mmm... cheesesteak!

Countries, countries, countries... such a peculiar concept. Rarely contain natural borders, we even have different perceptions of the countries we live in, and even might consider ourselves to be earthlings rather than citizens of a nation!



Even so, or exactly for that reason, I find it extremely interesting to hear people talking about "their" country. What's good, what's bad... and pretty pictures. Even if you live or originate from one of the bigger countries we, or at least I, still want to hear what you think about your country rather than just the normal media description.



Considering which forum we are on, it'd also be quite fun to hear how you imagine your country eventually will manage to colonize other planets, asteroids, moons and the likes together or in competition with other countries.



So, I'll start with my "country" Føroyar or the Faroe Islands.- Albeit I live in Scotland at the moment.



The Faroe Islands are located here:





and the islands are placed in this daggerish formation.



The Faroes are a small country technically belonging to the Danish Kingdom. But I advice you not to call us Danish anymore than calling a Scotsman English. If you accidentally say a Faroese is Danish, be prepared to run and run quickly.



There are about 50.000 people in the Faroes, meaning that we are no bigger than an average small city. Still most Faroese dream of one day being an independent country, even though there is some disagreement when it comes to when we should become independent, mainly due to around 5 - 10% of our GDP, depending on how you set up the maths, originating from Danish subsidies. As it is we are more independent than Scotland, but we don't have an army or much of a foreign ministry.



Culturally we are hyperactive compared to our size. We have a metal group called Týr, which likes to remake ancient Faroese folk melodies, here singin one of my favourites Sinklar's vísa. There are those like Orka delving into more experimental rock, more traditional rock/trip hop if you prefer the band called Clickhaze, brilliant folk singers like Hanus G. Johansen, relaxing feel good music like Eyðun og Terji, singer songwriter music like Teitur Lassen or if you are more into emo punk it is The Dreams you want to listen to. At the moment though, I would say that my favourite artists are the doom metal band Hamferð, which is one of my favourite bands even internationally, and Petur Pólson's somewhat alternative rock.



As you might have gathered by now I could go on and on when it comes to Faroese music, we even have our own symphony orchestra. While it might sound strange that 50.000 people produce tons of good quality music it is not quite as incredible as it seems to be. Music lessons are free until you are 20 years old and available to anyone who wants them, many foreign musicians have decided to make the Faroe Islands their home and the fact that we are so few as we are means that everyone who wants to play music gets to play music and has an audience. Even I, playing the tuba, have tried playing with a locally extremely well liked punk band (I hate their music, to be honest) and a pretty popular singer songwriter (the aforementioned Teitur) at the most popular festival up here, the G! Festival, which has gotten very good reviews in for instance Financial Times, The Guardian and Clash. The reason for me playing with two so different groups at a festival is not that I am a top notch professional player. I was just available to play and they needed a tuba player.



Music is far from our only culture, but that is what I find most interesting. When it comes to painting we have some dead painters which were quite good but mostly we haven't moved artistically the last 40 years, so I will refrain from torturing you on that area. Some brilliant actors, some brilliant film makers but mostly mediocre. Guess that is the same in most small societies. The one really interesting thing culturally, apart from music, might be our food. We eat dried fish, half rotten fish, pilot whales, sea birds, half rotten sheep meat, sheep intestines filled with blood and flour, sheep heart, head, liver and pretty much whatever sheep you can think except the marrow and brain due to the possibility of disease.



I probably should mention that Faroese generally are obsessed with football. Personally I hate it and think we are embarrassingly bad at the game, but people insist on mentioning how we "almost" beat Italy, Germany and such, that we beat Scotland sometimes and that we beat Austria when they were champions... 20 years ago. I pretend to be Icelandic whenever the Faroese football team is in the UK.



Politically it is a mess back at home at the moment. Good economic situation compared to other countries, but horrible, horrible politicians making Thatcher look like a left of centre politician. Needless to say, it seems like that situation is about to boil over with the polls showing a huge swing towards the left of centre, the strong unions becoming political again and the left as a whole uniting. Will be quite an exciting time back home the next few months, being as the last poll checking whether people agreed with the policies of that government said that less than 20% of the people agree with the policies.



Pictures - the forum only allows me to post 4 images, so I'll just provide links to the others:







Saksun, one of the more beautiful areas in the Faroes. Easy to get to if you don't mind a bumpy road. Generally our houses don't look like that although even some of the modern ones do have grass on the roof.



http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/03/25/travel/25faroe600.1.jpg



The island out there is called Nólsoy. I would guess around 2/3 of the Faroese can see that island from where they live.







Don't know the name of the tiny islet, but the small island is Tindhólmur and the larger one Vágoy. Tindhólmur features as the hiding place for a fictional power hungry Faroese the childrens' radio used to tell stories about when I was a child.



http://i.ytimg.com/vi/MQjiCEJXiNg/0.jpg



Mind you, the weather is far from always good in the Faroe Islands. Some say there are 4 seasons in a single day. Might begin with sun, then rain, then fog, then snow and then sun again. That particular picture is from one of our frequent winter storms. While it would blow most mainland houses away, we build for the storms so we usually don't have much damage.- However, when I was home this Christmas my uncle and I ended up running into a car and driving away like mad while the roof of a collapsing warehouse was chasing us...







