Post Palau, Week 1

Last week marked a week since I left Palau. I have thought of it every day. 

It pops in my mind when I see the ABUNDANCE of fresh fruit at the grocery store, when I take my hot shower every day, and pretty much every time I'm in a crowded place.  

The hardest and most common question I’ve gotten since I’ve been back has been: 

How was Palau? 

That’s a loaded question. Where do I even begin? Usually this question comes in passing and theres no WAY I could tell you all about Palau in just a matter of seconds. So my short answer is this: it was a beautiful, challenging, biggest growing experience I’ve had in my life yet, and I wouldn't give it up for the world. 

After the first question usually comes the second one, 

How do I feel?

That’s another loaded question. I’ve felt angry, sad, and anxious. There have been moments when I've felt a little bit like a stranger in my own place. Sometimes its a little bit lonely and you wish that you could bring Palau to your family and friends so that they could truly understand what you’re feeling.  

One thing is for certain, this past week has been a whirlwind.

My family picked us up at the airport with their big smiles and welcome back sign. They’re so cute. We took lots of pictures and talked all over each other like hispanics do and it was fantastic. :) We went to bed way past midnight and woke up at lunch time the next day. Hello, jetlag. 

On our 2nd day back, we went to Target, World Market, Forever 21, and the grocery store. Whoa. I didn't have a meltdown, but I definitely felt the difference with all the visual stimulation and amount of STUFF around me. I haven't purchased more than 5 items of clothing in the last 20 months! Never thought that would ever happen! In Palau, we didn’t have much, but when I stepped into the store I didn’t feel like I needed to buy anything. But the minute I stepped into a store in U.S., I felt the itch to buy things! And I didn’t need any of it! Yikes. I honestly can’t wait to update my wardrobe, but come on, guys. Can I get a little less pressure on my wallet? I just got here! 

One of the best things about this week has been spending time with my family. Time with them is so, so precious and I can’t imagine I survived so long without them! They have given Joey and I the most patient listening ears. They listen to all of our stories and look at our pictures without ever complaining. My mom gets a kick out of every little little Palauan trinket I show her, and it means the world to me. She told me that every time she went to World Market last year, she’d go to the world globes and turn it to Palau to give it a little kiss and send up a quick prayer. How stinking sweet.

I also got to visit some friends this week and it did LOTS of good for my spirits. We had fun laughing and screaming, hugging and catching up, even if it was just for a short time. Coming back and feeling like you have no friends is a real fear when coming back from the mission field, and so feeling loved by friends meant a lot to me. 

Joey and I started also started the very intimidating, very exciting task of hunting for a place to live! We had our ups and downs, and learned a few lessons, but ended it on a very good note. We’re praying and trusting that things will work out just how God wants them to.

Overall, I still have lots of adjustments ahead of me, but I’m happy that I’m back.

To end our first post week, we are traveling up north to visit Joe’s family. Cheers to more sweet reunions and re-entry adventures. 

Xo, 

Rachel 

Palau Missionary Girls Packing List

If you are reading this and are heading to Palau as a missionary for the 2016-2017 school year, just know that we (the previous missionaries and myself) are SO excited that you are coming. We are happy that you'll be here to love and take care of these precious kids and enjoy this amazing country.

I've been a missionary in Palau for two years now and everyone here once felt how you did (nervous, excited, ALL of the emojis at the same time) and we also had many of  the same questions you do. One of them being being "What in the world do I pack for a whole year to go to a country I've never been to!?" 

So I got some answers from all my girls from the last two years and came up with a list of some things that you might find helpful in your packing. :)

Girl, don't leave this: 

Skirts.
Skirts are going to be your jam all day everyday. Lady teachers at both the highschool and elementary school need to wear skirts everyday to school (unless its for a special school event) and for church. I grabbed a few fun-printed maxi's from Target and Marshalls and then picked a few up from the thrift store. Try to keep them at knee-length (at the shortest) and I would shoot for at least 8-10 skirts. Remember you'll be wearing these all year long. I fell in love with Maxi's here, but some girls said it was too hot for them to roll with. So figure out your style and bring lots of them!

"Chill clothes" AKA shorts and t-shirts. 
Basketball shorts/Running shorts and t-shirts are the go-to outfits for after school. One of my friends told me she only brought one pair of basketball shorts and she wished she had packed more. Bermudas and jeans have their place, but don't be afraid to pack those shorts! NO BOOTY SHORTS!!! Mid-thigh to the knee is the best length to shoot for. Taller girls might need to be mindful of their blessed height. I know, it's a gift and a curse.

