And the Countdown Begins....

Sad to say that I am down to my final two months in Copenhagen!  My time here has flown by so quickly that I honestly can't even believe that I have been in Europe for four months.  I was given the following list when I first arrived.  I didn't understand much of it at first, but now the list is no longer funny....it is painfully true!  

You know you’ve been in Denmark too long if…



You think there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. 



You think its impolite to sit next to someone in a bus if there is a bench where you can sit on your own.  (It looks like a game of charades after each bus stop, trying to find an empty bench to sit at) 







The first thing you do on entering a bank/post office/pharmacy etc. is to look for the queue number machine.  You accept that you will have to queue to take a queue number. 



When a stranger on the street smiles at you, you assume that: 


a. he is drunk;

b. he is insane;

c. he is American;

d. he is all of the above. 



Traditional dinners may not necessarily mean a cooked meal. 





You don’t mind paying the same for a 200-metre bus ride as you do for going 10 kms. 



You know the meaning of life has something to do with the word “hyggelig”.  



You don’t think it strange that no one ever comes by to visit without being invited and you never show up at any one’s place unannounced either. 



You find yourself lighting candles when you have guests - even if it is brightly sunny outside and 20 degrees. 



You offer people strange-tasting brown alcoholic liquids with their coffee in the MORNING! 



You find the idea walking across the street when the light is red unforgivable, even though there are no cars in sight and it’s 3am in the morning! 



You understand that Danes aren’t rude and abrupt like they may appear, just a little more reserved than most but once you gain their trust they will be your friend for life. 





The highlight of your evening is the hotdog with remoulade or the calzone from 7/11 at the end of the night-end of the night being the arrival of the first bus in the morning! 



You consider standing in the Airport Arrivals hall waving a danish flag normal and “hyggeligt.” 



You’ve become the master guru of bicycle repair.





You think someone saying "undskyld" ("excuse me") is just a weirdo.



You don’t check for other pedestrians behind you before you stop in a crowded street. 

 



You are not surprised to have the closing door slam you in the face if following too closely behind somebody. Why should you hold the door for someone else?!? 



You know the rules of handball! 





You consider spending more than 30 minutes on a bike and/or bus/train to get to school totally normal.

You plan your trips allowing plenty of time for the DSB train you’re on which will undoubtedly be late.



You have given up all hope of finding any logic in the pronunciation of the Danish language.



Tipping waiters/barstaff/taxi drivers seems overly gratuitous.

You no longer notice all the windmills.

You answer calls by saying your name, which confuses people abroad.

Oh, how I LOVE Denmark!