Mission Possible

So yesterday we did a 4 hour simulation called mission possible.  Once it was all over I was able to look back and appreciate it and learn from it and was able to say it was a lot of fun, but in the midst of it, it was a bit stressful.  There is no way I can convey to you exactly what took place or get you to feel the things we were feeling and experiencing but it went a little something like this:  I was with a team of 8 people from 6 different countries and our goal as a group was to reach the country of 'epohon' and to learn as much of the culture and the language as we could.  We were given a 'passport' and some 'money' and were sent out to acquire our visas.  It took me 3 tries before I could get my visa because as an american I had to have an invitation to enter the country.  I also had a bit of trouble because I had scribbled something out on my passport and was questioned about the reasoning for that.  I simply claimed that this was something that we all did in my country...that it was customary to scratch something out and they finally stamped my book and let me through:)  Next we had to get our 'plane ticket'  This part proved to be fairly easy for me.  Then we boarded our 'plane' (it was a bus) and were told to take the cloth on our headrests and blindfold ourselves because we were not allowed to see where we were going...interesting feeling!  Once we arrived at our destination, a couple guards came on board and checked everyone's passports and made us line up to prepare to make our way through customs and immigration.  When I reached the front of the line they asked to search my bag.  They questioned me about some things and then ended up pulling out a bag of 'crack' which someone must have planted on me sometime during the game.  So, needless to say they took me into custody and interrogated me for what seemed like forever.  It was a bit intimidating.  I was in a room by self with a couple of guards without much light and with lots of incense.  Once they found out that I was american I basically had to pay them off in order to be freed.  I considered myself lucky because some people actually got thrown into 'jail' for different things.  I finally was able to reach my destination and meet up with the rest of my team and we were taken to our host family.  We went into their 'house' and ate a meal with them and they spoke only in their language and we did the best we could to learn as much as possible.  I have to say I was a bit impressed with myself during this time with how much I was able to pick up on and communicate with them on.  After we had eaten the woman stood up and motioned to the rest of us girls to join her.  Her husband had turned on some music and we had to dance for the men while they continued to eat and talk with one another.  It was quite the experience.  Once it was all over we met together with a leader and spent some time debriefing as a group and sharing what went on in our heads through the whole thing and talked about what things we might actually encounter as we get ready to enter our host cultures.