Muerto por Araña

Death by Spider


Yesterday in Spanish class, la professora made a point of warning us about las "arañas de rincones," or the spiders that dwell in corners. You should know that as I was deciding on a study abroad location, I specifically searched out spiders indigenous to each location I was considering. So I knew what I was getting into. I know that Chile had spiders. But I figured at least Chile wouldn't be as dangerous as, say, Brazil. So apparently the one spider that presents a danger in Chile is the araña de rincon. As per its name the spider likes dark corners and dirt. For this reason, we are not to leave piles of clothes on the floor, and we are supposed to shake out our shoes before we put them on. Last night, I actually pulled my bed out from the corner a little bit as a precautionary measure! Not only do these spiders bite, but their venom can be fatal if the bite goes untreated. For some reason, the Chileans are incredibly nonchalant about this whole thing. Well yes, they say, the bites ARE pretty serious, but the spiders are timid so you don't have to worry. So essentially, the only thing saving me from certain death is the fact that that these spiders are "shy." The Chileans seem to be content with this idea. I, on the other hand, am freaking out. My one source of comfort is that my sister Cote is 16 years old and has only ever seen one in her life. I really hope I am long gone before she sees another one!