hot mess

im 99% sure i have head lice, which just led to the most entertaining conversation with my housekeeper. i think maybe i was talking about lice and she was talking about something else altogether....

* * * * * * * * * *

Me: hey, R~ sorry to interrupt. can you help me with something?

R: yes?

Me: i think i have lice.... little white bugs in my hair. 

R: yes?

Me: can you look at it for me? (i lean down)

R: (happily) yes, you do!

Me: oh, no! bugs? are you sure??

R: yes. 

Me: what do i do?

R: Cambodian people think this is very pretty. 

Me: lice? the little white bugs?

R: i do not have. i want to have like you. 

Me: you want lice? ...but i see people picking them out of each others' hair...?

R: [confused]

Me: pulling out? take out? remove?

R: [still confused]

Me: get rid of? ummm..... 

R: you want to..... destroy them?

Me: yes! 

R: uh, sometimes, we destroy here [indicating armpits] but, the head. its ok. 

Me: hmm. so Khmer people do not want lice here [armpits] but its pretty on the head?

R: yes. [thinking....] this bug is not healthy in your country? 

Me: no, we try to destroy them any place we find them.

R: let me look at the head.... you can just keep them there.

Me: id like to destroy them. 

R: to destroy them?

Me: yes. how can i do that? do you know? is there some medicine to destroy the bugs?

R: you want that i destroy them to you?

Me: you know what? i think theyre ok in there today. youre mopping anyway, so maybe i will destroy them this week. thanks for your help, though!

R: its very pretty. 

Me: Thank you, R.