Christmas Terror

My colleagues Christmas tree. Dec 2013

Let me start by saying this Christmas was by far one of the best I have ever experienced.  Of course nothing can compare to the holidays spent with family, but this one definitely comes in close second!  Christmas Eve and half of Christmas were spent with one of my coworkers and his family, and the other half of Christmas was spent with a few of my fellow volunteers.  Each celebration filled me with more joy than my little heart could handle...all except for one moment...my moment of Christmas terror! *insert horror music here*

It was on Christmas Eve that I traveled with my coworker to the city to spend the first part of the holiday with his wife and daughter.  They were having a "party" on Christmas day, however I didn't want to be alone on Christmas Eve so I opted to stay the night.  Like Rwandans tend to do, they treated me as nothing less than a guest of honor, tending to my every need (against my wishes), and even gave me a Christmas present, which was an all expense paid trip to the neighborhood bar for akabenzi!! (a yummy pork dish).  I had been talking to my coworker about akabenzi for the past year and he and his wife made me the happiest meat eater alive when they took me out for my first taste of pork in TWO YEARS!  Long story short, Christmas Eve turned out to be a great time, that is until we made it back to their house, well after dark, and I asked to use the bathroom.  There was a slight pause after I asked the question, then my coworker and his wife looked at each other and responded "yes" in unison.  I didn't think much of their hesitation at the moment, but I soon figured discovered why they should have told me  no...or at least added on a disclaimer after they responded yes.  I then
mosied my way to the latrine, and after finding that the light did not work, I opted to use the flashlight app I downloaded on my phone.  Just as I squatted down to handle business (number 1, I promise), my flashlight hit the wall and what did I see?  A HUGE roach!  Like, so huge that I panicked and did the very thing I shouldn't have done next--I pointed the light up to see if this big fella was partying alone or with friends.  As I turned my gaze from the wall to the ceiling, I just knew I had to be sleeping and this had to be a nightmare--there were at least TEN more scattered about on the ceiling!  This time, my panic included me peeing all over my pants trying to get out of the latrine!  I had never seen so many roaches in one place...that were soo big... and that could potentially fly!

As I walked back to the room I would be sleeping in, I tried to tiptoe so my coworker wouldn't come out of his room and see that I had peed all over myself.  Just as I approached the door, I thought to myself, since when did I become as actress?? I swear that was like a scene from a scary movie.  Once in the room, I gently closed the door behind me and finally exhaled as I eyed the bed and thought about a blissful, roach-free sleep--until I saw another roach (though A LOT smaller) crawling on the wall near the bed.  I thought to myself, this can't be happening!  After a split-second of contemplation, I decided to pretend I didn't see that little roach and just climb into the bed.  However as soon as I let down the mosquito net, out tumbled the twin of the critter I had seen just moments ago.  I just can't win.  At this point, there was nothing I could do about the bugs, after all, I had to sleep.  I just tucked in the net, curled into an impossibly small ball, and prayed a roach-free prayer, until I fell into a dreamless, roach-free sleep.  Merry Christmas to me.

Love and Peace Corps,

Dametreea

P.S.  I loved my coworkers Christmas tree so much that I took a picture of it and decided to share it with the world.  A little charlie brown and cotton ball tree never brought anyone so much cheer :) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!