The drive to our camp took another forty minutes: at first, we were flying on the excellent four-lane highway and several minutes later passed a Welcome to Michigan! billboard. In a while, Tasha took an exit off the highway, and we drove quietly through the Michigan countryside on a small, empty two-lane road. Suddenly our van took another turn, and I heard the dull rumble of the gravel under the wheels. We looked at each other in surprise – it seemed like giggly Tasha was taking us to the middle of nowhere!

It was getting dark when the van took a final turn and started creeping along a narrow, winding dirt road surrounded by tall bushes. I slowly and carefully scanned around, but my tired eyes were unable to discern the camp’s actual size. Tasha finally stopped the van by a large, low building that looked more like a barn. Deadbeat after the long trip, we unloaded our luggage. Not knowing what to do next, I looked around and noticed only black faces staring at us and smiling. It was hard to imagine anything more terrifying.

It was going from bad to worse. We walked inside the building. I found myself in a large room with smooth concrete floors, tall cathedral ceilings, and even a basketball hoop in the opposite corner. Several intimidating looking guys were playing ball while others were playing cards at a plastic top picnic table, chatting and laughing. The sound of the bouncing basketball was echoing loudly from the walls and ceilings. We were the only white people in the room. I suddenly felt my legs go weak and about to buckle.

Well, it was not my nightmare’s grand finale yet. Confused and scared, I was shown to my room. There were about five beat-up wooden bunk beds crammed tight in small space. Loud rap music was shaking the bare walls. Ten or so dudes, all black, were happily nodding their heads to the thumping beat and singing along. I was shocked! We picked empty beds and settled for the night. Too scared to ask if sheets and blankets were available, I laid on the bare mattress using my rolled-up jacket as a pillow. Soon I fell into an exhausted sleep, with monotonous rap beat rocking the room, and the thought that I had made the biggest mistake of my life.