I have picked up some kind of cold/flu when I was in Vancover. I guess
that it was from the plane trip back. It used to be so simple when I had a
cold. I would still go into work, but I would complain to everyone
constantly about how ill I was. If I had flu, where I couldn't face
coming into work, I would stay at home sitting on the couch and
watching videos/DVDs, until the fever past.
Now if you even sneeze in public people avoid you. People you
know treat as if you are carrying the plague. Forget any possiblity
of sympathy, people just think that the disease you are carrying
will wipe out their family.
On a brighter note, now that I live in Germany, I do enjoy saying
"Ich bin Krank. Fuck off. Krank! Ich bin Krank!"