I almost hate to do this because these lists are always pretty stupid. However(!), I think these are all very true and it gives a little insight into little aspects of Danish life that I myself have really noticed as well. So having said that, here is a list copied from the interwebs plus little comments by me marked with stars (*).
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You go to the supermarket and buy three good beers and 10 not too good ones.
*Its really common to go into supermarkets and just pull a couple beers out of a six pack. It's much more mixing and matching than I'm used to.
You honestly believe that the distance between Copenhagen and Aarhus is long.
*It is fucking long. Like 4 hours by train. That's NYC to Boston.
The first thing you do on entering a bank/post office/pharmacy etc. is to look for the queue number machine.
*Yup, it sucks and was really confusing initially. You get a little slip of paper with a number, kind of like at a deli or something.
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.
*I guess people don't smile but I usually try not to look at people anyways for fear they will ask me something in Danish.
Can't remember when to say "please" and "excuse me".
*There isn't a Danish word for please, so I don't really know what this one is about.
You start to believe that if it weren't for Denmark's efforts, the world would probably collapse pretty soon.
You know the meaning of life has something to do with the word "hyggelig".
*hyggelig basically means cozy which is a word you only really use if you're trying to give someone a veiled gay compliment. Here they say it all the time and like this one implies, I'm not really sure about it. I sort of know what it means, but I feel like it has a lot more to do with the Danish culture than I know.
You are very surprised when you receive compliments about ANYTHING - including your appearance/clothing! In fact when you do, you find it suspicious and start thinking they might have ulterior motives.
You've completely forgotten what a "date" is - no one ever comes to pick you up and unexpected gifts are VERY unexpected.
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 wouldn't dream of coming even 10 minutes early to a party. (Once around the block is always an alternative)
You find yourself lighting candles when you have guests - even if it is brightly sunny outside and 20 degrees.
*This one is definitely true. The Danes love their candles and it has started to rub off. In the grocery store there is a big shelf just for candles. The section for candles is maybe 5 or 6 shelves and I think there are just 2 for cereal.
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So I'm sorry about that, but it's little funny Danish culture things that you don't really know until you live here for a while. Speaking of which, I've been here for nearly 6 months. That's ridiculous.
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