By BRIAN TYNES

Staff Writer

Hae hverning hefur thu thath.

Anyone who understands Icelandic has just been greeted in the language.

Finnur Emilsson Fenger, a senior architecture major from Iceland, found Tech through a few of his schoolmates.

"I was going to a boarding school in Sweden and I knew a couple of guys that came over here, so they pretty much recruited me," Fenger said. "They told the coach about me and he liked my track times."

Fenger no longer runs for the track team, but he said the hardest adjustment involved meeting team requirements in a new climate.

"I came here in August and I was supposed to run 60 miles a week so the humidity was the biggest thing," Fenger said. "It's much drier [in Iceland]."

The nice weather gives plenty of opportunity for recreational activity.

"Soccer is the biggest thing," Fenger said.

Fenger said he received an American sports education by watching postseason baseball.

"I was just getting to know baseball this weekend watching the World Series," Fenger said. "I just learned baseball seeing the Boston Red Sox win."

Fenger also said he is learning American football because, "I don't have cable right now and football is the only thing on TV."

Even though the sports cultures are a world apart, Fenger said Icelanders are fond of American music and television. "There is a high interest in music so we get all the American hit lists," Fenger said. But music is not the only popular culture staple that is enjoyed on the island.

"Icelandic people are crazy about the movies," Fenger said. "It gets really dark in the winter and people work a lot so they go out a lot and want to do something to boost their spirits."

Fenger said the style of clothing is a little different in Iceland.

"Iceland has always been kind of isolated and the people make a deal out of it to stay updated on all issues." Fenger said.

"If there is some new technology, everyone has to have it, fashion especially because people want to stay trendy."

Fenger said the major difference in education is college students in the United States are required to take courses in a variety of areas.

"When you go to college if you go for engineering, you only do engineering classes."

Despite notable differences, Fenger said many parallels can be drawn between Iceland and the United States such as high living standards, emphasis on education, healthcare and fast food restaurants.

He also said "see-ya" is a common farewell in Iceland, or as Icelanders might say, "Sjbumst."