“Ok...about the virus. It isn't so easy as just sampling antibodies. The problem lies in the fact that it is a viral pathogen (as opposed to a bacterial one). You see, antibiotics (differentiate these from antibodies, which are made by your body) are only effective against BACTERIAL infections. It is a common misconception because doctors will often prescribe antibiotics to patients with influenza (the flu) or any other virally-caused ailment. They do this not to "fight" the virus, but rather to help prevent a bacterial infection which might occur due to the compromised state of the patients immune system during the viral infection. The antibiotics have NO EFFECT on the virus, though. In fact, there are VERY few anti-viral medications available and the ones that do exist are very specific in terms of which viruses are susceptible to it. (There are several reasons for this, but I will not get into it now...I could bore you to tears with the details). But anyway...if one were to take antibodies from one person and try to put them into another, they would be immediately detected as "non-self" and removed by the persons immune system. In the case of most virally-caused illnesses, the immune system is the only defense and so the patient has to just "let the illness run its course". So, in a case like this, prevention is much more effective than treatment.”

We’re going to an island today for our company retreat. I don’t know if you call it a retreat, but it’s something like a reward after the busy month of March which is closing of financial year. It was supposed to be hush-hush, and we are not supposed to know where we are going. We were only told to wear casual. My boss let us know that we were going to an island, to do some team building games and we had to get onto a short boat journey to reach this little off-shore island. Hm..I don’t know what to expect, but it will be good just to get out of the office. I can’t wait.

I want us to be back to pre-SARS days. It is an irony that we were listed 2nd most safest country just behind Luxembourg, and then over a few weeks, we have been listed “dangerous”. Dangerous as in not advised to travel to at this point in time. Safest was also referring to political and economic stability. I don’t want people to know us as a SARS infected country. I also don’t want people to see our passports and immediately relate us to SARS. I think people know Esther Mok by heart. She must have been cursed, pitied, and sympathised altogether. Everyone knows her to be the Super Infector. I never knew such term existed, but it sure does not sound friendly at all. Doctors were saying that washing hands frequently helps to reduce the possibility of picking up SARS virus, or any other virus, in fact. So I’m imagining that all of us are lining up like school kids, going to wash our hands so very often.

Yesterday, my boss emailed and asked if I would like to attend a 1.5 days course, out of the office. She’s going to send me to attend a course in Appreciation in Business Chinese. Some of the programme synopsis includes learning and "put to practice" certain business representations in Chinese Language (Vocabulary/Structure/Grammar), Know your Real Competitors - Are they really the Chinese? Experience the potential of using * Guanxi", implementing the "Think Global and Act Local" concept ----- talk-alike and much more. My boss asked if I mind that 0.5 day is held at night. I had no problem with that, since it was only for 1 evening. I used to have to go to school for 3 hrs at night too, so it is not a problem for me. Besides…what is really exciting that I get to learn new things! For free!! The company is paying and so I would jump at every offer. Hm..it says this is an intensive bilingual program, specially designed for those who want fast results and do not want to spend 3 months (or more) in learning the usage of the Business Chinese Language. Do I need to bring my dictionary along? But I’m really excited with this rare opportunity! Being in the civil service, it’s hard to attend courses out of the organization, because they need justifications. My wonderful boss fought for me and so I’m going to take this chance to learn as much as possible before I step into China…few months down the road. I suppose I would feel more secure having some preparation courses. Maybe I’ll become a content expert in months to come.

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