Kidnapped aid worker Jessica
Buchanan tells Scott Pelley that being taken hostage was like entering a
"weird parallel universe." In the above video, she describes the beginning of her 93-day
ordeal including a bizarre exchange with a kidnapper about a sunset.
Waiting for the "chairman"02:06On their first day in captivity,
American hostage Jessica Buchanan and her Danish coworker Poul Thisted asked if
they could call their relief organization. The request was refused and they
were told to "wait for the chairman." Buchanan describes why the title
"chairman" gave her hope.
The ransom: Why $45 million?01:09Negotiations for Jessica's release
began with the bandits demanding a $45 million ransom. Jessica describes the
pirates' "logic" and how it opened her eyes to their
"lunacy."
How she avoided sexual assault01:38Early on in her captivity, Jessica
told a lie that helped her avoid being sexually assaulted. She knew mothers
were ranked higher than single girls in Somali society so she said she had a
son.
Dying was not Jessica's biggest
fear, it was losing her mental capabilities. She tells Scott Pelley the secret
game she played to keep her wits about her turned into something more: a
journey of self-discovery.
Homecoming in small doses02:21After her rescue, Jessica elected to
participate in a hostage re-integration program which had strict rules about
reuniting with family members. She describes the controlled process to Scott
Pelley and the moment she'll never forget.
