Spending time in the various islands

Hello fellow TT posters,

I am in a huge dilemma... This is not your typical travel question so I appreciate your understanding and hope for your insight.

BACKGROUND
I have a job opportunity where I would be based in the US but spend 3-4 months a year on and off working (public health) on various pacific islands, specifically: Northern Mariana, Micronesia, Palau, Guam, Marshall, and American Samoa. I have travelled the world (mostly budget backpacking) and worked in different regions (mostly Central America), but I never thought I'd make it to the Pacific Islands. This seems like it could be a wonderful adventure and a great opportunity to discover a mostly off-the-beaten-track area of the world. Diving also seems awesome. However, I am currently living and working in another paradise (Costa Rica), am in love with the Latin American culture, and would be more than happy to stay put for a couple of years.

QUESTIONS

I am very athletic and typically run/cycle at least once a day. Having spent a short time in American Samoa I realize that maintaining this lifestyle on the islands is challenging and often even wearing shorts is unacceptable (I'm female). I also really love my veggies and am afraid the diet is limited to fish (great) and deep fried carbs (horrible). This is an issue of quality of life for me, so I was wondering if anybody would be able to comment on this.

Spending 2-3 weeks at each site is not really enough time to connect with the locals, so I'm a little worried about being very lonely. Any comments?

There are pros and cons to the job, but I'm just wondering whether it is worth taking this job if only for the opportunity to go to these islands and have this experience. Please keep in mind that my free time will be very limited, though I may be able to take a day or two off during the weekends to go hiking or enjoy the beach. On the other hand, I will get to go to some more remote locations for the purpose of working and all transportation will be provided.

I realize that these are very difficult questions to answer, but would really appreciate ANY insight you may have.

Many thanks,
Gal

Edited by: chicachapina

Edited by: chicachapina

You seem to have weighed the issues involved pretty realistically so tempting as the opportunity might sound in general, it really sounds to me that you would be happier if staying put in Costa Rica!

A female American runner I know was posted to Solomon Islands, which is considerably larger than any of the countries you mention. She found she was very frustrated about the lack of avaliable places to run. This could definitely be a concern for you. However, I know she was able to wear and run in shorts (but not brief ones) as the island countries, particularly the larger towns, are becoming more modern.

I'm not sure there is much of a dilemma here. Given your priorities -- certain lifestyle requirements more important than the opportunity to discover a new corner of the world -- you're not exactly describing the alternative from the point of view of someone looking for good reasons to go. Reading between the lines, it also sounds to me that you want to stay where you are, and would be happier with Costa Rica.

It really comes down to personal preferences, and what you're willing to sacrifice for some perceived advantage. For example, while I'd in principle jump at the chance to 'discover' at the cost of certain lifestyle details I value, I'd be turned off by:

Spending 2-3 weeks at each site is not really enough time to connect with the locals

I wouldn't worry about being lonely, but the 2-3 weeks per site wouldn't much appeal to me, and certainly not when being based most of the time outside the region. I'd want to stay somewhere in the region itself and make the best of things.

Having lived in Costa Rica I say food in the South Pacific is as bad as what's on offer in Central America.

"worth taking this job if only for the opportunity to go to these islands and have this experience. Please keep in mind that my free time will be very limited, though I may be able to take a day or two off during the weekends to go hiking or enjoy the beach. On the other hand, I will get to go to some more remote locations for the purpose of working and all transportation will be provided."

Grab the opportunity-the richness of the culture and the vivacity of the people is worth it.

Many thanks to all posters. You got me thinking... I have spent the day reading about the various islands and it is horribly tempting. It's just difficult to leave a place where I am already happy and move to a city and a way of life (Atlanta/US, which is where I would be based) that I have been trying to avoid. But I have a couple more days to decide. Additional comments/suggestions are welcome!

Current information based on long stays in Majuro, Marshall Islands, I only left last week. I make no comment on whether you should or should not make the move. We are all different

Food seems be a one of your priorities. Basic rule: high islands (most on your list) = rain = varied local produce. Low-lying atolls (Marshall Islands) = dry climate = small variety of local fruit and vegetables available. Ways of cooking these foods are also basic.

It makes a big difference if you are in hotel-like accommodation or somewhere you can cook for yourself. Long-stayers get tired of 'eating out', and I much prefer my own cooking

If self-catering, most main centres (likecMajuro) have produce flown or shipped in. How 'fresh' then becomes debatable, but the choice of meat and chicken is poor. Prices at the one main supermarket are always advertised in the local Marshall Islands Journal (available online). There is a good selection of Western-style food products, sometimes available without little visitors

Being lonely should not be a problem as the ri-belle (foreigners) frequently meet up, especially at the two main restaurants, they use the sporadic internet facilities and exchange information on what to do. Wandering round alone at night is not recommended. In season (coming up), the Mieco Beach yacht club holds learn-to-sail weekends and races, visitors are most welcome at their weekly get-together dinners.

