Maneno mpya: jipu

Just so you don't think my life is all rainbows... Ticks are still an issue here. The other day I was talking to someone and they said, "the ticks seem to have all but disappeared," to which I replied by pulling one off my pantleg. I don't know if they just love me or I just constantly put myself in their path, but they are ALWAYS around. If I go outside to call someone on the radio- just in the backyard, I can come inside two minutes later and start pulling them off me. It no longer phases me when I feel something crawling on my leg after I get into bed at night. I don't even need to turn on my headlamp to reach down, pull it off, and crush it on the floor with my fingernail. Yes, I am talented. However, as much as I like to tell myself I will win the war, the ticks have definitely left a battles scene on my legs (can you tell I just finished reading "Gods and Generals"?) Recently, I have been plagued with these massive festering sores on my legs. I showed them to Rose and she said she didn't know the word in English, but in Swahili they are called "jipu." I looked it up in my dictionary and learned that I have been plagued with boils. What a disgusting word. But, the sores are rather disgusting. The area surrounding the worst is swollen and red and there is a constant throbbing. I am such a baby. Trust me I know that if this is the worst affliction I have in Africa, I am being looked after, but still. It HURTS! It may turn your stomachs, but I had to take a picture.