Sandals.
You can buy shoes at the department store but the selection is limited and it can be a little pricey. Flip flops are generally a no-go for teaching, so try to buy something that has a heel strap for school days and Sabbath. Bring a FEW pairs of comfortable sandals.

Rain jacket.
To keep you dry from the frequent Palauan rain. :) If you don't have one, now is a perfect time to invest in one.

Swim gear.
Your bathing suit that you bought this summer might have to go on hold for 10 months, but don't worry, it'll be there when you get back. :) For Palau, you're going to want some swim shorts, swim shirts, and shoes. As for shorts goes, think "modest is hottest." Mid-thigh-to the knee is usually golden and I swim in my athletic shorts all the time. For shirts, you can swim in regular T-Shirts (thank you SAU for all those shirts) or you can swim in rash guards. Lastly, cover your feet with some water shoes if you can. Some people have chacos, others have those "toe shoes", and some people just use water shoes from Walmart. Any one of these will do just fine for your waterfall adventures. :)

Water bottle. 
As simple as this may seem, you're going to need a water bottle. Nalgene and Hydroflask are some of the missionaries favorite brands. They last forever and the hydroflask especially will keep your water cold on a hot day. :)

Eh, you can buy it here if you had to: 

Toiletries.
A lot of the girls were saying that they were surprised that Palau has a lot of the brands from back home. You might pay a little extra for it depending on what it is, but if you needed to, you could just buy it here which is a great option to have--especially to save some poundage in your suitcases. The biggest recommendation? Buy in bulk from places like Costco where you can get a good bang for your buck. Pack your favorite brands in a box and ship that baby ahead of time. You'll be glad you did. :)

Feminine Products.
Okay. You CAN buy tampons here, but they are expensive. Be ready to cry a little bit every time you need to buy them. Pads aren't too bad, but the tampons are kinda much. Having your mom or a friend send you some in a care package will help a lot.

Polo Shirts. 
All the teachers will wear Polo shirts that have the school logo on it. If you find polo shirts at home that fit you well and you like, I'd buy it. You'll have a chance to get some extra polos once here in Palau, so it's not mandatory. However, it might be worth bringing a couple cute polos in colors that you like.

Not mandatory, but definitely gonna wish you had it: 

Electronic Devices. 
Bring an extra charger for your devices and probably a hard drive or a couple thumb drives with you. You're going to want to share LOTS of pics that people take throughout the year and some movies for nights when you don't have grading to do. ;)

Hammock. 
Hammocks are all the rave for missionaries in Palau. Again, we are brand snobs and most of us have Eno hammocks. They are perfect for "hanging out" on campus and especially for when you go camping. Portable bed!

Underwater camera. 
GoPro can literally make a promo video in Palau of all the missionaries that have a GoPro camera. But it doesn't have to be GoPro! Any underwater camera will do to capture this underwater beauty. :)

A nice outfit. 
Having a nice outfit that you love and feel yourself in could make the world of a difference. You will have opportunities to dress up a little bit and won't want to wear your basketball shorts and t-shirt. Bring a couple dresses (that's an easy one piece outfit for church or banquet options for PMA staff) and a few nice tops you can throw on for birthdays and restaurant occasions. :)

School supplies. 
Educational resources are slim in Palau. There are no "craft stores" and some things straight up don't exist here, like pipe cleaners. There's a place where you can buy construction paper, glue, scissors, etc. But regular acrylic paint, pipe cleaners, and educational games are pretty much non-exisistent. Target has a great $1 section that has materials for school if you find something you think your classroom could really use. I'd recommend buying it ahead of time and sending it to yourself so it's all ready to go when you get there. I might need to write a whole different post for this. Let me know what questions you have!

Spandex. 
Believe it or not, this was one of the things the girls screamed out as soon as I asked them this question. Spandex are good for under your skirts and for chilling at home. A must.

You're really not going to need this: 

Heels. 
It's not really a thing in Palau. You won't be the only one without them (It'll be more like the opposite).

Rainboots. 
One of my sweet friends who brought rainboots never wore them. Never.

Leggings.
Unless you're chillin' in your apartment, leggings are a no-go for Palauan Missionaries in public. Your basketball shorts will get most of your lovin' this next year. :)

Sweaters. 
Being that Palau is just 7 degrees north of the equator, you're not really going to need sweaters. I've got one and I've only used it a handful of times. It might be nice to have for those handful of times, but you won't be needing multiple. Trust me.

If you have any questions you can comment below and I'll do my best to try and help!

Happy packing!

Xo,
Rachel