Winners join race like 'blur sotongs'

Hong Kong team roped in 4 hours before start of race; one fired from job.

When the Hong Kong team won The Amazing Race Asia 3 last week, words like 'fairy tale' and 'it was meant to be' were thrown around by rivals and even the producers of the AXN reality series.

The underdog duo comprising Singaporean Sam Wu and Canadian Vince Chung were the least prepared competitors - and possibly the ones who made the greatest professional sacrifices - joining the race.

That's because the best buddies - both 32 and living in Hong Kong - didn't even make the final cut of the original 10 teams to be selected for the third season.

They were the 11th 'standby team', and were asked to join the race only when one of the original teams dropped out at the last minute.

They had to pack and board a flight to Bangkok for the filming in under four hours - from the time they received the surprise call in mid-May.

The preparation time given to teams usually ranges from a few days to a month, depending on the countries they're from and whether visas are required.

Vince told The New Paper over the phone from Bangkok, where the finale party was held: 'We didn't even have time to get inoculation jabs or a haircut. My laundry wasn't done, so I had to pack some stuff that wasn't even clean.'

Sam added: 'I carried a school bag, not even a proper knapsack. I didn't pack sunscreen, sunglasses or matching outfits with Hong Kong logos. That's why we looked so uncoordinated (compared with the rest). And we never finished reading the rulebook!'

Sam admitted they went in 'like blur sotongs' - and it showed in the first episode.

They got lost in Bangkok, were in last place at every challenge and came in 7th at the end of the first leg.

Sam recalled: 'We felt really disadvantaged and it was demoralising, because it hadn't quite sunk in yet.

'But from then on, we found our footing and actually became quite formidable.

Upset employers

'No one predicted Team 11 getting in at the 11th hour and winning. AXN could not have scripted it better - this is really reality TV at its best!'

To add to their initial woes, both were constantly thinking of whether they were going to end up jobless back home.

Vince had been teaching English at a primary school for five years and Sam is an English lecturer at City University.

Because they were given such short notice, the pair had to make sudden applications for one month's unpaid leave and this upset their employers.

Even more so when they couldn't give specific reasons for leaving and would be uncontactable during the whole period - due to the the non-disclosure agreement they had to sign before the show.

Both took off before their leave applications were officially approved.

Vince ended up being fired when he returned.

He said it was a 'big shock' because he thought his school wouldn't mind as he had worked there for so long.

He said: 'I was even used as a 'model teacher' in the recruitment video for the (English) programme. I was confident of my abilities and skills as a teacher, my students liked me and I got along well with the staff.

'But there are no hard feelings. The school has even said it would give me good references!'

He added: 'A lot of people like to play safe in life, but I like to take calculated risks and this was one of them. To turn down something so special and unique like The Amazing Race Asia would've been crazy!'

Currently a freelance comedian-host, Vince is looking to pursue a career in showbiz and hopes the show will give him the necessary exposure and act as a stepping stone.

Although Sam's services weren't terminated, he received a black mark on his record, which prevents him from receiving any salary increment this year.

He recalled: 'My bosses were really unhappy because I was supposed to go to Shanghai and Perth for a work trip that week but had to pull out so suddenly.

Enthusiastic students

'I hated being irresponsible and unprofessional, but luckily I managed to convince a colleague to take over my duties.'

Still, Sam agreed with Vince that it was a 'no-brainer' to join the show because it was a 'once in a lifetime experience'.

'Even if we didn't win (the cash prize worth $150,000), we'd have no regrets and it would still have been worth it.' But of course it's great that they did.

For Sam, the results have extended beyond the financial and into the educational.

He said proudly: 'My classes are all full now.

'My students actually watched the show because of me - (it's not easy to) get locals to voluntarily watch an English programme!

'They've become more enthusiastic about learning new words like 'detour' and American slang.

'So I'm really pleased I managed to motivate and inspire them and make a difference somehow.'

 

 

- Jeanmarie Tan, Electric Guide