Sneeze more?

When Mexico sneezes, the whole world catches the flu. Isn't it how the whole world's economy being shaped by US economy?

I googled for a "sneeze" photograph for I do not have one in file. And found this T-shirt business! Will you buy one? I am amazed that not only is the pharmacy stores making money from "masks", souvenir and gift shops have also much to offer from "flu" business!

Sneeze more?

When we sneeze, those around us will say, "Bless you!" or "God Bless you!". In those innocent young days I asked around the reason to say "Bless you". I was told by my "ang-moh" friends that when you sneeze, something evil could enter your body, so you say "Bless you" to scare this evil away. I have stopped saying that for a long, long time.

I have also learnt about some other sneezes all around the world.

When you sneeze, someone say, "May our hopes (or dreams) come true" or "to your wishes". There are even meaning on the number of sneezes. If you sneeze once, it means you are being praised. The second time, you are being detested, third time, you are being admired and the fourth time, you are going to catch a cold!

Back to Mexico where the sneeze began. In Mexico, the first sneeze means health, the second one means money, the third one means love and the last one means allergies - that I googled a while ago. How true it is I don't know!

When we sneeze, we say "excuse me". It usually does not cause much raising of eyebrows when Mexico has not started to sneeze! I was in the steam room of the gym this morning. The steam blowing out made me cough two small coughs. The other lady in the room who had just walked in, stood up and left! No, no A(H1N1) bugs flying around. I only have me, myself and I in the steam room!

I like the way my good friend in Singapore put it in an email to me two days ago -

Good time to avoid ang mohs now.
But who am I to say - there are more than 1000 cases in Singapore now.

I wanted to cancel a previously scheduled meeting in Taipei this weekend.
But on reflection, the Taiwanese should probably be more concerned that I am
arriving.

Well, it's just a sneeze, don't keep me in a distance!

(This post has been an inspiration by SAHM's great post. Learn a new term from sneezing - social distancing, that is!)