Dear Christine,

Somewhere far below there are mountains and valleys. Perhaps they were once green, or yellow -green- brown as the grasslands are right now. Then, for many years, it has been snowing. Layer upon layer upon layer, it has been filled. Fresh snow has been packed and by its own weight pressed together and formed firn. Firn is a type of hard-packed snow, a cross between snow and ice, and is much coarser. It may take up to a hundred years for snow to be converted to this type. Then, if this process is allowed to proceed the firn crystals are pressed further together and glacier ice is formed.

I stood on a glacier today. Around me white and more white. We came up there in a huge jeep with an experienced driver. The gigantic tires sank deep into the snow and we had to constantly go back and take new speed. At a snail's pace the snow was pressed together under the tires and we could get a few more meters. Recent weather had spread a thick blanket of snow on the glacier and then put a hard glaze of snow crust on top. I've been drinking coffee at worse places... On the way back the driver told us about when the Americans came to Iceland to practice before they went to the moon because it was thought that Iceland's lava and volcanic landscape was the closest you could get to how it looked there. If this was true, I have no idea but when I read about glaciers, it turns out that they believe they have evidence that there are such on Mars. Thus, I'm now more ready than before for space travels. And sometimes I actually get the urge to just get out of here, leave this planet and the high proportion of narrow-minded idiots who populate it. The desire appeared today at lunch. The otherwise very sympathetic and pleasant driver replied to the question of how crime statistics in Iceland looks like, by saying that "It's quite low but we have foreigners." This was followed by a conversation about how foreigners are stealing and destroying. In addition, he received support from others in the party who filled in with their racist views. But worst of all was that I didn't say anything. I sat quietly. My ridiculous politeness (I was invited on this trip and found myself in the guest role) and faintness prevented me. So this idea to escape out into outer space will probably not work so well, since one of all the idiots is me.

I hope all is well with you my friend and that we'll meet soon.

Love,
Johanna