I have decided to leave Liberia. I told this to my friend and driver Jonathan the other day, and he said he felt like he had committed a crime and was about to get caught. I feel the same way—this feeling of dread of leaving a place I have grown to love. I have no good reason for leaving, but I think it’s just time to move on. I will be returning to the US at the end of September to take the LSATs, and will be moving to New York the first week of October to look for a job there or possibly elsewhere.
Keeping this blog has been one of the highlights of my time here. I’ve met so many people who I never would have otherwise come across—Liberians, Liberian-Americans, expats in Liberia, and Americans interested in Liberian affairs. My favorite emails were always the ones from Liberian-Americans that went something like this: “I left Liberia during the war, and have not yet returned. I use your blog to keep up with my country.”
I don’t know what will happen to this blog when I return to the US. I fear my new life will not be as blog-worthy as my Liberia life, but we’ll see what happens.
Thank you to all of my readers. I’ll do my best to put together some interesting final posts in the next week or two.
I’m sorry that you are leaving Liberia. Liberia needs people like you – people who have knowledge, an open heart, and willing hands. I hope you find as much happiness and challenge with your new “life” as you found in Liberia. It has been a pleasure reading your stories of Liberia – it has been delightful hearing your descriptions of places and people I love so much. Best of luck to you.
Ditto all that Ruth B. said. I will miss reading your blog! It is a highlight of my day to find a post on Plantains and Palm Trees!
Beth
thanks for all the wonderful stories, you were like our eyes in our country, when we could not be there in person, your blog was one of the best.
I think I can give you my personal guarantee that life in NY will be as blogworthy as life in Liberia.
Roger