At the Doctor's

Od glave do pete: Head to Toe

Goal: I can name the rest of the body, face, neck, shoulders, fingers, knees, so I can say exactly what hurts.

Bosnian family diagnostics start with a stare: nana looks at your lice, decides you are blijed (pale), and prescribes soup before you say a word. Learn the body parts so you can at least negotiate.

Šta te boli?: What Hurts?

Goal: I can describe my symptoms, cough, runny nose, dizziness, flu, and say when I feel better.

In a Bosnian house there is no such thing as a small cold. One sneeze and the whole family mobilizes: windows shut, socks on, soup on the stove. Saying 'ništa mi nije' has never once stopped the operation.

Pregled: The Checkup

Goal: I can get through a doctor's appointment: the waiting room, the checkup commands, the prescription.

A Bosnian čekaonica is a parliament: strangers compare symptoms, argue cures, and by the time you're called in, three nanas have diagnosed you better than the doctor. Do not mention your symptoms unless you want opinions.

Nanina apoteka: Nana's Pharmacy

Goal: I can follow dosage instructions, call for help in an emergency, and survive nana's home remedies.

Nana's pharmacy has three shelves: čaj od nane, med i limun, and supa. And yes, čaj od nane means mint tea, 'nana' is the Bosnian word for mint too, so grandmother's tea is doubly named after her.

Next unit: Work & School.