English Education Teaching

Weather

Palau's weather is generally hot and humid, with rain throughout the year. January to April are typically dry months where rain is infrequent. Rainfall is generally increased in the months of June to September. In times of bad weather, power outages are likely to happen, especially in Babeldaob. They usually last anywhere between 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the cause and severity of the damage and how fast PPUC (Palau’s primary utilities provider) can mitigate damage and restore power. In Babeldaob, most residential areas have access to a public water source and sewer system. If a public water source is unavailable, homes will have a reliable water catchment tank that supplies the residence. The water is clean and safe for hygiene and cooking purposes. Drinking tap water is not recommended unless boiled; however, for general health and safety, drinking bottled or rainwater is advisable.

ClothingDuring Pre-Service Training (PST) and workdays in the school community, the dress code is business casual a.k.a. “island formal”. Men are recommended to wear collared shirts (e.g., polos or buttoned-down shirts) with dark jeans, semi-formal pants, or chinos. The Ministry of Education School Handbook addresses expectations for teachers and adults in the school community stating; All teachers, including substitute teachers, must dress appropriately and be well groomed for work every day. Informal attire such as T-shirts, tight pants, mini-skirts, short shorts, spaghetti tops, tank tops and/or slippers are not allowed. Volunteers must adhere to the same expectations. Dressing appropriately helps Volunteers gain respect in their home and school communities as well as establish trust and credibility.


Housing/Transportation

Volunteers live with host families during the PST and year(s) of service. Volunteers live in a room in a family’s house. Transportation to and from the villages is usually by family vehicle. Within the hamlets, Volunteers get around on foot or bicycle.


Food/Diet

The diet in Palau consists primarily of Ongraol [rice, taro and other forms of local starch], with Odoim [recipes made of fish, beef, pork, chicken, canned foods, cooked with/without vegetables] and fruits. Pescatarians do well in Palau due to availability/access to fresh fish and other seafood. For strict vegans, it’s a bit harder and expensive, but doable.

Connectivity

The quality of network connection on island is decent. Cellular connection (e.g., 4G, 3G, and 2G data) and home internet coverage in Babeldaob exists and varies in strength, although, it is generally weak. The general idea is that the more rural an area is or the farther away one is from Palau’s urban center (Koror), the worse the network coverage gets. Cellular data coverage is available yet slow in Babeldaob’s eastern villages, compared to western villages. There is no guarantee that Volunteers’ homes will have Wifi connection. Most homes in Koror home Wifi but not all. In Babeldaob, most homes will rely on personal cellular mobile devices for 3G/4G data connection to access the internet. If homes have Wifi, there is no guarantee that the connection is strong.


Culture/Religion

Palau’s culture is matrilineal, meaning that lineage, inheritance and family bonds are traced through the female line. A culture centered on respect for its traditions, nature and history. The majority of Palauans are Christians [Catholic, Protestants, Seventh Day Adventists and other forms of religions].

Several of the traditional ceremonies, such as Omesurech- first birth ceremony, Ocheraol- first house ceremony, and the Kemeldiil- Funeral are widely practiced and the codes and beliefs adopted by Palauan forefathers are still revered today.

Learn more about the living conditions, including detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics on our Palau country page. You can also delve into stories about local communities by reading our blog or Volunteer stories.