Kate’s Next Chapter

Some random musings after a few months…

Moving to another country is unlike anything most people can imagine. Yes, I’ve moved before. In my childhood, we moved several times (from Illinois to Missouri to Ohio to my Old Kentucky Home). But that is nothing like experiencing moving to another country.

Why? Well I can only explain in relation to my experience here in Palau. So, here’ are the biggest differences I’ve discovered so far, and how they make moving here different than moving to another state.

• Language. Obviously, this is the most important factor. Palauans speak both Palauan and English. In a classroom today, I asked a group of students which language was primarily spoken in the house. It was a 50/50 split. Everyone I have met speaks English. However, when there is a group of Palauans gathered, they default to Palauan. Totally understandable, but there’s always a little feeling of being left out. Todd and I have been playing volleyball and while they use some English volleyball specific terms, when they are speaking to each other to discuss plays, strategy, or just make jokes about a play, it’s in Palauan. Does this make sense for them? Of course! But it can give one the feeling of being outside looking in.
• Driving. Thank goodness, they drive on the right side of the road here! However, most cars are imports from Japan. And they have the driver on the right side as well. Once you get used to it, it’s not bad. The biggest challenge is having the windshield wipers and turn signal reversed. I still scare myself with the wipers when I’m just trying to turn. There are no stoplights in the country of Palau (apparently they tried a few years back, but it didn’t last). Overall, it hasn’t been bad.
• Grocery Shopping. I did a post about the stores here shortly after the move. After having been here longer, I’ve learned more. First, produce is expensive, and not always easy to get. Food grown locally isn’t too bad. But many foods, even fruits and vegetables, are imported. Apples, for instance, are imported. And yes, some things are imported from the US. Many are frozen for transport and then thaw here. Right after a shipment, you can find just about everything. But often the produce section is limited. There is the option for frozen fruits and vegetables, which is great, but also not always the same.
• Titles. In the States, we refer to adults as Mr. or Mrs. _____. Here, people are mostly referred to as their title. Todd, therefore, is Judge or Your Honor. It’s the norm to be at Night Market and hear “Good evening Judge.” Even on the volleyball court, when they go to set him, it’s “Judge!” What then do you call the wife of said Judge? Mrs. The secretaries, Marshalls, clerks, etc., all refer to me as “Mrs.” However, I recently started working here. At the school I frequent the most, I am “Teacher,” as is every other teacher on campus. Sometimes there is a first name after the Title, so “Teacher Kate,” but usually not. It has its pros and cons. It is obviously a sign of respect, which is lovely. But going a full day without hearing your name can lead to identity loss. I don’t want to be just the judge’s wife, nor do I want my identity informed only by my career.
• Religion. Religion is brought into almost everything here in Palau, including, and almost especially, government events and school. Yes, at every government sponsored event, there is prayer. At the public school, they start each day with a prayer and a verse, both as a school, and then in the classroom. Classrooms are decorated with Bible verses.
• Entertainment. This might one of the most difficult. There are no movie theaters. No bowling alley. We can stream some things, but have to use a VPN as some streaming channels don’t operate outside the US. And sometimes, the internet isn’t the greatest. We pay for the premium internet, and it offers a whopping 20mbps download speed. Yes, we can go the beach. And yes, we can take a walk. But I’m dying to see some movies, and have to wait for streaming! Some people here will go to Guam for a weekend to shop, see movies, and get some entertainment they can’t find here. We haven’t tried that yet, but I am very curious….
• Medicine. Thankfully, and knock on wood, we haven’t had any medical emergencies. However, to start work, I did have to be drug-tested. To do this, you go to the hospital. Once registered in the system, you tell the registrant what you are in for, and they give you a number. Then you wait for your number to be called to go to a room. There, you are triaged and sent to wherever you need to go next. Your hospital number is tied to your Social Security number. Why? UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE! Yep, you read that correctly. Part of your paycheck goes into your account (HSA) and you can use that to pay for healthcare. But also, a couple weeks ago, Alex got sick. Sore throat, fatigued. I was pretty sure it was strep. We went to the local clinic and he saw a doctor, got nose swabbed and blood drawn. Yep, bacterial infection (as shown in the blood test). In the same building is the pharmacy, where we received 2 prescriptions (antibiotics for the infection and then something for the inflammation). So a doctor’s visit, 2 lab tests, and 2 prescriptions. $89. And we could have used our health savings money, but didn’t this time. Now, it took 2 hours. And there are only a couple clinics plus the hospital. But I will take $89 for that any day. Also, the Ministry of Health and Human Services sponsors regular FREE health screenings. Just last night, they were at the gym for our volleyball league, where we got weight and BMI readings, and blood pressure checks. They also routinely do STI screenings. In 2021, Palau had a 99% vaccinated population. MHHS rolls out vaccines as they get them, and the population here participates willingly.
• Community. The vaccination record leads to my next point: community. The strongest aspect of Palau is its community. I have not had a bad interaction with anyone here yet. In every store, I am greeted. At schools, I say “good morning” and get 25 responses. Out of 25! And middle school teachers, especially, know how challenging that can be. Within their states (there are 16 in Palau), people are very close. Neighbors know each other, and help out when they can. It would be hard to be lost in the crowd here, which, as with everything, has its ups and downs. I definitely don’t feel like I can run to the store in my pajamas when a boy is sick, or else people might talk about that judge’s wife! But I also know if I forget that Friday half days at school are done at 12 and not 12:30, the boys will be taken care of – not that that happened or anything. When Will decided the night before to run a triathlon the next morning, we went. And everyone there cheered him on, especially his good friend’s grandmother who was there. Palauans help their community, and we are lucky to have been brought into that fold.

Four months in, and I still pinch myself at the color of the water, and can’t believe this is actually real life. I also still miss my friends, family, and routine back in the States. Am I happy? Yes. Is change easy? No. Two things can be true at once….