“They Got Me Good in the End" – RealityNewsOnline’s Exclusive Interview with Survivor: Tocantin's Carolina

Carolina was brewing a pot of coffee as we spoke on the phone, in hopes that she would wake up a bit more after having a premiere party last night. She surely didn't need the coffee as she was chipper and upbeat about her time in Brazil, even after she was the first voted out. We were a little behind on time, so we only had a few short minutes to spend with her.

RNO: Thanks for taking a few minutes to chat for the RNO readers, Carolina. I've got to ask, girl, what the heck were you thinking wearing cowboy boots? Hadn't you watched the show before?

Carolina: Those weren't mine! They were JT's. My tennis shoes were soaking wet and all I had on were my tube socks. I was trying to let my shoes dry. He had his boots and running shoes, so I wore his boots around while he was wearing his other shoes.

I did watch the show and am a huge fan. I've seen every season. You think you know what you're getting into until you're actually there. No matter how much you know the show, you just don't know until you're there. I have so much respect for the creators, like Mark Burnett. There is so much that goes into the show. It was a journey of a lifetime for me. It was crazy, the most crazy thing I've ever done.

RNO: What was your strategy coming into the game?

Carolina: At first, it was funny. I knew I had to play a social game, but in reality, I’m not going to say, "This is how I'm going to play the game." I needed to find out who the others were and I need to talk to them. I wanted to absorb their energy and that's when I built a strategy. It didn't help me. Hello! I got the boot! They got me good in the end. I wanted to get to know people first, then go with it. I needed to play a social game, but it didn't work out for me. I was first out.

I was ready to play the game, but didn't really get to play. I gained weight and trained. God knew it wasn't for me to be there. Survivor wasn't what He had planned for me at that point.

RNO: Let's talk about the game itself, what were you thinking when Jeff said that someone wouldn't make the journey? Why did you pick who you did?

Carolina: For a minute I thought it would be me going because I was in that little red dress I hate. I didn't get to pick it out. But I picked Sandy because of her age. I thought she was a liability. I was scared that it might be me because of the dress and because they'd think I was all girly. I thought Jeff was crazy, though! I knew there was a twist because there's no way the crew would put all this money into bringing people out there, only to send two of them home in the first five minutes!

RNO: Were you able to drink the river water straight or did you have to boil it? It didn't look like fire was as critical this season.

Carolina: Fire was critical in Brazil. What you don’t see is that our tribe used Taj's and Stephen's glasses to try to create fire. It was so hot and we weren't drinking the river water that was near our camp. Fortunately, Sandy found a creek nearby with fresh water to drink out of. She would fill up our canteens. We were all worried that we'd end up with parasites, but it was so hot we needed something.

RNO: Do you think the lack of water and fire affected the challenge that day?

Carolina: Yes! Everything affected the challenge that day. We barely slept. We went without everything – food, water, sleep – for a few days.

In the challenge, we were way ahead, like five minutes, but we lost and it was devastating. They caught up with us. We had such a huge lead. I can blame it on everything, but that is how the events turned out for us. That challenge wasn't easy! I laughed watching the show last night because Jeff called me out for being behind, when actually, and I love Sydney, I was picking up Sydney who fell. It wasn't just me behind. The editing definitely made it worse.

RNO: When a few of you were cooling off in the water, what did you think when Taj called you out on your being a bit bossy and whiny?

Carolina: At that moment, I was a little taken aback. I thought that she was the same way! But I'm the kind of person, if you call me out on something and it's the truth, I'll own it. I'm not going to, like, cry about it. I respect your opinion and you're right, but that's just an opinion. I'll try to fix it and move forward.

I was really annoyed with it all because she is the same way. She's direct and opinionated, but I was… it's not my place to talk crap like that. [The tribe] will see it on their own. I just wanted to turn the whole conversation into a positive thing and not cry about it.

RNO: During Tribal Council, did you feel as if Jeff was grilling you, pitting you and Sandy against each other?

Carolina: I don't think he was putting us against each other, really. He asks questions, but what you don't see is that the questions are legitimate. He sees stuff happen when he's around us over the three days. Jeff's questions are not set up, but they're questions that need to be asked. He knows what is going on.

RNO: It looked like after the third vote was read that you knew you were going home. Now that you've seen the episode, what do you think the reason was you were voted off?

Carolina: After I got out of the water with Taj and Stephen, there was a group of the tribe together whispering. As I got out, they broke up and left. I asked a few, JT and (someone unintelligible), if I was being voted out and they were good. They convinced me I wasn't and to vote for Sandy. Going to Tribal Council, I was nervous and everyone who goes out is extremely nervous. You can't go into Tribal Council being cocky. I went in humble thinking it could be me or Sandy going. I was hoping it was Sandy. It was humbling and nerve wracking. I was in shock and embarrassed about being voted out first. I worked so hard to get onto the show and it was so hard to go.

RNO: Is there anything else you want to tell the viewers of Survivor about your experience?

Carolina: It was a journey of a lifetime, whether you're the first voted out or the last standing. It's the greatest give to any of us playing. It's awesome. I will cherish it for the rest of my life and have the utmost respect for anyone who plays the game. My love and heart go into it all the way from the cast and the entire crew who worked the show. For the fans, thanks for being fans and allowing us the gift of getting to play and for them continuing to watch the show.

RNO: Thanks again, Carolina!

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other recent Survivor: Tocantins articles here on RealityNewsOnline:

Kari is a retired Air Force Hurricane Hunter who is down for big adventures. Please send any comments, questions, and thoughts about the bootees to Kari at flystorms2@yahoo.com.

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