Those accursed mozzies...

During the course of last week I was bitten by mosquitoes. While this is nothing unusual for the average person, this is usually something of a traumatic event for me. It is most unfortunate that I live in a tropical climate when I am allergic to most insect bites.

The last time this happened, E. dragged me to hospital saying she couldn't bear looking at the bites or me any longer without doing something about it. So we trotted off to hospital at 1a.m. One of the doctors asked me if I had chicken pox - the bites were so swollen with pus.

This time, I tried to stop the allergic reaction by snorting Beconase and plastering what was left of the prescription cream. No such luck - one of the bites turned into a disgusting blister (which popped on impact when I dove off the upper deck of our boat during Saturday) that is weeping yellow goo and the other looks like a purple and red bruise that covers the inside of my calf.

Allergic reactions on this scale leave you with no room for vanity. M. was quite disgusted by the weeping blister. It is a shame that this is the shape he will remember me by until he sees me again.

I have no choice but to walk around displaying this on my leg as any contact with fabric usually results in the bites becoming even more reactive (should this be 'radioactive', I wonder). My colleagues are displaying the usual reaction people have to these horrible marks - grimacing, swearing etc. and so forth.
"What happens if you get stung by a bee?"
C. asked. Good question. I don't want to find out. Ever.
"You should eat more garlic and chilies. Hang on, aren't you meant to have garlic and chilies if you're Korean anyway?"
B. asked. No. Garlic makes your breath stink and chili kills off the tastebuds in your tongue. D. , a former Israeli military, was more stoic.
"They were worse last time." He said.