand at home at moment I'm homeless another statistic and not able to move forward. Here I've my own home, company car, a wage I'll never match at home

Oink

it sounds like an amazing fresh start. Just mind yourself, be aware of potential challenges, and then enjoy being reborn!

10-10-20

Well done. Rooting for you. Do keep up with the photos so we can almost travel with you.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122211364#Comment_122211364

Tell me what the prawns are like in Randulf's Sea House. 👍️

Sandymountgreen

Thank you so much for your support lads and ladies. It's heart warming.

Be back during the week with an update and pictures when I've settled in.

Akrasia

All the best over there. I'm actually really jealous

Glaceon

One of the owners of the company I work for is Icelandic and lives over here. He has often told me about how the Icelandic people are very direct with each other and it can come across as rude to the Irish. Just something to maybe keep in mind if you're going over.

Sandymountgreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122211931#Comment_122211931

I'm here 2 days they are lovely people so friendly so far. I'll update this week hahah could of changed

Sandymountgreen

Very surreal experience over here. I'm really feeling good and loving the move away from Dublin so far. In the area I'm in if you work for a company with a base in Iceland and you have a kinatalla (national insurance number) you get given a card like a swipe card. Shopping, and food eating out you swipe the card it comes out of your next taxable wage. This is lightyears ahead of anything I've ever seen in Europe.

Im never coming home.

WishUWereHere

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122238610#Comment_122238610

I’m glad for You.

WishUWereHere

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122238610#Comment_122238610

I’m glad for You.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122238610#Comment_122238610

I'd never of even dreamt that. So almost cuts out the bank altogether?

Sandymountgreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122238932#Comment_122238932

It's like a federal thing, so even thought we've all cash and money in our accounts we just swipe if we eat out or work canteen or lads go for beers and let it deduct at end of the month. I'm working 17 hour days home sleeping for 6 7 and back in. Money is golden.

I can't complain about anything the Icelandic people are absolutely amazing speak better English then we do.

Spanish Eyes

This is a great uplifting thread. Sandymount I am glad you are settling in well so far. I hope it continues and that you thoroughly enjoy the challenge. Best of luck to you, and do try and send an update every so often. Everyone on this thread is rooting for you. It takes courage to do what you are doing. Hats off to you and all the best.

John_Rambo

Fair play to you @Sandymountgreen, 17 hours a day!! Work your hole off if it fits well and reap the benifits. Great to see those engineering skills put to work. Great story.

Sandymountgreen

Cheers lads and lasses for a long time due to me own circumstances I felt alone. The little comments here just lift me up so much you guys are amazing you have no idea how a comment can change my day. Thank you chat to you all in a week with some more photos and stories.

.Donegal.

I’m jealous. Enjoy yourself

Sir Galahad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122185775#Comment_122185775

Absolutely. My daughter lives in Zurich and doesn’t speak German Italian or Swiss and loves her life there.

greasepalm

You now have a meaningful life as your feeling important and liking what your doing .

Feeling good in what your doing with a roof , a job , people to talk to , and making money.

Keeping it up is giving you a new life and congratulations on your move.

Musicrules

Stumbled across this thread. Great stuff. Best of luck out there. Iceland sounds amazing. I hope you get to travel around a bit too. Also lovely to see the encouragement of others on this thread (apart from 1 mod), this is the way boards.ie should be. Keep us updated on all the various elements of life in Iceland and enjoy yourself.

sydthebeat

Im quite jealous @Sandymountgreen

I've been to Iceland a couple of times and absolutely love it over there. No other place in earth like it. Yes winter can be challenging due to the lack of sun, but the cold weather brings it's own unique kind of beauty and changes the landscape totally from what you get in summer.

Extremely well done on your decision to go there. Any change like that must feel very daunting, the unknown is a scary place.

We're all rooting for you back here, and if times get tough we'll do anything we can to help

herbalplants

Amazing news, so glad for you. Keep posting.

Patrick2010

Great story, best of luck!

tohaltuwi

Icelanders are highly educated people who have learned great patience from negotiating the elements of nature. I’ve twice been on a tour bus that turned around back to town to collect tourists who had changed their mind about going on an excursion. There are not many places that would happen.

gipi

@Sandymountgreen fair play to you, I wish you all the best in your new life.

Look forward to hearing more as the year progresses

Sandymountgreen

Hello from Eskifjordur. So once you get use to sun not setting this place is beautiful. Possibly the safest and most content I can ever remember. This is my little spot I come to chill out. A few of the Irish lads are going to Glaciers out beyond the Fjords this weekend so will take the Saturday off and head out.

Although sun is in the sky 12-17 degree is temps and its a lil harsher then Irish cold. Winter will be a different matter all together. But I'm loving my time here. In the east, bread is baked out door in the black sand at the side of Geothermal pools, everyone knows everyone's first name considering there is only 890 people in our village. I'll get some videos and pictures this weekend to update. I can't recommend Iceland enough the place is a little bit magical. I hope everyone is well at home.

MacDanger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122252585#Comment_122252585

Looks class. Will be following with interest. You should consider keeping a diary (or a blog if you prefer it to be public) for yourself, I'm sure it would be interesting for you to read back on in the future