Work & Professions

Zanimanja: Professions

The most important profession in Bosnia is majstor, the man who can fix anything and arrives 'odmah', which means sometime this week. When he finally comes, kahva first, work second. That's not laziness, that's protocol.

Šta si po zanimanju?: What Do You Do?

Goal: I can answer the question every rođak asks first: what I do for a living, and ask it back.

At any family gathering you will be asked šta si po zanimanju exactly once, and your answer will be broadcast to the entire rodbina within the hour, upgraded. Say programer and by dinner you own half of Microsoft.

Na poslu: At Work

Goal: I can talk about my workday: meetings, shifts, breaks, working from home, looking for a job.

Bosnian work culture runs on the pauza: kahva at ten, with colleagues who become family. Skipping the pauza does not make you productive, it makes you suspicious.

Čime se baviš?: What's Your Line of Work?

Goal: I can talk about what my family does, from the porodični posao to dedo's penzija, and hand out nana's work compliments.

In a Bosnian family your job is community property: everyone knows it, rates it, and reports on it.

Next unit: Getting Around & Travel.