The Day I was Attacked by a Lizard

Yes. You read that right. I was attacked by a lizard yesterday. In my room!! I am now scarred and I think I will probably have nightmares about reptilian attackers for the duration of my Tanzanian stay.

So here is what happened. Yesterday afternoon after placement I was relaxing in my room. I was reclining on the empty bed reading and had momentarily dozed off. Suddenly I felt something drop onto the pillow next to me. I opened my eyes and looked over and there was a lizard RIGHT next to my face!! I reached to move the pillow away from me, but the lizard LEAPT at me! It jumped onto my face! I could feel its tail curl down my neck! Its needle-like talons digging into my cheek! I FREAKED out. SCREAMING, I jumped up and swatted the lizard away from me. It flung into the wall and then disappeared behind my bedside table.

Holy crap. It scared me to death. Everyone in the building came down the hall to see what the commotion was! I looked everywhere but couldnt find the stupid lizard, so I assumed it had run away. I slept in terror last night - with my mosquito net tucked in tight in hopes that that would keep the lizard away.

I survived the night and went to placement this morning. There was no sign of the lizard so I thought I was in the clear. In fact, the girls in the room next door had reported a lizard siting, so I thought he must have moved on to his next terror victim.

Alas, before lunch I saw him scurry behind one of the beds. I looked and looked and could not locate him. And then, after lunch I came into my room and there he was - in the middle of my nightstand! His tail casually draped over my toothbrush case - i know, gross. I screamed and my friend Erin came to my aid. We hatched a plan to erradicate this vicious creature once and for all. I carefully removed each item from the table so as to not disturb the lizard. Once everything had been removed (including the toothbrush) I carefully lowered a trashcan over the lizard. He FREAKED! Jumping and thrashing around everywhere - we definitely had fighter on our hands and we his fierceness was immediately evident. with the greatest of care I slid a file folder under the trashcan, effectively trapping him inside. From there, Erin and I carried the thrashcan and folder outside. The trashcan is actually still sitting outside because we couldnt get the little jerk to get out of it! Hopefully when I get home I will be able to restore everything to its rightful place, sans reptile. I hope.