I don't know whether it was the idea of clearing acres of impenetrable rain forest with just a machete, or the prospect of introducing his new wife to Nichole, but Eric declined their polite offer. Even among the Ndyuka, a man's wives often do not get along. One way of dealing with the discord is to build one women's cassava patch and house far away from the other's. People in the bush are sociable, and if one person settles at a new location along the river, other people may settle nearby. Sometimes new villages form this way.
Maroon culture can be difficult for an outsider to understand.
The roles and daily rituals are complex, and unlike anything Americans are familiar with. The climate is taxing, and the Suriname interior is very, very remote. Even with vaccinations, tropical diseases are common. It can be a hard assignment for a Peace Corps worker. The PC are a dedicated bunch.