Dayton says...

... it's far too dangerous in Liberia and I really shouldn't come.

Danger schmanger, right?

But I feel differently about danger now than I did a week ago, before "mortality week" struck. Sure, I have my meningitis vaccination, but I don't have any sort of bullet vaccination.

Plus, any work he can find appears to be out of the city. Which I would normally encourage him to do, especially if he got to use Kru (his first language, though he did learn English simultaneously) again. The tribal rural people are really at risk of exploitation and the like, so it's important that people be out there working for and with them.

But this means, I'll be on my own in "the worst place in the world to live." (According to The Economist, numerous years.)

He didn't exactly forbid me to come - which would of course meet with some response from me which would be unpleasant - but begged me to take his advice. So I want to be respectful of that and not just do the opposite of what he says without consideration. I think of Netanya - how she stayed with the children through Katrina because Keith wouldn't leave because of the elderly people of his church who couldn't evacuate - how they stayed for days in a church attic before swimming out to the Convention Center. When I asked her why, she said, "I'm not going to disrespect my husband. He knew the right thing was for him to stay, and my place is with him." But what if he had told her to go? Not that we're anything like Netanya and Keith - she's a solid rock of kindness and self-assurance, no neuroses there (unlike me completely).

So, lots to think about.

Here's what Lonely Planet has to say:

Uncertainty After Civil War

The mess that is Liberia's civil war seems to be on the mend but the country is still no place to go for a beach holiday. While elections and a new president have provided hope for continued stability, the security situation remains fragile. Crime is prevalent and potentially violent. Travellers should exercise high levels of caution at all times. Avoid non-essential travel outside Monrovia, and travel outside Monrovia at night should be avoided.