What reflections and connections can I make with this novel?

As I read this novel and saw how Don Richardson had to deal with an extreme cultural difference, I sort of felt an empathy with him. Like he did, I also experienced change from one culture to another, even though the degree of difference was not as huge as the one presented on the novel.
When I came to TCIS at first, I found myself struggling because of sudden changes in my environment. Since a majority of TCIS students consist of Korean students, language wasn't the most difficult issue there (yes I violated language policy very often). But subtle differences in perception of certain behaviors embarrassed me more than obvious ones.
For instance, when I have to talk with grownups, (this does not often take place in Korea by the way, because the only time I get to talk with them is when I'm in a trouble) I am not supposed to look directly at their eyes; it's considered rude. However, in American culture, it is rather a sign of insubordination or guilty not to look at people's eyes when I talk to them. Although I know that I should look at their eyes when I am talking to them, I'm so used to looking down that I almost unconsciously avoid that.
This probably does not even look like a problem, but it sometimes frustrates me, because when I try to become like people who can communicate without any problem, it keeps me from becoming like them. I'm sure Don Richardson would have felt the same thing. He tries be like a Sawi, not for his whole life but just during his visit, to communicate with them more perfectly as a missionary. It is hard to become a native person, because there is certain "subtlety" that one can't just acquire. It is something that grows with the person living in the community. This connection between Don Richardson and me helped me with understading this novel better and feel what the author had to deal with.