It's so hard to say goodbye! I had a wonderful last few weeks and last few days with the World Vision team in Bawku West where I've been living this last 11 months, and am leaving my placement on a real high. The work has really got going again as we have been in busy season, many projects kicking off the new financial and operational year, and actions underway to already begin reaching the super high targets in Child Welfare, Health, Education and Water and Sanitation. Wow, it's been the most memorable time, with so many highs, and of course a few lows, but every moment a new challenge, a new learning curve and a new eye opening experience. This last few weeks I have simply been throwing myself into as much as I can, to make the most of this experience before I leave and to make sure I've done as much as I can to help before I go.

The most valuable thing I've developed has been the relationships with the staff members, who are some of the most wonderful people you could meet. I have really admired their work ethics, their commitment to the cause, and their ability to work extremely hard under huge amounts of pressure and at all times remain professional and uphold a level of quality in their work that is rarely seen. This is even more impressive knowing the daily challenges that the work brings in a district that is suffering from some of the worst child mortality rates in the country and high levels of children not in school. So it made it really special to spend some lovely quality time with them before I left. We have over the last few months really bonded, by working together on projects and activities, by sharing red-red for lunch, by sharing skills, and by having in-depth discussions about our confusing cultural differences. Our relationships have gelled over how to best spend money for projects, how to engage some of the most challenging communities, and how to sensitively tackle some of the issues the communities face. It took a while, but as I have got to know each member of the staff team, I've been able to share something with them, and they have equally shared so much with me.

There's Jacob, the Child Welfare Officer who is responsible for managing all 3000 (!) sponsored children in the district, and who has the calmest and most thoughtful disposition when it comes to over-bearing workloads and impossible deadlines. I have very much enjoyed his regular blasts of self reflection audios (how to become a great leader! how to be successful! etc) that we have enjoyed in the afternoons, and his gorgeous little son Cornie who comes to see me and gives me the best high fives J.

There's Abigail, my counterpart, a very skilled and talented woman. I have loved sharing an office with here, sharing laughs and giggles, working so closely we were like sisters, and I'll miss her terribly. I have admired her super professional approach to work and here tireless commitment and careful thinking even when faced with situations that have confused me entirely and left me in a right spin! She's definitely someone to watch.. I have a feeling I might turn on the TV one day and see her talking as an expert about big development issues such as maternal mortality or HIV/AIDS.

There's Sergious, tall and serious, but also an absolute softie. I remember the day I first managed to make him laugh, over something really daft (until that point I'm sure he really wasn't so convinced by this little blonde whirlwind that had landed in the office to shake things up!) and since then we've been friends. I have looked up to him like an older brother, a very wise man with a heap of experience behind him, and will never forget the day he called me his 'big sister' the biggest compliment in Ghana!!

And there's Sheriff... I will not forget how forgiving he was when he took me out to the field for the first time (for work!), and I sweated and wilted and wobbled about under the hot sun, he could have laughed at me a lot (which he probably did when he got home) but instead he simply helped me to find respite in the little shade that was available and gave me constant supplies of water and coke! The heat was so much, I honestly thought I was going to die! So technically he saved my life J. In reality he's been a wonderful colleague and a really lovely guy to have around, especially seeing as he makes the quickest trip to Bolga from Zebilla, I didn't know a pick-up truck could travel down that road so fast!

And last but not least there's our manager, Bernard. We've become really good friends over the year, and whilst it took us a while to understand where we were each coming from, our cultural differences have caused some major confusions at times (!), the time we have taken to get to know each other and figure out how I can best be a part of the team has been invaluable. He's been a mentor and a friend, helped me on my spiritual path, and has ultimately embraced my presence in the office and given me so many opportunities to get involved, share my skills and learn from the work.

And of course there's been so many other people I have built wonderful friendships with, Linda and Raymond, Dominic the driver, all the wonderful Child Welfare Supervisors, head teachers, communit health workers...the list goes on!

I had a fantastic last day at my placement, a surprise meal out in a lovely outdoor restaurant with so much food I was full for days and lots of signing, laughing and joking about. It was really memorable and they bought me some really thoughtful gifts that I will treasure (especially my Kente cloth scarf 'for the cold weather'!). I'll never forget the team and all they've done for me this year, I'm going to miss them all so much, and judging from some of their reactions to my gifts and cards too, I have a feeling they might miss me too J.

With love from Ghana,

Em

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