The two met while working for the same gymnasium. David held a management position at the facility. The pair shared a love for perfect healthy bodies, and indeed, they both possessed almost Greek-god-like physiques! David later confessed he was smitten by Fjóla’s Nordic height and physical shape, combined with her Icelandic beauty.
The two married in Africa and then headed off to the north. David’s mother thought (as many think about Iceland), that it is a place covered in snow and ice, spitting fire out of volcanoes, where people live either underground or in igloos! Most foreigners confuse Greenland’s Arctic tundra and icebergs with Iceland, when in fact, it could not be more opposite: Greenland being all ice and Iceland being all green!
“I was truly amazed to find that in Iceland you can drink water straight from a tap, in the luxury of your own home. Some people in Africa have to walk up to several hours just to get water.
David, did anything about Iceland/Icelanders take you by surprise?
“I was truly amazed to find that in Iceland you can drink water straight from a tap, in the luxury of your own home. Some people in Africa have to walk up to several hours just to get water. This is something you certainly take for granted in a land without air pollution or toxic waste and landfills. It’s also amazing how hot water, rich in natural salts and minerals, can come straight from Mother Earth herself, completely undisturbed for millions of years.”
Fjóla, do you think there is much cultural difference between Tanzania and Iceland? What about similarities?
“There are many differences. Iceland, for instance, is more technologically advanced than Tanzania. There is also a big difference in the way we dress., Tanzanian women wear colourful clothes while Icelandic women mostly stick to black.
“I can’t think of any similarities. The two countries are wonderfully different.”
What language do you speak at home? Does your daughter speak both languages?
Fjóla: “We speak English at home, but I’m learning Swahili and David is learning Icelandic. Our daughter is only three months old, so she doesn’t speak much.”
David: “I really would like our daughter to grow up aware of her family roots and to be able to speak my native language, Swahili.”
Are there any pros/cons being in a “multicultural” relationship?
Fjóla: “It’s fun and exciting being from different cultural backgrounds, and it means you can travel more. We’ll spend a whole month in Tanzania next December when Iceland is dark and gloomy. David and I are both very open to new ideas and experiences so this suits us perfectly. I highly recommend it,” she concludes with a smile.
David Bombay met his wife Fjóla Björk Gunnlaugsdóttir in his native Tanzania, East Africa. David has been a professional bodybuilder since 2002 and has been awarded the prestigious title of Mr. Africa twice, once in 2002 and again in 2008. He is a national celebrity in his own country. David and his wife Fjóla are now residing in the town of Akureyri in North Iceland with their newborn daughter Andreana.
The two met while working for the same gymnasium. David held a management position at the facility. The pair shared a love for perfect healthy bodies, and indeed, they both possessed almost Greek-god-like physiques! David later confessed he was smitten by Fjóla’s Nordic height and physical shape, combined with her Icelandic beauty.
The two married in Africa and then headed off to the north. David’s mother thought (as many think about Iceland), that it is a place covered in snow and ice, spitting fire out of volcanoes, where people live either underground or in igloos! Most foreigners confuse Greenland’s Arctic tundra and icebergs with Iceland, when in fact, it could not be more opposite: Greenland being all ice and Iceland being all green!
“I was truly amazed to find that in Iceland you can drink water straight from a tap, in the luxury of your own home. Some people in Africa have to walk up to several hours just to get water.
David, did anything about Iceland/Icelanders take you by surprise?
“I was truly amazed to find that in Iceland you can drink water straight from a tap, in the luxury of your own home. Some people in Africa have to walk up to several hours just to get water. This is something you certainly take for granted in a land without air pollution or toxic waste and landfills. It’s also amazing how hot water, rich in natural salts and minerals, can come straight from Mother Earth herself, completely undisturbed for millions of years.”
Fjóla, do you think there is much cultural difference between Tanzania and Iceland? What about similarities?
“There are many differences. Iceland, for instance, is more technologically advanced than Tanzania. There is also a big difference in the way we dress., Tanzanian women wear colourful clothes while Icelandic women mostly stick to black.
“I can’t think of any similarities. The two countries are wonderfully different.”
What language do you speak at home? Does your daughter speak both languages?
Fjóla: “We speak English at home, but I’m learning Swahili and David is learning Icelandic. Our daughter is only three months old, so she doesn’t speak much.”
David: “I really would like our daughter to grow up aware of her family roots and to be able to speak my native language, Swahili.”
Are there any pros/cons being in a “multicultural” relationship?
Fjóla: “It’s fun and exciting being from different cultural backgrounds, and it means you can travel more. We’ll spend a whole month in Tanzania next December when Iceland is dark and gloomy. David and I are both very open to new ideas and experiences so this suits us perfectly. I highly recommend it,” she concludes with a smile.
