interesting random fact post #…whatever

Living in West Africa during “winter” definitely has it’s challenges.  Sure sure it’s relatively warm compared to WI but I’ve never in my life had to deal with mosquitoes during winter.  Winter’s normally my reprieve from the little blood thirsty insects.  However, since December the mosquitoes have been attacking with a vengeance – it’s awful! A few weeks ago, the internet at my place wasn’t working so I had to skype while sitting outside.  After talking with my family for a few hours on my birthday I was horrified to find 15 bites, just on one ankle!!  Are you kidding me!!  And ankle bites are the worst!  Then the other night I was sitting inside at the table and I saw this little noiseless mosquito flying around and couldn’t kill it for the life of me. I had to just sit there knowing that it would bite me at any minute and I couldn’t do anything about it. Here’s the worst part – word on the street is that silent mosquitos carry malaria, but the ones that buzz are malaria free. I don’t know if this is a scientifically proven theory but I’d rather not test it out. Anyway, tonight as I’m sitting outside typing this I am once again being swarmed by mosquitoes. I would take piles of snow and sub 0 temperatures any day over mosquitoes in winter!

Now to be entirely honest there is a definite upside to living in West Africa during “winter” and this is it:

ENJOY!!

UPDATE – - I have recently been told that the buzzing/no buzzing indicator for malaria carrying mosquitoes is true.  So rule of thumb, mosquitoes who buzz are good because they won’t give you malaria but they will however, still bite you. sorry.