You know you have been in Belgium too long when...

1. You never wear any colour brighter than dark green. You automatically assume anyone who does is either
a. Dutch
b. Scandinavian
c. American or
d. Extremely childish or rude

2. Just one day without rain even in July and August can make you happy.

3. You consider it normal that even the train to and from the airport has announcements in both Dutch and French, but not in English.

4. You do all your grocery shopping in either GB or Match, and you don't understand anyone who shops in the other supermarket chain.

5. You consider it normal to go out to a restaurant at least five times per week.

6. You think it is logical that shops are closed Sundays and evenings, but buy the things you need in night-shops between 4 and 5 AM Sunday morning.

7. You think it looks nice when the type of pavement tiles in front of each house are different, and you don't mind falling over lopsided tiles occasionally.

8. You take dog-poop on the pavement as just another challenge on you daily walks.

9. You keep three colours of bin-bags for different kinds of waste, and remember which days to put out which kind of bag on the pavement in front of your flat.

10. You don't mind when most streets are full of bags that have been put out on the wrong day, not even in the summer when the combination of the sun and intrepid dogs makes it a very interesting experience.

11. You automatically assume that everyone else speaks at least three languages, (but refuse to speak more than one yourself).

12. You have given up on any sensible political discussion, such as the language divide in general and the Brussels Capital Region and the future of Belgium in particular.

13. You have learned not to discuss American politics or mention the name "George Bush".

14. You consider it perfectly normal when the names of towns on road signs change from French to Dutch and vice versa every 5 or 10 kilometres of motorway.

15. You resign yourself to the national pasttime of waiting in lines.

16. You quit trying to translate the term "customer service" into Flemish and realize it just doesn't translate.

17. You carefully hide your one and two Euro coins in your pocket and only pull out smaller coins when counting out change for fear the cashier will grab them from you because they have run out and they can't get a roll at the bank.

18. You drink as much as you can before you go out to dinner, so that you don't end up paying more for the drinks than the meal!

19. You can't imagine a meal taking less than three hours.

20. You find yourself singing the words "Dank u wel" when someone is nice to you.