La Cucaracha

Yep, you guessed it, we have really big cockroaches south of the equator. They are similar in size to that of water bugs in Texas – the ones you can saddle. I know this topic of conversation usually falls in the less desirable category and will make you cringe but it is worthy of note just because of the sheer magnitude of the problem. Thankfully the location of the infestation has been limited to the first floor, mainly the guest bathroom.

During last Sunday’s call with Sergio, I was interrupted twice by other missionaries in the house. First by one who had gotten a cockroach in her pant leg and the second by one who had screamed in horror when she turned on the light in the guest bathroom. It finally motivated me to put out a product I had purchase a month ago. One of the previous missionaries had recommended it. In English, the name of the product translates as “Grandma’s Secret.”

Grandmas Secret was a paste that was applied that night to the baseboards, behind the pipes and base of the toilet with thick utility gloves and a popsicle stick. I am not sure what the active ingredient is inside Grandma’s Secret but I am guessing it is illegal in the U.S. I shudder to think of the toxicity to humans.

After the first night our cockroach death toll started around 30 and has since averaged around 10 a day. One of our daily chores now is sweeping up dead cockroach bodies. A small sacrifice in exchange for our sanity. Go Grandma.