Slippery, Slimey, Slithering

Imagine hiking through the beautiful wilderness of a park or forest. Along side the trail lies a cool, clear stream. You stop to gently slash the refreshing water on your face.
Looking around at the surrounding beauty, inhaling in the clean air, taking a deep breath....

(sniff...sniff... cough...sputter)...oh no...my nostril is clogged!

Well, I don't think it would take me two weeks to realize that something had either swam, splashed, or slithered up my nostril.

That is exactly what happened to a hiker in Hong Kong. She washed her face in a stream and two weeks later discovered that a leech was lodged in her nostril.

I think my reaction would be totally different. Image yourself at the stream, how would you wash your face? For myself, the first scenario: I would dip my hands in the water and splash it onto my face. The first dip into the water I am pretty sure I would have my eyes open, but I think I would have my eyes open with each dip so I am sure that I would see if I were about to push something, that I would prefer not, up my nostril.

Second scenario: Dipping your face into the stream. I can see how it is possible that something could swim up the nostril, but to slither up? I think I would feel something slithering its way up into the deeper cavity of my nostril and then attaching itself...unless of course nature has provided the creature with a secretion of anesthetic solution as it slithers.

By any means, the leech had to be surgically removed. I think I would have known that something was not as it should before two weeks passed...especially when I couldn't blow it out....hahaha! Hangin in there!