Adventurous Anthropologists Renovate Historic Family Home After Year Living in a Yurt

In the heart of Ísafjörður, Iceland, Haukur Sigurðsson and Vaida Bražiūnaitė, a couple with a shared passion for visual anthropology and adventure, are breathing new life into an old family home. The timber house, a structure that has belonged to Haukur's family for over a century, is now their family residence, shared with their two sons, Kári Vakaris and Bjartur Rytas, and their cat, Hosu. The couple, who met during their master's studies in Tromsø, Norway, initially planned to return to Norway after a year-long trial in Ísafjörður. However, the charm of the town, described by Vaida as a "miniature version of Tromsø," coupled with the allure of adventure, led them to stay. Their most notable adventure involved living in a yurt for an entire year in Dýrafjörður. This experience, devoid of electricity and running water, involved using a wood-burning stove for heat, fetching water from a nearby spring, and relying on a portable toilet. They also utilized an old barn for firewood and frequently visited the local swimming pool for showers. Haukur worked as a tour guide during this period, while Vaida worked at a kindergarten in Þingeyri. Vaida fondly recalls being called "the yurt woman" during their year of unconventional living. The yurt itself was a Mongolian ger, and their adventurous spirit attracted many curious visitors, making their secluded life surprisingly social. The couple's journey highlights a unique blend of academic pursuit, a love for nature, and a desire for extraordinary life experiences.

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I was called the yurt woman.