language struggles

I'm finding language to be a very challenging issue at my site. I can get by somewhat with the Amharic I learned in training and Sidamic greetings, etc. But many people don't speak much Amharic or don't like me to speak Amharic. Every day when I pass by people I hear the words for "English, Amharic, Sidamic". People tell me all the time "Sidamic is very easy/simple" and say that the last volunteer spoke Sidamic so why don't I know more? I understand that this, along with the staring and laughing, is just par for the course/part of the job but still it's a daily exercise in fortitude. To be honest, it's exhausting and very lonely. I have to keep encouraging myself to reach out, to practice with people, to make daily, weekly monthly plans and then adjust when the plans inevitably change. And thank goodness there are people like my language tutor, counterpart and others who are encouraging and patient and helpful and kind.