A simple plan created in the US or Australia becomes something else in Timor. It will take trips to a dozen hardware stores to find any tools or supplies close to what you need, and then any instructions are in Chinese. Prices quoted to "Malay" (foreigners) are multiples of prices quoted to locals, so we would ultimately call on Juliao, the exraordinary young Timorese man who speaks perfect English, Tetun. Portuguese, and Indonesian. Juliao (pronounced Julio) became our friend, translater,finder and negotiator, despite having 2 real full-time jobs. Two days before we left, we finished our project of completing this first part of a library for the school, with the completion promised for our next trip in mid-May.
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