Are you happy with your placement?
October 28th, 2007 by jds.I have been nominated for the South Pacific, and judging by the work descriptions for the South Pacific it looks like I am heading for Palua or Micronesia, in youth vocational education. I am of course curious if you have served in these areas or are serving did / are you feeling positive about your experience. Are you happy with your placement?
Thank you, any input would be greatly appreciated.
jds
November 4th, 2007 at 8:29 am
Palau is a good place to work. Small town–which some people don’t care too much for, but I love. And the people are generally nice and helpful and the culture is very interesting: Matrilineal, American influence, Japanese influence, complex social relationships frozen in place since European contact. Good fishing, snorkeling, diving, photography, etc. Plenty of non-Palauans to make things interesting. All of which imply a potentially difficult assignment as well as one that is potentially outstanding.
I’ve worked in most of the islands of the Pacific since my Peace Corps service and I think Palau is one of the best. But it has complexities that other Pacific Island countries don’t have–close to Asia; strategic alliance with the US in a rapidly changing part of the world; the US pulling troops back to the Marianas from Japan (meaning perhaps increased use of Palau?); ease of hiring non-Palauans to do menial work; ease of entry to the US for Palauan youths.
Enjoy your assignment there if you get it!