When Animals Attack....

Sometimes I swear I'm Dr. Doolittle reincarnated. The number of bugs/animals that have found their way into my home (or tried to) would surprise you. It surprised me at first, but now? Eh, not really. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I've become comfortable with this. It's more like I've accepted it. Yeah, just like any home (no matter where it's geographically located) there will be the occasional uninvited guest and you just have to stay calm and deal with it. I have found though, that here my animal experiences are unlike any others I've had before. A couple are comical while others scary, but most are just a part of daily life here. However, I have managed to record a few encounters that I've found to be memorable. (Warning: If you're squeamish and/or don't like creepy-crawly things or stories about them, this post is NOT for you!)


-A frog (hopped it's way into my shower once, but was quickly escorted towards and out the door.)

-A tarantula (crawled right on in on a rainy day; Rose and I were deeply absorbed in a Glee marathon which was rudely interrupted. She helped me scare if off after we finished panicking/strategizing for 30 minutes. After all that, it didn't fly like I'd predicted. Fortunately for us, it just went out the way it came in, but unfortunately for the tarantula it didn't survive the Insecticide fumes.)

-Tarantula #2 came to visit on the night of an electrical shortage throughout the city. Worse this time though it was in the guest bedroom (also where I sleep during the summer as it's cooler). I Skyped my grandfather out of slight panic but mostly disgust and he talked me through getting rid of it. I now sleep underneath a mosquito net si o si (no matter what). Can you blame me?

-A cat (or should I say THE only cat in Paraguay (most don't go anywhere near people) who wanted more than just a full belly. It just showed up at my backdoor one day and I tossed it some leftover bread. Surprisingly, it ate it all then blinked at me like "That all ya got?" From that day forward, it continued to show up announcing it's presence with a very lengthy "meowing" session until I stepped outside and demanded (in Spanish) what the problem was. If I'm being honest here, I didn't mind the company (being away from home sort of does that to a person). What I DID mind however, were these cat's attempts to cuddle, demand all of my attention, and enter my home (a couple of times successfully; once through an open window while I was hosting Thanksgiving-that's one way to shock your guests by the way). I'm not even a cat person. All I wanted was just a short visit every now and then, not a new roommate sheesh! I'm not proud to admit this, but after a while I resorted to scaring it away with a broom. I was losing sleep (for the second time due to an animal) and felt I had no choice. Sometimes it shows up for old time's sake but very, very rarely.

Oh Que. Um, I guess Facebook can wait.....

Mama Bird (I'm assuming)

-A bird couple (built a nest and had some babies in my bathroom window. Being woken up at dawn for 2 weeks straight was NOT fun, but I didn't have the heart to kick them out. So when it was time for them to leave the nest, they did.)

Hungry baby birds

-A lizard (or something was tickling my calf while I was sleeping oh-so-peacefully at my host family's house one morning. Upon first glance I did confirm my original lizard theory, but was confused to feel the same tickling on my other calf. "Two lizards? Great." I mumbled as I sat up, trying to shake my dream-like state. Wrong. It was in fact only one lizard, but an ill-fated one who just so happened to shed or lose (still unclear) it's tail--which was the actual cause of the "tickling"/what woke me up. Yep, a detached but dancing colita (little tail). Believe it. If not that's ok, there is proof below! (See video)

-Out of the side of my eye I witnessed something white-looking blur by my doorway while I was somewhat engrossed by something on my computer. I jumped up to investigate and found a medium-sized, well-camoflauged scorpion (but not well enough). Luckily for us both, I did not have to kill it but instead, gently swept it outside. (Side Note: A year ago I would probably have had some sort of panic attack at such a sight, but I reached for my camera to take the picture below before reacting to the intrusion. Um, possible sign I 've been here a little too long, maybe? Ha.)