Cigarette Smoking and Stomach Colds—Serbian Mentality Part 4
Any “Serbian Mentality” mini-series would be incomplete without mentioning smoking.
Last Monday, I wrote about the positive side of inat, a coping mechanism of stubborn-mindedness. Defiance for defiance sake. However, the penchant for lighting up may highlight a negative side of inat.
Why, Laura, whatever do you mean?
Stubbornness and Smoking
Of course not everyone here smokes, but sometimes it sure does feel like it.
In case you haven’t already guessed, I really dislike cigarette smoke, which still pervades many indoor spaces. Even if I sit in the non-smoking section of my local café, my hair, my clothes (right down to my bra) reek of ashtray.
There seems to be little in the way of public education with regards to the hazards of smoking. Yes, yes, cigarette packages are covered with dire warnings, but people question whether second-hand smoke is actually damaging.
Pregnant women chain-smoking in public? In the US, they’d be subject to serious public contempt. I’m not even gonna go there, I’ll just get too riled up. … Hell, when I was pregnant, the Starbucks guy scolded me for the caffeine in my Frappachino. He merely rolled his eyes when I told him my MD said up to 60 mg/day was okay.
Kobajagi (Pretend) Non-Smoking Sections
Remember back in the 1980s and 1990s before smoking was completely banned in the US?
I recollect many tense hamburger dinners in which my parents—both avid non-smokers once my dad quit when I was five—loudly complaining to the Burger King manager
This partition which supposedly divides the smoking from the non-smoking section is a small, useless plastic board. There is a smoker sitting less than a foot away from us.
Smoke rises!
My parents went on to imply that Mr. Paid-just-slightly-more-than-minimum-wage-manager was personally causing children to be exposed to second-hand smoke. Shame on him.
Yep, we were “those people.”
Kobajagi means pretend or make-believe, and “kobajagi non-smoking sections” in Serbia are the Burger Kings of my generation.
Anniversary of the “Smoking Ban”
This November, the partial “smoking ban” will have been in effect for a year. I use quotes because the law has all sorts of loopholes that allow restaurant owners to have smoking sections if the kafana is smaller than a certain square footage. The result? A large restaurant is magically divided into several smaller ones, thereby circumventing the rule and allowing smoking everywhere.
Don’t even get me started on non-enforcement.
I admit, I’m “that uppity American mom.”
Much to the confusion of my dinner companions, I have (more than once) scooped up my children and removed us from restaurants when all of a sudden someone starts smoking. At our table.
Here’s the kicker: Inevitably, those who smoke around their kids here are the same ones who scold me for such major infractions as letting my kids run around barefoot indoors. The belief being: going barefoot—even inside a (heated) apartment—can cause a cold, or a stomach cold. Wondering what a stomach cold is? Me too. But it’s definitely a thing here.
Barefoot walking is also feared to cause pneumonia, kidney problems, and possible infertility (for girls). The fears apply to sitting “directly” on concrete (even if you’re wearing clothes). I’m not kidding.
I get it, perhaps running around barefoot lowers a child’s body temperature, making her more susceptible to germs. But: Germs. Cause. Sickness. Barefoot-ness does not.
What gets my goat is that I’m a real germ-o-phobe. Also, I don’t like being told what to do, especially when it comes to my children. I would never give unsolicited advice to another parent about their child. That’s right … not even to a smoking pregnant lady.
[Whew, stepping down off my soapbox.]
Old-School Mentality?
Really, is this all part of an old-school mentality, in which long-held beliefs trump new ideas, or even scientific studies?
I simply don’t understand the mentality. Is it wanting to be social? Habit and addiction? Unwillingness to change? The notion that we all have to die from something?
I get personal choice. I do. But exposing children to second-hand and even third-hand smoke is bad, like cancer-causing-bad. Yes, people, third-hand smoke is a thing. Just google it.
* * * * *
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I grew up and worked in an office i Paris where everyone chain-smoked. I can't believe I never tried one cigarette in my entire life, so I'm with you on that Laura.
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Laura
Even though I'm an adult now I still can't stand that cigarette smoke (that's why I prefer to schedule my visits in the summer!). I laughed really hard about the walking barefoot and sitting on concrete part, because especially the older people used to scare us with that when we were kids. Have you been warned about promaja ("killer" drafts) yet? Or sitting outside in the summer or even in a warm room with wet hair after you washed it? It's like you commited a mortal sin against common sense if you don't blow dry your hair immediately after washing it….
Sandra,
Ohhhh yes, I could go on and on about promaja — the "draft"/wind that that laid-to-rest even the heartiest of Serbian soldiers! Yes, wet hair — mortal sin, and exposing children to air-conditioning in the summer is also a big no-no! I'm glad to hear I'm not alone — and yes, I can see about visiting the city in the summer, just because of the cigarette smoke! (If only the government agencies realized that banning smoking might actually help tourism …)
Laura
First I have to say that i dislike the smell of cigarettes and smoke as much as you do! I hate when I come home and my entire close smells like ashtray! But, I must say that it is funny you mentioned your father complained about cigarette smoke while eating in Burger King! I am 100% positive that food from that place is 1000 times more hazardous to our health then cigarettes! After all people have been smoking for centuries. I am not trying to defend smokers ( I especially do not like seeing pregnant women smoking!!) but we should go easy on them! One day something is declared dangerous ,and the other day it is not!
As far as the "bare feet" theory it is true that Serbs exaggerate. But many cultures in the world have the same fear about draft,bare feet,wet hair…. The body temperature needs to be stable in order to keep internal organs at the leveled temp. If the feet/head/hands are cold the heat escapes and our immune system fights to keep us warm. As far as the "germs" theory,well that one is also questionable……
Marija,
Thanks for writing — yes, we were those typical Americans who did fast food growing up. But, I've been a fish-eating vegetarian for almost 20 years now, so I totally get it about the food!
Hope all is well…
Laura
Hi! This is the first time I've visited your blog. I found it through topmommyblogs.com.
This post made me laugh because it reminded me of my parents. They are originally from Croatia. The wet hair, wallking bare foot on concrete, sitting in front of the air con…I've heard this all from mum and dad, lol.
Angela,
I hope you'll stop by again!
Thanks for visiting! Yes, it seems that anyone who grew up in the Balkans is aware of these "gems of advice." The funny part is that sometimes I ask (in my most innocent, non-sarcastic voice), "Why do you say that?" … And I rarely get answer that makes sense, if I get one at all
Laura
I hope this has helped you understand the smokeless cigarette world a little better. I also hope it has encouraged you to make the switch today! Even though there may be some dangers to using vapor, it surely is a safer alternative to the 4,000 carcinogens in a real cigarette. From a personal view, I just can't stress enough how much better it feels to be using vapor instead of cigarette smoke to get my nicotine.
I hate cigarette, because I've seen some good friends get deseases because of that.
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