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Hey James,
your honesty is inspiring! This kind of work means daily set backs and I think the more passionate and committed you are then the bigger the set backs.
The hardest things I found during my time in Vanuatu was not having close friends and support structures for when everything became hard. In my worst experience I litterally thought I was losing my mind and had no-one to turn to.
All I can say is when the hard times come you must express them in some form - whether it's writing or calling someone and then I can guarantee it'll turn around the next day - as you have so brilliantly shown.
I look forward to reading more of your adventures.
Language is such a hard one, for me I think the real work really began only 2 months in , once I had a grasp of the language. Even if you can get bits and try it'll make people warm to you language wise. I found that when I spoke english I was one of the "western world oppressors" but when I spoke bislama I was able to have allsorts of communications, this might also been part of my stuff of not wanting to be seen to be part of the colonial world that is the expat in Vanuatu... all of it is part of your experience there and your confrontation of non communication can only increase your understanding of their situation... but you are already well on that journey -can't wait to read more.

Melinda

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