“It's a whole other world"

Peace Corps volunteer Justin Byrd takes life one day at a time in Africa.

by Suzanne Smedley

Trading in his VW and comfy mattress in suburban USA, for a bike and a bamboo bed in rural West Africa, was not an easy adjustment for Justin Byrd. But a few months before his college graduation from the class of ’02, he began thinking about what he wanted to do next. He was ready for adventure and had a desire to work in an international development organization, so he decided to take a leap of faith and join the Peace Corps.

It wasn't an easy step for Justin, or his parents, who knew he might be assigned to a remote area where communication with one another would be difficult — not to mention their concern for his safety.

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