In 5th grade a few weeks ago the students were learning about how to say different illnesses, such as cough, stomachache, toothache, cold, etc. After my counterpart, Katica, and I made fools of ourselves playing charades with the different vocabulary words, the next part of the activity was for students to describe what their parents, or rather their mothers or grandmothers, did for them when they were sick. Now, I have heard some strange things in this country, but this has to top all the weird conversations I have. I began recording what the students described as Katica asked them about different illnesses. Here’s what you can do when you’re sick:
If you have a sore throat:
-Add wine or rajkia (whiskey) to a rag, sprinkle with black pepper and tie around your neck. Where to bed or however long you want.
-Melt sugar, butter, and milk on a stove together to create a buttery caramelized drink. The warm thickness is supposed to soothe the chest.
If you have a fever:
-Soak the tips of your socks with vinegar or alcohol and wear them to bed
-Have someone give you a Rajkia (whiskey) body massage
-Have someone give you a body massage using Coca Cola
If you have a stomachache:
-Place a slice of bread on your stomach. Stick a candle in the piece of bread, light the candle, and place a jar over the candle. Leave it there for five minutes and remove the jar and blow out the candle. This is supposed to relieve stomach pains when the jar releases the smoke.
-Lightly cook leeks and place them on your stomach.
If you have chest pains:
-Make an omelet, wrap it in cloth, and place it on your chest
-Rub pork grease on your chest and back. Place newspaper over the grease-the lead from the newspaper ink is supposed to help with the pains as well.
If you have a bruise:
-Soak some bread in a little wine and add this to the bruise.
Here's What I've Tried:
-When I had a cold, I soaked my feet in hot water until they turned read. Then, as told, I dried them, immediately put socks on and laid down.
-I’ve had muscle pains on my left side underneath my ribs. So, as told by my counterparts and host mom, I added hot Rajkia to a cloth, wrapped this around me, then a plastic bag to keep in the heat, and finally a wool scarf. I slept in this, but only did this for one night.
-Again for the muscles under my ribs, I did the same thing as with the Rajkia, only this time, I added Vick’s vapor rub, then a plastic bag, and a scarf again. This really kept my side warm.
-Sofija has made me the milk, sugar, and butter drink for my cough, but I felt like my veins were thickening with every sip-maybe next time I’ll ask without the butter.
**Important note: Rajkia can heal anything in their culture. Because it is typically homemade and has a high alcohol percentage, it is used for many illnesses. It is often rubbed on the head or other parts of the body that hurt. Also, fun fact-my host mom uses it to clean since it has such a high amount of alcohol.
Needless to say, it was one of the most interesting discussions I’ve had, so I must share it with all of you! What are your family traditions when you or someone else is sick?
XOXO
-R
If you have a sore throat:
-Add wine or rajkia (whiskey) to a rag, sprinkle with black pepper and tie around your neck. Where to bed or however long you want.
-Melt sugar, butter, and milk on a stove together to create a buttery caramelized drink. The warm thickness is supposed to soothe the chest.
If you have a fever:
-Soak the tips of your socks with vinegar or alcohol and wear them to bed
-Have someone give you a Rajkia (whiskey) body massage
-Have someone give you a body massage using Coca Cola
If you have a stomachache:
-Place a slice of bread on your stomach. Stick a candle in the piece of bread, light the candle, and place a jar over the candle. Leave it there for five minutes and remove the jar and blow out the candle. This is supposed to relieve stomach pains when the jar releases the smoke.
-Lightly cook leeks and place them on your stomach.
If you have chest pains:
-Make an omelet, wrap it in cloth, and place it on your chest
-Rub pork grease on your chest and back. Place newspaper over the grease-the lead from the newspaper ink is supposed to help with the pains as well.
If you have a bruise:
-Soak some bread in a little wine and add this to the bruise.
Here's What I've Tried:
-When I had a cold, I soaked my feet in hot water until they turned read. Then, as told, I dried them, immediately put socks on and laid down.
-I’ve had muscle pains on my left side underneath my ribs. So, as told by my counterparts and host mom, I added hot Rajkia to a cloth, wrapped this around me, then a plastic bag to keep in the heat, and finally a wool scarf. I slept in this, but only did this for one night.
-Again for the muscles under my ribs, I did the same thing as with the Rajkia, only this time, I added Vick’s vapor rub, then a plastic bag, and a scarf again. This really kept my side warm.
-Sofija has made me the milk, sugar, and butter drink for my cough, but I felt like my veins were thickening with every sip-maybe next time I’ll ask without the butter.
**Important note: Rajkia can heal anything in their culture. Because it is typically homemade and has a high alcohol percentage, it is used for many illnesses. It is often rubbed on the head or other parts of the body that hurt. Also, fun fact-my host mom uses it to clean since it has such a high amount of alcohol.
Needless to say, it was one of the most interesting discussions I’ve had, so I must share it with all of you! What are your family traditions when you or someone else is sick?
XOXO
-R