How not to be ill the British way
This is just some fun for English speakers and practice for learners of English.
What is said here also applies to Bolivians. Every known medicine (and all herbal ones) - except sleeping pills can be bought over the counter here. - everyone is a medical expert.
5 Answers
Ian, this article changed my world! Up until I read it, I thought my husband's family, who happen to come from the southern part of Italy, were a bunch of hypochondriacs. 
They have maladies and corresponding remedies that the rest of us would never dream of. Because we lived with his family for the first year or so of our marriage, I had a front row seat. Every morning, his grandmother would wake up, sit at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and proceed to tell us of each and every ache, pain and perceived illness she was experiencing. It was a daily ritual. Most of it wasn't in English. But, not to worry, she would point to what was ailing her and make a face.
They even plan for the future problems of their unborn children. When I was pregnant, I mentioned that I was in the mood for pineapple. Well everyone and everything stopped what they were doing and made sure that a pineapple was located.....despite my protests that this wasn't necessary. They were literally hysterical about getting the pineapple to me. When I asked what the big deal was, my mother-in-law explained that if a pregnant woman craves something and does not eat the food she is craving, the child will be born with a birthmark or defect in the shape of the desired food. So they basically moved heaven and earth to find me a pineapple. Otherwise, my son would have been born with a pineapple shaped birthmark or defect. 
As you can imagine, I haven't had a craving for any sort of food since that moment (at least none that I am willing to say out loud. 
) 
I am of half British and half German descent and can tell you that my natural stoicism has never translated to my husband's Latin American family. Even when I have needed surgery, I have difficulty telling those around me and prefer to just disappear and reappear at some point when I can care for myself.
This anglo stoicism is perfectly demonstrated by this video of Monty Python's classic Black Knight, "It's only a flesh wound." Click here.
I love this, the British attitude to sickness is amazing. When I ask my patients how they are 99% will politely tell me they are fine, which is funny because I work on an acute medical ward!
Interesting!
This is too funny, I lived in Italy for just over a year and saw this sort of thing, In my opinion it is an illness of convenience. So I say this: When you feel miserable ,why stay at home and be miserable when you can go to work and make everyone else miserable . Jejeje.
