An Interview with a Faroese

In late May I will travel to the Faroe Islands and since I have never been there before, I decided to ask my Faroese host and friend, Mariann, a few questions about life on the islands.

I had met Mariann in 1991 when we both lived in the United States of America. After that our ways separated as she moved back to the Faroes and I moved to Japan. We shared some good times together – mainly Happy Hour at the Westminster Inn – and developed a long-lasting friendship.

So Mariann, after having been an Au pair in the U.SA., what made you decide to move to Denmark after another year on the Faroes?

I moved to Denmark to take part in a six-month travel agent course, which was not available on the islands.

Do a lot of young Faroese do the same in regards to leaving the islands?

No, not a lot. Some go to Denmark for schooling and other forms of education. Some do come back, while others stay in Denmark.

How long did you stay in Denmark before you decided to move back to the islands? What prompted you?

Like I had mentioned earlier, I moved back when my vocational training was done in Denmark.

What kind of jobs do young people do on the islands?

Young people mostly work in retail and fish factories.

Do you get many foreign tourists? Where do they come from?

We get more and more tourists, mainly from Germany. There are also others from Denmark, of course, and Norway. But mostly Germans, I think.

What one piece of advice would you give the young ones fleeing the islands?

I would advise the young Faroese to get more education by going to Denmark, which will provide them with much better opportunities when they return.

If you could change one thing about your working life…

Like most people, I would like to work fewer hours for more money!

The thing you like most about life on the Faroes is…

There is more freedom for children and hardly any crime.

When Faroese dream of moving away, what are popular destinations?

A very popular destination is, of course, Denmark, because we belong to it (autonomous province of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1948).

Would you like to move to another country/island? If yes, where?

I guess I would move to Denmark or Sweden.

Thanks for your time, Mariann!

To all the readers: feel free to comment!

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