Advantages of having flu and blocked nose:
1) I was the only one who didn't feel like puking my insides out after visiting some public toilets. (For the next assignment, we're designing a new public toilet. Hence the field trip for investigation.)
I couldn't smell a thing :D
2) Courtesy of the bird flu, sneezing or coughing is specially helpful in crowded buses. Everyone goes out of his/ her way for me.
Chinese cough syrup, with a little bonus. And I stole Mom's usual cup.
Sweetened fig.