7 People on a Towel

Intrigued by the title?  I was as well when a friend of ours announced that this was the next game we were going to play.  I hadn't ever heard of it so we all stood awaiting instructions.

"The object of the game," he explained, "is to have 7 people stand on your team's towel and while they remain on it, flip the towel over."

What?!

Soon our team of 8 stood around this small (NOT beach towel-sized) towel and just stared at it.  Ideas began to come and go, but no one moved to take action.  It was a timed event and no one seemed to care.  How to do this? We were mesmerized.

Suddenly, someone clapped their hands and said, "Everyone on the towel!"

The team members all took a step forward and attempted to place both of their feet onto the towel.  Not enough real estate to accommodate all of the team members' girth. 

John doing the biting safari ants dance.
Don't judge him for his pink bandana,
it came with the game.

"Everyone off!"

We circled the towel again, staring, willing it to speak to us.  Nothing.

I piped up, "What would The Acrobats of China do?"

They laughed and began piling on top of each other.  It was a warm day and the guys were slick with sweat making this not only tricky, but rather…gross.  Still, it was a competition.

Since there were 8 of us, one had to stand on the sidelines.  "Oh, rats!" I shouted, "I'll have to sit this one out!"  No one was convinced of my disappointment.

As the pyramid of humans began to form, much laughing, instruction and collapsing took place.  Finally, one girl leaped up on top and all 7 were successfully on the towel.  We were half done. Now to flip it over.

Silence again fell as we considered how to flip the towel.  Someone yelled, "FLIP THE TOWEL!  FLIP THE TOWEL!  I'M FALLING!"

People began crashing from the sky.  Towel 1. People 0.

The (now in quotes) "friend" who started this whole thing announced, "Okay…only 6 people on a towel!"

Not 5 minutes later he yelled, "Allright!  Only 5 people have to be on the towel!"

We kept working at it, relieved that the other teams were having just as much trouble.  The guys were getting frustrated and were now completely drenched in sweat.  Still, the thought of competition kept them motivated.  The women, however, were pretty much over it wondering if there could possibly be a prize worth the level of this effort.

Another team cheered in the distance and it dawned on us that yes, this was possible.  Oh, snap!

The other team's success provided a moment of clarity for the remaining ones.  It can be done!  Suddenly, arms and legs flailed into place as we began flipping the towel inch by inch until it was accomplished.  Success!

Everyone, completely exhausted, let out a small mutter of celebration before grabbing the next clue and running to the next challenge.

Why am I telling you about this?  Not exactly sure, but I do think there are a few takeaways with this experience.

1) Beware of "friends' great ideas" or rather ask them to demonstrate the task first. 
2) Approaching a problem in a non-logical way, may be the the most logical way to solve it.
3) Team requires commitment to the task…or towel in this matter.  Everyone's got to be in…or on…you know what I mean.
4) Accomplishment requires action, but it also usually includes failed attempts. (We figured out many ways not to do it which eventually led to the successful result.)
5) Working as a team can be hilarious, frustrating, exhausting, but rewarding.  (We each won a bag of gourmet coffee…making it all worth while!)
6) Sticking with something until it's accomplished can be a huge encouragement to others attempting something similar.

7) If you are intrigued by this challenge, try it the next time you are with some friends. However, if you have to be the extra person, take pictures the whole time and keep them for any needed future favors/cash. (For those of you on my team reading this, you can wire money to: pamhasthephotos@…)

Sidebar: ONLY attempt this in a culturally appropriate setting.  This did NOT take place in our village.  Aren't you relieved? :)