New Sweet Salone post: Don't read this post while eating
Meryl Olson
So I’ve been trying to keep this to myself, because it’s really inappropriate for a blog post, but it’s just taken on a life of its own …
Maybe you’ve heard of bot flies? The gross flies that lay their eggs in your laundry and then the larvae burrow into your skin and develop there for several weeks before they fall out? No? Well, now you have.
Africa has its own less (in)famous but very similar version, the tumbu fly (Cordylobia anthropophaga for those who must know- gotta love the whole “anthrophagous” part of that). Same idea, different name.
You’ve probably guessed by now, but I’m growing my very own tumbu flies! Two of them, in my right ankle and foot. They’re harmless, but that doesn’t mean I’m too psyched about them being there.
Based on recommendations from the internet and friends in Freetown, I’m currently smothering them with vasoline to force them to poke their little larval heads out, and then planning (with the help of a friend with experience extracting tumbu flies) to pull them out with tweezers. I’ll post photos, don’t worry!
A certain someone suggested that I name my “dark passengers,” since they’ve been with me for a good two weeks now. Current names in the running include Carmen and Luisito or Desi and Lucy.
