BED BUGS!!!!

“Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite!”
Ever wonder where that quote came from? Well, the answer is, right here- ‘Pan Town,’ South Asia! J I woke up yesterday morning with a few little red dots on the side of my forehead. They looked similar to mosquitoe bites, but not quite. Almost like pimples, but again not quite. I didn’t think too much about it and went to the office for a full day of testing stories, crafting new ones, preparing for next week’s workshop, etc. [Side note- Most South Asians are very up front about appearances. If you look sick or tired, they’ll tell you. If your dress isn’t on properly, they’ll tell you or just come fix it without warning]. Back to the story…So I came to the office, and one of the girls who works there came in to say good morning and said, “What happened to your face?” At first I thought something dramatic had happened, and wished for a mirror. She said, “Why do you all of the sudden have so many pimples?” I realized she was talking about the red dots that had appeared. For a second I wanted to say, “Thanks a lot for pointing that out, I was hoping you would.” But, remembering this cultural boldness that isn’t as acceptable in my own culture, I replied, “Yeah, I don’t know what happened…I woke up this morning and it was like that.” She went on to tell me how they were pimples, etc, etc. I was like, “gee, thanks."

This morning, I woke up and had about 15 more, across my forehead. I knew it was something more than pimples, something more than mosquitoes. I asked the nurse who is here right now what the deal was she said, “Hmm, looks like you got bitten up last night! Those are bed-bug bites!”

Ahh!! Eww!! The spiders (although small), and the lizards (which are good cause they eat the spiders), and the termites (which I’m getting used to) were enough friends for anyone. I really don’t need bed-bugs on top of that!!! A few of the girls from the orphanage helped me take all my bedding (only 2 inches thick, but it’s so heavy, it took three of us to carry it) upstairs to the roof to burn off the bugs in the sun.

I hope that works! We’ll see tonight, what buddies I end up sleeping with!!