Getting Stoned with Savages: A Trip Through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu

After leaving his previous home in Kiribati, J. Maarten Troost moves to Vanuatu and then Fiji, documenting his attempt to find a simpler life while navigating the complexities of the South Pacific. The narrative tracks his experiences with the muddy kava root—a sedative drink central to local social life—while balancing the realities of island existence including active volcanoes, giant centipedes, and political instability. Troost details the transition into fatherhood amidst these environments, contrasting Western corporate expectations with the slower, often chaotic pace of Melanesian and Polynesian cultures.

This account serves readers who enjoy humorous travelogues and honest depictions of expatriate life. Those interested in the cultural geography of Oceania gain a perspective on the region that bypasses typical tourist brochures. Readers walk away with a realistic understanding of the trade-offs involved in leaving a developed nation for a tropical climate. The book provides a look at how displacement and environment shape personal identity, offering a grounded view of the logistical frustrations and unexpected rewards of living abroad.

Practical and clear-cut; an easy read.

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