Last day of 2004, we did our little new year’s fortune telling in our office garage. This is how my drop of lead came out. How to read it? Well, using other people’s imagination.. * i rarely get sick more than a day - but this time, a flu got me for days (since i got back from beijing). Quite amazing to realize 1) how much paper is consumed, 2) how my priority changes dealing w small things, 3) simplicity of finnish way of treating flu: burana pills (general pain killer w ibuprofen) and forced sick leave! I went to see a doc - without probing me he simply insisted on giving me the sick leave approval form, which i would not use. All this is of course not generalizable cuz this was my first incident w doctors here regarding flu. Besides his command of english was dubious: his closing remark was “i will be available yesterday,” after which he got all confused himself.

My first visit to china. It was a short 9-day trip, but packed experience with local guides. (Perhaps more pictures to come if i get over my flu)