Tucked away in upcountry Sierra Leone, I feel privileged to have lived and worked in Kabala.  My internship experience with CAUSE allowed me to acquire valuable insight into the ways in which international development projects are translated from paper into practice.  I experienced the challenges, constraints and innovation of local project implementation, as well as acquired and refined my report writing, survey analysis, and workshop facilitation skills.  This professional experience was complemented and enhanced by the personal relationships that I made during my stay.  I am indebted to my incredible Sierra Leonean friends and colleagues, who have, in their words and actions, taught me so much about life, humanity and the concept of development.  Personal reflections, combined with professional experience, have made this internship an invaluable endeavor.