Bedbugs are a real pain. For any American who thinks they were one of those things that disappeared along with straw beds, they are also a psychological shock. Try to imagine what it’s like to wake up after a particularly restless night with mysterious itchy welts in straight lines down your limbs. And then try to go to sleep the next few nights without leaving the lights on (because you’ve heard that bedbugs avoid the light).
Now a College of Arts and Sciences alumna, I participated in a study abroad program at Oxford. Unlike the unfortunate London group, my bedbug concerns were addressed promptly by the administration. As soon as I reported my after-hours observation of bedbugs in my otherwise immaculate room to the porter at St. Anne’s College, he made room keys to another room available to me. The next day, the specimen I captured was shown to an exterminator — who not only treated my room, but adjacent rooms, where no complaints had yet been lodged. I was moved permanently to a different room. Staff made industrial-sized washers and driers available to me free of charge, and helped with the carrying. I believe I was even offered 50 pounds to help cover dry-cleaning costs (which, honestly, wouldn’t have quite covered it). The Boston University administrator of the program may not have known quite what to make of my situation, but did coordinate with local staff to make sure I was being helped.
The most important difference between my own experience and that of the students in London this year was the attitude with which my concerns were addressed — even when I was exhausted and emotional about it. That support was greatly appreciated: The effort to eradicate bedbugs for residents of infected rooms is strenuous. I was advised to wash every piece of cloth I owned in my room (does luggage count as cloth? Passport carriers? Decorative objects? I wasn’t taking any chances), shake out things like shoes thoroughly — and then repeat all efforts two weeks later. It was a lot of work, but at least those around me acknowledged the problem and helped me deal with it.
My study abroad experience was amazing. To this day, I still like my beer room temperature and pay attention to international perspectives on politics, history and culture. And I’m grateful to those who helped make it a positive experience.
Elizabeth Milnes
CAS ’02
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