The Amazing Race 10, Episode 12 Insider Clips: Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

Farewell, my beauty queens! While Dustin & Kandice had their Homer Simpson-patented “d’oh!” moments, they certainly were savvy racers, and in general seemed to be good people. I’m sad to see them go, but they were hoist on their own petard and came in last entirely on their own merits, rather than counting down a penalty. They had some nice parting words, however, so let’s get into the clips and hear about them.

So Wise, So Young: Dustin describes the race as “a healthy pause” to get away from the hustle and bustle. I think it’s unfortunate wording, because we know the race is anything but healthy and slow! I think she more means a way to get away from the normal routine, which was really busy. Indeed, she continues that she used to think she was really stressed before this race, but now she knows what stress is! She’s going to go home, take a shower, lie around in bed, and so on.

Kandice agrees, stating that she always felt New York City was “go, go, go,” but at least there, she knows where everything is and what to do and how to communicate. When she gets home, she continues, she’s going to try to learn another language, as this race has taught her how important it is to be able to communicate. She never felt as ignorant as she has in this race, she explains, so she’s going to do something about it. She then gets this cute grin and says, in a totally self-deprecating way, that what she’s learned, as the “24-year old I am with so much wisdom,” is that not everything turns out the way you like.

I always like when people are willing to look at themselves with honest glasses, instead of the rose-colored kind, and be willing to admit that not only do they not know it all, but identify WHY they might not, for example, because you’re young and haven’t gained the experience yet, which is totally what Kandice is doing here, and I like her more for it.

Kandice continues that for five years she tried to win Miss America, but it didn’t happen, and that’s life. She smiles as she says she met Dustin doing that, and together they had this opportunity, and they didn’t win, but that is just life. She ends by saying that just because things don’t work out the way you want, it doesn’t mean they can’t be rewarding.

Dustin agrees with her, reiterating how glad she is to have had the chance to go around the world in this way. They will be humbled for the rest of their lives, she feels, by this opportunity. She laughs that when they’re old, they can call each other up and say, “Hey, let’s go run up those stairs in Barcelona again.” It is a treasure they can share together, she concludes, and in all her “24 years of wisdom,” she feels she has so much more to learn.

All in all, I would consider these two to have some of the best parting words ever. There wasn’t a hint of rancor or disappointment. They raced and lost with class. There were classless moments to be sure, and normal meltdown moments, and all that you expect from young people (and old people!) in high-intensity situations with lots of stress and a lot riding on you.

There wasn’t the inherent ugliness I’ve seen in many racers over the seasons, however, and I’m including the “sista” comments. We saw twice in the last episode where Alabama called each other “sista,” and you know they did before this, but the “amazing” editors just felt it would make better viewing fodder to not show that it came from somewhere. So I can see where they got it, and I bet Dustin & Kandice are horrified now, knowing how bad it looked and the reaction some have had to it.

I was amused this week by Dustin & Kandice’s pout fest over the other teams calling cabs like they did. It’s so totally within the rules to copy good ideas, and I can’t believe people get pissy over things like that!

The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth: Rob & Kimberly give us viewers some advice. Kim explains that you cannot imagine what it is like and that some of the places you go, you would never just call up your travel agent and book tickets there. Rob agrees. Rob needs to shave. Kimberly’s happy that they went to these unusual places. Rob says his advice to people who haven’t been anywhere is to not delay. He hadn’t been anywhere, he says, and you need to just do it. He explains not to go into debt or anything, but to try to do it, because it’s important to see what’s out there.

Rob explains how the race has opened his eyes to, like, so much, the way other people live, to respect other cultures, and to know that America is not the only country out there. This may sound sort of “duh,” but it’s actually not. I run into so many ethnocentric people who forget that it’s okay to have your own culture, but you must realize it’s okay for others to have theirs as well. As Rob says, “Our way is not THE way.” Too true. It’s not necessarily even the best way. He ends with how they’ve seen a lot of good around the world.

Kimberly talks about how people will relate to them because they are real. It’s an abrupt change of topic, but it’s obvious from the editing that it didn’t immediately follow Rob’s statement. She continues that they did not hold back on the race, and that she is not a timid girl. Rob is amusingly nodding emphatically next to her. Still needs to shave. Kimberly says she won’t hold things in because of fear of what her boyfriend might think. She lays it out there. Rob laughs and says, “No kidding!”

Kimberly feels people should lay it out there and be real and not be afraid of what others think. She explains that you can be careful about how you say something, but still be honest with each other. You know, not enough people get this point either. You can be honest without being cold. You can be blunt without be a jackass. And you can also receive honesty and bluntness without freaking out because it wasn’t cushioned in some lovely little PC pillow of everlasting platitudes, ya know? Too many people are WAY too sensitive, because honesty and straightforwardness have gone the wayside, and when they are subjected to it, they interpret it as rude. I have three words for you: Get. Over. It.