Night is probably the time I like best up here. I once ended up in a village 25 kilometres from home at 2 o clock in the night, was supposed to be in a party but the sky was nice and I felt like biking. Needless to say my mates solemnly declared me to be crazy.



http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd319/mailcmw/getalookatthis/cwglt-080207-faroe-island12.jpg



The origin of the Patursson family. One of the driving forces in the national awakening in the Faroes 80 - 100 years ago.



http://www.photosfan.com/images/faroe-islands-aurora-borealis-over-trshavn-at-nigh1.jpg



Tórshavn at night. Capitol of the Faroes and my home city.





Colonization of Space

As for the conquest of space the Faroese contribution will be simple, yet elegant. We don't have many natural resources, so we will build our ship with a combination of driftwood, wool and sheep intestines (cleaned, of course). We have an abundance of clean natural energy surrounding our islands, however, all of that energy will be spent powering our gaming and TV habits. Actually propelling our spaceship up, up and away will be musicians. In shifts, half of the population shall be playing harmonic tunes being directed by some sort of astro-physicist who constantly does the maths on how we should play in order for the soundwaves to drive us forward. This will fail miserably, but we won't notice it being as we will be caught in the slipstream of Iceland's volcano powered spaceship lifting us up into space. After that we will be discussing whether or not to follow Denmark for a couple of decades, until we notice that all the other humans have left earth long ago and just decide to go back down to the somewhat less crowded planet.

I'm pleased to say that the only international football game I ever attended was in Aberdeen (temporary home of Justice).



It was Scotland vs the Faroe islands and Scotland won!!! Woop woop! Scotland 1 Faroe islands nil!



Please see the above picture of beautiful Aberdeen!



*edit* oh and please visit our wonderful beaches:



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/6504431.stm

The hell... What? Radioactive beaches? I like walking down there! Well, that explains how I am able to read while it is dark.



As for the football - did I tell you I really am from Iceland? :-)

Justice wrote:
The hell... What? Radioactive beaches? I like walking down there! Well, that explains how I am able to read while it is dark.



As for the football - did I tell you I really am from Iceland? :-)

Oh well! At least we've still got our special beaches



have you ever been into Aberdeen by train, travelling in from the direction of Inverness? It's a sight to behold. Reminds me of a favela.

abredeen is a grate city

znork wrote:
abredeen is a grate city

Did yo mean a granite city? In all fairness I was born in Aberdeen and during my late teenage/ young adult years lived there for around 5 years. It's not as bad as i'm making it out but it does have a LOT of flaws.

Beautiful landscapes.

Will we have such brilliant art design for close planet views ?

Got a proposal for the Cravers Homeworld:

VieuxChat wrote:
Beautiful landscapes.

Will we have such brilliant art design for close planet views ?

Please guys, for this topic please stay on topic. Its nice when ppl present their home country.



Here is sweden in a nutshell

ill just shere a basic insturicnal video on norwy



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebqdwQzmSHM

Alderbranch wrote:
Here is sweden in a nutshell

lol at what the Americans think you do

Alderbranch wrote:
Please guys, for this topic please stay on topic. Its nice when ppl present their home country.



Here is sweden in a nutshell

Lovely... and the last one is sadly very true... swedes on a buss are insanly philosofic staring out the window

Deyja wrote:
Lovely... and the last one is sadly very true... swedes on a buss are insanly philosofic staring out the window

Not only that. You can save two minutes...

Was born in this country:



Got bored and moved to this country:



Couldn't resist and moved again, to here:



And now I live in this country:





As you see, I don't particularly hold to the idea of "my country is greatest".

I think the whole world is great!

The ideas of nationhood and the importance there of, only comes to mind with me, when thinking of a good passport.

e.g. One that requires the least amount of visa's to travel anywhere in the world.

So far have discovered that a Dutch one is pretty decent, who hates the Dutch?

And that a Japanese one is pretty awesome! 90 Days free in Europe, a minimum of 15 days in ASEAN countries, and a few more perks like that.

As for the Faroe Isle lands, would love to visit.

Planning a trip "home" for next July/August.

Might take a stroll and a small row boat ride and have a look around.

I think your final country choice is the best

Excellent thread! Here is my life, according to foods:

Born here:



Lived here for five years:



Have been here for 15 years:



But always sort of hoped that I could have a meal like this:

Thank you Slowhands: I am hungry now.

What Ronan doesn't bake you a cake everyday ? ><



More seriously....



I come from :





I live here:



Or if you want it a tad more romantic:



From:



To:



Voili-Voilou

Steph'nie wrote:
Thank you Slowhands: I am hungry now.