Ewwww. I might almost wanna have malaria instead of bedbugs, just based on what bedbugs connote. Almost.
The less than impressive “sponsor” who marginally assisted me with moving to Dakar had put me up in a hotel for my first two days here. You saw my post last week- it was a neat place. So can I blame this fellow naval officer for sending me to a hotel where the mattresses are infested with bloodsucking insects? Not really, but this little experience is kind of symbolic of the support level that I have received from him during my first week here. To be fair, I was kind of forewarned: he asked me if I would bring him a couple of bags of hot dog buns from Naples, via Paris, to Dakar…..along with my 600 pounds of luggage. Gee, that’s a great thing to ask a person to pick up when they’re moving their life to another continent.
This is the offending bed
Okay, so I’ve got bedbug bites. That must mean that I’m an unsanitary scrungebucket, right? Fantastic. Actually I hope not, and I sincerely hope that this will be an isolated occurrence as I go forward to my new place. I think my temporary residence is pest-free (I moved out of that hotel after two nights), but I’m still gonna be extra-vigilant for the next couple of days.
Despite the minor annoyance of fending for myself during the week, the good news is that I now know my way around the office grounds pretty well, and I am in contact with a number of cool younger women who work here (they will work, I will play). Inside of 24 hours, they have shown way more than the hot dog guy ever did about how to provide some basic hospitality (teranga, as the Senegalese know it) to a new arrival. Instead of giving me bedbugs, they have driven me to places with good food, good conversation and fantastic views. This is what I was looking for. It helps a person feel normal when you’re in a strange, new place.
So I think there will be more mystery ailments to encounter, but I think I can safely say that these will be outnumbered by my social calendar. Things are off to a good start, just need to get my household goods so I can put on a decent pair of shoes…
Wait, there are actually people at the embassy who are nice enough to show me around a little bit and are not hazardous to my health? Nice!