I can't believe another cycle of Amazing Race is over!! What am I gonna do with that one whole hour every Sunday evening now??
For those of you who live on a different planet and never watched Amazing Race, it's a highly addictive reality show where teams of friends/family (some quite colorful/dysfunctional and thus entertaining) race around the world for a million bucks. And for those of you who have been watching the Finale tonight, I'm sure you're biting your nails all the way with me. And for those of you who've Tivo'd it and don't want a spoiler, STOP READING RIGHT HERE!!! (And don't let the photos mislead you...hee hee...)
I have to admit that I've been cheering for this Chinese father-and-daughter team, Ron and Chris, the whole way.
Not only do I desperately want the world to know that there is more to Chinese people than William Hung's singing talents, I also see a smidge of me and my dad in them. I mean, I'm nowhere as smart as Chris and my dad isn't quite as stubborn as Ron, but as it goes with Chinese families, we aren't too good with connecting on a deeper emotional level, and too proud to tell each others how much we love and respect each others. It's wonderful to watch these two grow in their relationship department along the race, and how their performance grew steadily stronger (from being in the bottom of the pack to #1 in the last 3 legs!) as they learn to appreciate and connect with each others.
And since my dad and I are not in any physical shape to compete in Amazing Race- my dad will probably succumb to race-ending heartburn having too much spicy food in India and I'll sprain my ankle on some remote island thousands of miles from civilization- it's safe to say that we'll have to find a different way to pull a "Ron and Chris" on our own.
As much as it would be the most triumphant story that will pass from generation to generation in Chinese folklore if these two win the race, well, they didn't... *sigh* So who are the winners? (Drum roll........) It's TK and Rachel, the hippie couple!
And honestly, I thought if my favorite team didn't win, these are the two people I wouldn't mind seeing the million bucks go to (nor would I mind if Kynt and Vyxsin the "goth kids" won either). I'm sure they hate being labelled "the hippies", but they really do embrace this label in every sense. They don't take life (or any of its obstacles) too seriously, they love their grungy bandanas as much as they love each others, and best of all, they piss the super competitive teams off with that I'm-not-trying-too-hard-but-I-can-still-win-a-million-bucks attitude. It really is "amazing" (no pun intended, of course) to watch how personalities, split-second decisions and karma interplay and unfold in this show.
What can I say, when's Amazing Race 13 starting?