You talk about cycling. If you are based in one country and fly to others, will you actually be taking a bike? No hire facilities in Majuro, no particularly scenic rides. Western cyclists I saw looked over-heated, one couple gave away their bikes. Most ex-pats walk the streets for exercise, at 5.30 a.m. before it becomes too hot, all wear regular street clothes. Running would be difficult in Majuro as there are few sidewalks and no parks or sports fields to jog around, however drivers are slow and patient. Dogs might present a problem.

All the local women wear a cover-up type of dress, many of the young World Teach and similar volunteers follow suit. Visiting re-belle will soon be made aware that shorts and sun tops are not acceptable anywhere but at the beach, and Majuro doesn't have beaches. The water off the main hotel and Shoreline dock area LOOKS clear, few people swim there. Even locals hesitate to swim close to the main D-U-D area of Majuro, floating used diapers and a selection of jellyfish being the main problems. Further around the island the water is cleaner

You can take a small boat to one of the two islets (within the big lagoon) that allow visitors. There is an excellent dive company and good dive sites, water clarity is usually excellent. It is easy to go deep sea fishing, and usually productive. If the local boat is in service you can usually get to the nearest other Atoll (Arno) for weekends away

It would be an advantage if your job gets you 'out island', getting around the Marshalls by air and particularly by sea is difficult. It is rewarding to experience life ‘out island, the 'dress code' applies even more strongly, food choice is absolutely basic.

Walking is a pleasure but running would probably be viewed as strange behavior, as would actually lying on the beach in the sun. Village life is conducted under the shade of the palm trees. Best exercise is swimming in the wall-to-wall turquoise waters with spectacular coral.

God luck in making your decision.

Thank you wave2angela, I really appreciate your insight. This kind of information is extremely helpful in the process of my decision making and very useful if I do decide to take the job. Tomorrow I shall make up my mind.

You really need to talk to 5Waldos (perhaps PM her). She lived and worked on Palau and the FSM for a couple of years and traveled to the outer islands for work (doctor).

I have visited Yap and Palau as a tourist.

Palau has a wide variety of fruits and vegetables in the supermarkets in Koror. No problem eating healthy. You can wear whatever there, they gets lots of tourists (mostly from Asia).
They were building more sidewalks when I was there but I would say running would be difficult due to heavy traffic which hugs the curb, uneven sidewalks, drainage ditches. The same problems for biking. The compact road has hardly any traffic and is in great shape. Koror is a place devoid of any charm.The rock islands away from Koror are incredibly beautiful. You could kayak before/after work right around Koror . Be aware that there is only 12 hours of daylight year round. I personally would not want to spend any time in Koror. I kept on comparing it unfavorably to Los Angeles (and that's very bad).

Yap is a such a calm, laid back place. I wore shorts a bit above the knee. Would be great for running or biking. I had some local meals prepared for me when I was camping there. It was fish and vegetables (taro and such) that I guess was boiled or steamed. It was not fried. I didn't pay much attention in the supermarket but I do recall seeing fruits and veggies.

The dogs in both places just lie there. (I did a lot of walking.)

I found the people in both places very friendly. They are small places so you will get to know people fast.

I am so jealous of the opportunity I am inclined to say- NO do not go you will hate it. Tell them to contact me- I'll go. Especially since I will be retiring in Dec so I could in fact go. I have sent you a PM and would be happy to chat- And Koror isn't that bad. It was not a bad place to live for 3 years, although its growth has not been pretty. There is a world of difference between Costa Rica and most of Micronesia.

Thank you all, again. I have made my decision... I am heading to Atlanta (and the Islands)!

"I am heading to Atlanta (and the Islands)! "

Congratulations on the new job and new challenges!

It would be wonderful if from time to time you could give us a post about how you're finding life in different places you're visiting.

All the Best!

So .. the lure of adventure wins out in the end.

The road less travelled......well done! Let me know if you'd like basic phrase lists for all the Micronesian Island languages+ Carolinian and Paula-an. Enjoy your new life!

I did my best to say NO NO you will HATE it. It didn't work.I just want to make it clear that the next time a similar job comes up- IT'S MINE!

5W, you forgot your smileys again... ;-)

@ wave2angela, I'd love a list of the local phrases.

@ 5W, I'll keep you in mind :P

@ all, I am such a sucker for new adventures, though oddly enough this is a very stable job with great growth potential. I start February 1, 2010 and hope to make my first trip soon thereafter. Will be happy to share experiences... stay tuned for ChicaChapina!

-Gal

:-) :-) :-) Sorry- I need to remember to do this- sorry.

I really didn't mean it to sound so.......whatever it sounded. She is going to have a wonderful time going back and forth. Am I jealous? Yes certainly a bit. It is not a secret here that I love the islands. But I am not really in the market for a stable job at this point in life. I am always excited to bring another fan into the fold, and will certainly look forward to hearing about her adventures. And sharing what I know about working int he islands. And having her say hello to some of my old friends there whom she will almost certainly meet. So, forgive me if it came out wrong.

No worries 5W, I loved your responses and they all gave me a good chuckle. Looking forward to continuing the communication.

-Gal

ta. Look forward to it also.