Consequently, anyone learning Old Norse from a textbook published in the last century will have some mental conversion to deal with when using this site.
Also, don’t expect to speak Icelandic as a tourist in Iceland. The local people are well known for keeping aloof from tourists (tourists most often interact with a foreign workforce brought in from Poland etc. to serve them), and unless you have already gone through a course of the language that has prepared you to handle a full conversation, they will simply immediately switch to English; otherwise they would feel you are just wasting their time.
I don't think this is a fair characterization. Icelandic people have however gotten very used to speaking English in their day-to-day lives because there are so many immigrants that don't speak Icelandic. Practically every time you go to a store and talk to a clerk, you'll have to speak English.
It is often very welcomed when you ask to speak Icelandic and are learning. People will take the time, slow down their speech and offer words of encouragement like "you are doing really well"
A friend of mine tells the story of being in a bar in Reykjavik minding his own business, when two young ladies approached him and after a little small talk asked, "Do you know how to make love to an Icelander?" When he answered, "no", they replied, "You just ask." He turned beet red and left as quickly as possible, but... that doesn't sound aloof to me ;-)
Is that what they call it these days?