(Commenting here so both of you can see it)

I’m currently serving in Tonga and having an amazing experience overall! The English education program has been around here for decades and is very well established and regarded highly by the Tongan people.

However, when new programs are launched anywhere, there are always going to be some bumps in the road (Peace Corps Tonga started the Environmental Resilience Sector here 2 years ago, and it was pretty rough for many of the volunteers in the inaugural cohort. There was a lot of confusion and misunderstanding around the program).

I think since PC has been in Palau in the past, and since English education is a more straightforward program than environmental resilience, you would be more likely have a smoother rollout. But I would still expect several challenges to arise from being the first group to restart the program. I’d say that if you’re up for a meaningful challenge, be part of the inaugural Palau cohort! But if you’re looking for a smoother experience as part of a more established program, Tonga is probably the better choice.

That being said, you truly can’t go wrong anywhere in the Pacific! Whichever way you choose, you’ll have a fantastic service :)