Homosexuality is illegal in Senegal. When Patrick Driscoll found this out before he departed for his Peace Corps service, he was immediately a bit nervous about the next 2 years of his life. Patrick had come out during his senior year of college and was generally accepted by everyone and was quite content. Then, he was moving halfway around the world to essentially "jump back in."

Before serving his country as a Peace Corps Volunteer, Josh Guerrero served in the Marine Corps. We talk about his Peace Corps service, the transition from combat boots to flipflops, and essentialism.

On this short Friday episode, I issue an apology to the listeners and guests of the My Peace Corps Story podcast. I'm sorry. I can do better.

Thousands of miles from home, John Leos contended with failed projects and the unexpected divorce of his parents. But his service in The Gambia, a small West African country bordering the Gambia River and bounded by Senegal, was not defined only by these hardships. On this episode, John fondly remembers his host family, the nephew named after him, his fellow volunteers, and the family cow.

Packing for two years of service can be nerve-racking. How do you decide what to bring for the next 27 months of your life? How do you pack everything you need to live halfway around the world into two 50-pound bags, a carry-on, and a personal item?

Solomon Amuzu met Peace Corps Volunteer Kate Schachter 16 years ago when she was serving in his Ghanian village. From Kate, Solomon learned about organic farming and the importance of caring for our planet. Sixteen years later, Solomon is now serving his country through his organization, Call to Nature Permaculture.

Hours after swearing-in and becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer, Camilla Cluett and her fellow volunteers were consolidated for security concerns. Days later, she was leaving Burkina Faso for good. While her service was short, she gives insights into training and tells us what is to come of her Peace Corps story.

This episode is different, something new that I am going to be trying out for the next month. I would love to hear your thoughts and reactions to it. Think of this as an audio newsletter, update, monologue, and an opportunity for me to talk a little bit more directly with my audience.

Nathan Fitch is a filmmaker and visual journalist based in Brooklyn. He currently works in the video department of The New Yorker and recently finished his first documentary film, Island Solider, based in Micronesia, where served as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

During a recent trip to Thailand, I was lucky enough to have the chance to sit down with a current volunteer and learn about her service. Seated on the patio of a restaurant and Chiang Mai, I interview Anna McGillcuddy, a Youth Development Peace Corps Volunteer in northern Thailand.