Bugs and Giggles

Straight out, I hate bugs! I have a history of animals and bugs following me. There was the time when I was a counsellor out in the woods of North Carolina, U.S.A, where I lived in the middle of the bush with a group of 20 troubled teenaged girls.

We stumbled upon a copperhead snake on our campsite one day, and I was told that I had to kill a poisonous snake if I ever found one on my campsite. Well, I had to get a shovel and much to my dismay, decapitate it, while everyone stared on at my heroic efforts. I was shaking in my skin at the time, but had to show that I could be the mighty Jane.

At the same campsite, I always found dead mice in our tents. I found mouse poop on my sleeping bag many nights. I could also hear animals all night, while I lie awake trying to sleep.

I also found a black widow spider on one of the girls cabins. I had to try and get it off the cabin. Where I found the guts to do that, I'll never know.

Then there was the time, I had a family of raccoons come into my apartment building through my open framed window off the patio. I couldn't leave my room because of the way the kitchen was closed. They would of attacked me for sure if they felt cornered. So, I was trapped in my room for two hours waiting for them to raid my kitchen cupboards. I was shaking in my skin at the time.

And most recently in Korea, I was watching a movie in my room with the lights off, when I saw the shadow of some big bug on my wall. Upon turning the light on, I was freaked out to find a big cockroach crawling on my wall. I ran to get the bug spray and waited for it to land on the floor. It really disgusted me, and now my fear of bugs is real.

Well, fast forward to last night. I've been spotting huge, and I mean the biggest cockroaches, I've ever seen here in Thailand on the streets. They disgust me to no end. When I opened the door to my apartment last night. I saw some big bug run on the wall. I figured it was a cockroach but, it could of been a ghecko for all I know. I saw a few of those in Phuket on the walls and ceilings.

I was not prepared to go and find the bug and kill it. I just couldn't hack it..the big baby that I am. I went to talk to the owner. I also told him I had a family of ants that regularly were seen on my kitchen counter. He said that was normal, and even he had them in his apartment.

Anyway, he said he would get two of the staff to come and find what was in my room. Two young Thai girls who later I found out couldn't speak a word of English, came out with a broom and dustpan. They must of thought, I was a crazy "Farang." They followed me to my room giggling to each other all the while. They opened the door and went in to look around, and then they broomed something out, but it looked like a flower leaf to me. It was dark, so I wasn't sure if it was something or not.

I went inside and asked them if they got it, and they just pointed toward the door, making a out wave with their hands, all the while giggling hysterically and talking Thai, which I don't understand. At the time, I was a bit panicky because it was possible that whatever it was went into my bedroom,which was through the door which was opened. Anyway, I politely said "Cob Kun Khaa" which means, "Thank You" in English. They looked surprise to hear me talking Thai.

They left, and I as I was about to shut my door, I heard them giggling hysterically running down the stairs. I felt like a complete baby, and laughed about it to myself. I'm sure it is an everday thing to see cockroaches, and gheckos here. Well, I treaded carefully into my room looking around cautiously. I just can't imagine having a huge cockroach in my suitcase or in my bed for that matter. Call me a baby if you must, but after all my past experiences, I've just grown disgusted. You would think I would be Queen Sheba after all my encounters with bugs and animals, but that I'm afraid is not the case.

This has been another day in Jo's Thai adventures.