More Warning Signs That You Are Becoming Dutch
Have you been living in Holland for a while? Do you think you might be becoming Dutch or do you think you might actually be Dutch? Here is part two of our warning signs to look out for.
You Might Be Becoming Dutch If…
(Part 2)
1) You are familiar with and have used the two tone sigh.
2) You enthusiastically overextend the word ‘Goedeeeeeee’ until you’ve figured out what time of day it is and whether you should end with morgen, middag or avond.
3) You consider ice cream toppings on bread a healthy breakfast.
4) You are no longer impressed by windmills.
5) You have a calendar hanging in the toilet which contains the birthdays of all your friends and family.
6) Your throat no longer hurts when you try to pronounce any Dutch words containing the letter G.
7) You regularly use the Dutch word ‘dus‘ (‘so’) to communicate a wide variety of thoughts and emotions, without feeling the need to put it into a full sentence.
8) You no longer pause to consider what a frikandel is made of before eating it.
9) You know what a kroket is and know to avoid the orange ones.
10) You’ve started making your own sandwiches to take to the office (but often eat them on the train).
11) The Albert Heijn layout has started to makes sense.
12) You have used your bicycle to transport one or more of the following: an item of furniture, a mattress, a suitcase, a crate of beer, another bicycle, newly purchased electrical equipment, the weekly shopping or other large objects.
13) You consider 15 degrees celsius warm and will happily have a barbeque under such conditions.
14) When you speak Dutch the Dutch actually reply in Dutch.
15) You are aware that it is ‘The Netherlands’ and not ‘Holland’.
16) You no longer freaked out and start to panic in front of your friends when the emergency alarms are tested at the start of the month.
17) You are able to eat more than two oliebollen in a day.
18) You own, have owned or know someone who owns a caravan.
19) You’ve started using strange sign language to indicate when something is ‘lekker’.
20) You never lose hope about the Elfstedentocht.
For more warning signs that you might be becoming Dutch check out part 3.
OMG, the two-tone sigh. I’m pretty sure it’s contagious, like yawning. You hear others do it and you can’t help but let out your own.
Zo.
Amy – I think you might be right there.
Alsion – Zo indeed.
I’m Dutch and have lived in various foreign countries for most of my adult life, including the US, where I am now. It is great fun to see my country and its people through the eyes of an expat.
Maar je overdrijft wel een beetje ;)
omg, seems like i’m becoming Dutch! So many symptoms :)
Do you get bonus points for 2 crates of beer and your weekly shopping? Or 48 crates of beer in a bakfiets? (and yes, there are pictures of that somewhere)
And you’ve missed one
– Have played NS Bingo: http://a3.img.mobypicture.com/27bd8101aff2d546127cfb1d821e127c_view.jpg and got a bingo.
(for tourists that don’t know it: It’s like regular Bingo, but instead of numbers with exuses of your main trail-transport provider.)
As usual I laughed all the way through that list. Very well done.
Also, my bike has bags on them, so I guess I’m superdutch or something? ;-)
The calendar in the bathroom – that made me laugh. It took me right back when I was young; my grandma used to have that.
Enjoyed :)
Presumably I’m becoming Dutch because I understood them all??
Miss Footloose – Me? Over exaggerate? :p
Melissa Adams – Yep. I would say that qualifies.
Lena – It happens to all of us.
Iooryz – Oh od. I’ve played that game so often. I’m still waiting for my prize.
Wezz6400 – That’s a good one. I should have added that.
Perovskia – I still have one right now :p
Anne – It sounds like you are, yes.
Great post again Stu. Made me chuckle. “# You know what a kroket is and know to avoid the orange ones.” Exactly! A lot of folks prefer the orange, fat ones but I am glad I found my kroket-preference-soulmate.
And btw last monday I totally freaked out hearing the 12 o’clock emergency alarm but that was because I had worked night shift so I was awakened by it. And other than that, it’s great to walk in Amsterdam during that time and see tourists look around in slight fear and main bewilderment.
Oh no I do not own, have not owned, will not own and do not know someone who owns a caravan! Apparently I am not Dutch anymore.
Dus…
DoeiDoei
I’m recognizing a few symptoms, but the “more than two oliebollen” stage is thankfully still very, very far away.
Gah! I can’t believe I almost missed voting again! *goes off to vote*
And according to this list, I am 0% integrated into Dutch society. :P
Suus – The evil thing to do would be to start panicking in front of them :p
Jonathan – Sorry to have un-Dutched you.
Deepa – Same for me too.
Barb – That’s ok. Thanks :) You should do a warning signs that you are becoming French :p