Amazing Race Finale

The Amazing Race – All-Stars comes to a conclusion this Sunday! I am rooting for the Beauty Queens. Really, they deserve it. It’s a gruelling race and they have kept their spirits high the entire time. Although, apparently they fall apart a bit in the finale. Let’s hope it’s not their downfall.

A couple of years ago I had brunch with their fellow racers, Uchenna and Joyce Agu on their first trip to Toronto. Here’s what these globetrotters had to say:

Q: What has impressed you the most about Canada?
Uchenna: The hospitality. Even before we were famous, I spent some time in Vancouver and Calgary and the common thread I have found is that Canadians are truly warm and genuine people.
Joyce: I am also surprised by how vibrant the cities are. Toronto seems like a great walking city and it’s so glamorous and glitzy, like Vegas or Miami. Ottawa was pumping too.

Q: What would make a good “Roadblock” in Ontario?
Uchenna: You need something that offers “surprising complications”. Apparently, the windows of the new Canadian War Museum in Ottawa spell out a message in Morse code. Having to figure that out would be perfect.
Joyce: Or zip-lining between the buildings in Toronto.

Q: And a good “Detour”?
Joyce: It would have to be “The Rideau Canal - Skate or Swim”.
Q: If it’s cold enough to skate, you couldn’t swim, could you?
Joyce: Good point. Well how about that other funny sport? You know, “The Rideau Canal – Skate or Curl”. It would have to be Winter though.

Q: And a “Pit Stop”?
Uchenna: The architecture in Ottawa is beautiful when lit up at night. I would say the Parliament Buildings.

Q: What were three negatives about appearing on The Amazing Race 7 ?
Uchenna: Finding potable water.
Joyce: Lack of sleep. We were on the road for five and half weeks.
Uchenna: Yeah, that really was tough. You could never relax. You were constantly thinking about what your next move would be.
Joyce: Another big negative was not having free time. Although in Argentina, England and Botswana, they did give us a 36-hour break. You didn’t see that on TV.
Uchenna: Yah, in those places we were able to go on some tours and see the country. We loved the animals in Botswana.

Q: What were three of the best things about appearing on The Amazing Race 7 ?
Uchenna: The people we met.
Joyce: And we were able to see so much of the world. Botswana was a place that we would never have gone on our own and I loved it. We slept 30 feet away from hippos and crocodiles!
Uchenna: Also, what you learned about yourself. People live within set, comfortable boundaries and this experience forced us to go beyond our boundaries. People say “I can’t” a lot, but how do you know until you try?
Joyce: It was so empowering to know we are capable of so much.

Q: If you had give fans three travel tips, what would they be.
Uchenna: Get off the tour and participate in local behaviours and traditions. Acutally make contact with the locals. The people add colour, the cities are just the bricks and mortar.
Joyce: And definitely bring lots of baby wipes. Not all countries have toilet paper.

Q: Would you come back to Canada?
Uchenna: Definitely. This is such a creative country. Really. The positive energy and acceptance offered by everyone we’ve met is really…amazing!
Joyce: We plan on coming back for Caribana. We love Toronto.
Uchenna: And if you know anyone from Tim Horton’s tell them I am available to be their spokesman.