Cambodia gave me nits.

My scalp has been really irritated for a few weeks now and I finally asked a friend to check my head yesterday. I have the nits. I've been a breeding ground for many little evil buggers, sucking my blood and laying their eggs.

Great.

So, on top of fending off mosquitos, having IBS everyday, I now have to deal with my head and the top of my neck being super itchy. Not going to lie, it sucks. They don't sell any medicated shampoo here but luckily, we are going to Phnom Penh for the weekend so I will be able to buy some there. Maybe I should buy it in bulk, especially if I plan on going to preschool more. (Village kids are carriers for all kinds of shit.)

At this point, these small ailments have started to become somewhat comical.

I'll be in Pursat for these first two weeks of March, then I'm taking a two-week vacation back to Phnom Penh for five days (a wedding, getting contact lenses, visiting Steve & Wendy of Servants Asia, Killing Fields Museum) and then a seven day adventure to Thailand (Bangkok, going to a Thai church, eating pad thai and green curry galore, 10-hour bus adventure to Phuket, shopping, etc.).

All in all, I really look forward to the time away, traveling on my own to new sights and regaining some physical and emotional well-being. Ever since I moved in with my homestay, I've been sick and unhappy. When I return in April, I will only have two and a half months left. That is a short period of time and if I am not well, I know I won't be able to contribute a lot or get all the work done that I have for GLT. Upon returning after two weeks of travels, it will be a nice way to transition into the last phase of being here by regaining my autonomy.

One of the things I've been reaffirmed here is that I need to have my independence and that I need to take care of myself. I'm not a martyr, I'm not a saint. I am one person, who is trying her best. Is it okay to say that I want my health? This is what I've been wrestling with.