Nomadic Narrative

A few months ago, someone asked me if there were a lot of bugs in Costa Rica. I half-jokingly said that I fought bugs, in particular mosquitoes, more in the capital city of San José than anywhere else in the country (read previous post). Since living here, I’ve also told people how I haven’t had any of the usual allergy inconveniences that I’d get in southern California.

As I sit here nursing a u-shaped welt under my eye and a left foot with two swollen and itchy toes, I need to take back that no-problem-with-allergies/bugs comment, which I will do with pursed lips and clenched fists—and, of course, a few bulbous body parts.

Now that the rainy season is here, a new fleet of insects has come out to play, or pick away at my flesh I should say. In my five months here, I’ve been bitten by any number of critters without consequence; though, in the past two weeks, tiny pin-prick bites from no-see-ums have left me whimpering.

I visited the dermatologist yesterday and was reminded that allergies get worse as you age—didn’t want to hear it! She also said that different insects come out at different times of the year that may cause unexpected reactions. Even people who have dogs for many years, suddenly become allergic to flea bites I was told.

In a country where bugs pop out at every corner, I don’t want to hear that my kryptonite shield built up over years of remote travels is deteriorating. I’m counting on the 180mg tablets of Allegra and the requisite red wine cure-all to fix it. I’m pretty sure that’s what Super Woman would do.