Do Cockroaches Bite?

The title is what I type into google late at night before a long, hectic day of classes.  Returning from an equally long, exciting, and exhausting day of shopping in Harajuku, of course I would like to sleep.  However, some sense of paranoia mixed with anxiety about managing my upcoming week compels me to rant in my blog, although I don't particularly consider myself a ranting type.

I feel pretty gross right now.

Apart from being partially sick before arriving to Japan (I think that was courtesy of the flu shot I received to prevent the flu...)  I've been through many disgusting instances that I've simply tried to ignore.  The first night I arrived, I dropped my razor in the toilet.  Of course, this is a byproduct of jet-lagged me trying to get objects from the toiletry rack which is conveniently above my lid-less toilet, and not being able to keep objects from sliding off my convertible sink.
That, and, my room is still infested with cockroaches.

Granted, they are getting smaller, but after my initial spraying and barrage of roach motels they seem to come back.  I don't expect that I will ever be entirely rid of these mongrels, but I would like some peace of mind.  They can get into anything, they can crawl out from anywhere, they are survivors.

I attempted to kill one in my bathroom, but it simply fell into the toilet.  "Phew" I thought as I expected it to drown.  Not so fast.  It swam around a bit before escaping from the bowl.  "Woo hoo, jackknife!"  it probably secretly squealed with delight (I would say "canonball" but I doubt they are physically capable).

And that brings me to the paranoia-stoked conclusions that fostered today's blog title.  Lately I've noticed tiny abrasions on the back of my arms.  Like tiny scabs the size of pinheads to somewhat larger, oddly-shaped marks.  Even today I scratched a scab from my ear, causing it to gush blood while in the middle of shopping (random and embarrassing and too much information). Ultimately the answer was in the back of my mind, but yet I desperately racked my brain for instances in which I had run into something or scraped myself.  The obvious facts won out; What would cockroaches subsist on in my room devoid of food? I only wear a tank top at night.  If I just stay still long enough, I think I can feel something...

So, does the web relieve me of my anxiety?  Was I looking for reassurance that I would not be eaten alive, or reassurance that I am not crazy?  What is the answer, asktheexterminator.com?!

"Summary: All the cockroach species that are common invaders of homes are capable of biting people. Cockroach bites normally occur when the person is sleeping."

Yikes



"Cockroaches can bite people but it is rare. German cockroaches are the most likely to bite, probably because they are often responsible for large infestations.  Cockroaches bite sleeping humans because they are looking for food."

Thank you asktheexterminator.com.  I really wanted to have that image of pointy-toothed roach-kong stepping over some buildings ingrained in my mind.

"Cockroach bites look similar to other insect bites. The bite can be itchy, as well. Bites are small red marks that often scab over. Cockroach bites can become infected and might be likely to do so because cockroaches are so often exposed to sewage and other materials that are full of bacteria."

naruhodo..



I apologize for this gross-rant.  It's not my goal to evoke pity from the sympathetic or gagging from the overwhelmingly empathetic.  Or even to try to one-up someone in life's gross-osities. And I promise I will heed my parents' request to get Boric acid, believe me, if life were not so hectic and I were less forgetful.  I simply haven't felt this accurate about any my inclinations in a long time, and I think that is pretty noteworthy for my duration in Japan thus far.  I also feel prettier with my room and person teeming with cockroaches, in conjunction with having the worst acne of my life in a land of pure complexions.  Not being a teenager for one day hasn't particularly alleviated the situation.   But these are trivial matters that will fade with time, I believe.

Nevertheless, us international students were instructed by our humorous orientation adviser to let dorm facility management know about the "cock-a-loach," since it really is a problem.  I think I will do that, and hopefully have my cleaning fee voided as well.

Well, time to put on a large T-shirt, go to bed, and not think about the kanji quiz I haven't studied for tomorrow, or about how appetizing I am. : )

終わり