Age

So I'm reading a Nigerian tabloid this morning (it's best to just ignore all the weirdness in that sentence...) and settle on an interview with some actress.

Question: At 30, one should be thinking of settling down in marriage; is that on your priorities list?

Answer: {Irrelevant}

Question: But don't you think you're running out of time as far as marriage is concerned?

Hmm.

On the next page is a completely different interview. The interviewee is 28.

Question: Don't you think a time will come when men will be scared of you?

So now I know: it's a full-on conspiracy.

In the States, I never thought anything about turning 29. But in Africa, I'm...well, I'm starting to understand this scene:

Carrie: Hey, what the hell was going on in there?

Miranda: We were standing in a group of married or engaged women. We were the only single people in there.

Carrie: Miranda, we’re the only single people anywhere.

Miranda: Are you telling me that you didn’t see all those "Don´t worry, you’ll find someone" looks?

Carrie: You know what? Sometimes I think people and couples look at us and wish they had our lives.

Miranda: Nope, we make them uncomfortable and they don’t know what to say.

Personally, I don't worry about men or children. But Liberians do. And nearly everyone my age has a kid who can divide 144 by 12.

So I worry them.

"No fiancé back home?"

"Nope."

"Then you'll start looking when you go back?"

"Not really."

"How so? In Liberia, we don't rest until we're married."

"Oh. No I'm good, thanks."

Percentage of Population Under Age 14

Liberia: 44% 

U.S.A.: 20% 

That is a ton of Liberian children. It's also not uncommon to have kids early and get married 5-15 years later. I heard a radio show attack the lack of family values in Liberia; my mother countered that when your life is cut in two by war, you create stability however you can -- getting a ring was the least of a girl's worries.

Until now, apparently.

I hope my people don't mind if I sit this one out. I'll watch silently from the bleachers.