The lack of snowfall in parts of northern China this winter, especially in Beijing, is making more people sick, according to a very interesting local theory.
Some Beijingers say the white snow covers the dirty dust and germs shielding local people from these dark powers.
By the time the snow thaws in early spring and releases these nasty good-for-nothing particles, the weather has warmed and so has everybody's spirits.
Our immune systems are stronger, and we do not fall pray to these evil germs.
This is a unique theory, which may lack scientific credibility, but as I shared this interesting anecdote with a Chinese colleague she nodded whole-heartedly in agreement.
She also added that Global Warming wasn't helping.
Its snow-melting affect was adding to the runny noses, coughing and sore throats.
Whatever the reason, the fact is that most of us have caught the dreaded flu this winter and doesn't it carry a wallop?
A Chinese flu has all the subtleties of cement truck crashing into white picket fence.
One of the reasons is that our expat bodies are not familiar with the local strains of flu.
It takes a bit of time for our immune systems to adapt to the new attackers and this learning curb involves pain and suffering.
I celebrated the first week of 2009 by lying in bed in misery.
I was acting like the name of my favorite Beijing hairdresser - Curl Up and Dye.
But this sick season is no big deal. I catch the flu every year and that's the way it is.
Catching a good-old Chinese flu is part and parcel of the expat experience and after two or three days of discomfort and a week of gradual recovery, all is well again.
Many friends offer remedies to beat these blues, from eating whole garlic cloves, to drinking buckets of hot water.
There are also special Chinese medicines worthy of consideration.
But my proven method of conquering the flu involves watching copious amounts of DVDs.
TV series are always the best, especially if you can get hooked on the whole 5 seasons. Getting glued to The Sopranos can kill time faster than New Jersey mafia hit man.
Of course we take our tablets and do our best to minimize the fever and headaches but time is always the great healer.
I can rest and take Western-style cold and flu tablets and in three days I'll feel better.
I can also rest and drink Chinese medical-style soup and in three days I will recover.
I can take nothing at all and after three days of sweating and running a high fever, I'll feel better.
But what is the common denominator in all these treatments? Watching DVD box sets.
In fact, riding out the flu in China can have benefits, if you follow my movie magic recovery program.
Why not watch all the James Bond movies (especially Golden Eye) or become familiar with Olympic master of ceremonies Zhang Yimou's body of work. His early flicks, Red Sorghum, Raise the Red Lantern, and To Live are really good movies and show off this film master's brilliant use of color.
This time of the year is an especially good time to fall sick because you can watch all the Golden Globe winners and Oscar front-runners.
My favorite flick is Slumdog Millionaire. It is an absolutely wonderful piece of movie making about a poor Indian teenager, who becomes a contestant on the Hindi version of Who Wants to be A Millionaire?
If you have had no time to watch this film, it's almost worth getting sick so you are forced to witness this cinematic joy.
I like to be busy and my expat life in China can sometimes become too frantic.
Catching the flu forces me to lie down and catch up on some great movies.
(China Daily January 20, 2009)