Our name and logo are inspired by a migratory bird, much beloved by all (yes, all!) Icelanders. Her name is Ióa.
Lóa is endearingly called vorboðinn ljúfi, the sweet harbinger of spring, as she arrives in early April each year. On her arrival, lóa encourages us to be industrious and positive. In a well-known Icelandic poem, lóa is said to banish drudgery, while also symbolising the return of sun and growth.
So, why lóa? Well, lóa is a constant, even if migratory, and represents positive things about Iceland. The sun
(Icel.: sól, feminine noun) is specifically mentioned, which is positive in that we positively love her when she's here!
And finally, lóa also represents what all students do & have when faced with something new, like a language course: hard work & hope.
Óli, our graphic designer and programmer, designed the LÓA logo. Look up to your left - uncanny resemblance, right?
PS: This is for bird enthusiasts: Lóa in English is European Golden Plover; in Latin: pluvialis apricaria. This cute bird was voted bird of the year 2021!
