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Ian's Hippy Gets Rich

Written by TVSA Team from the blog Interviews on 02 May 2006
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rosenberger_ian_1It wasn't a surprise when I heard that Survivor Africa winner Ethan Zohn was hotfooting it to Cape Town to run the Two Oceans Marathon.

Neither was it a gobsmack that Survivor Amazon Winner Jenna Morasca and Survivor Palau's Ian Rosenberger were joining him 'cos it's the sort of thing you'd expect a Survivor winner type to do.

I was of course thrilled that they were so I could get up to skullduggery for us as I met up with them the morning of the day before they ran.

This was very strategic just in case they realised how crazy they were once it started and collapsed or something.

As we hooked up I discovered that Jenna knows exactly what so many do which is that running sucks and it's much better hanging round the guys for the race but not actually doing it.

I chatted with all three of them over breckers. Here's what Ian had to say:



Tashi:
What have you been up to since Survivor Palau?
Ian: It’s been a crazy year to say the least. I came home from Survivor and I’d lost forty pounds, I got my wisdom teeth the day I got home so I spent the first six months chilling at home with my family. Survivors one of these things that really changes you – it’s an experience unlike anything I’ve ever done – so I took some time with that.

Tashi: So you literally took six months to get over it?
Ian: I’m still getting over it. I hope I never get over it! Then I started doing a lot of speaking – still do – colleges and high schools, some corporate training, I set up my own real estate company and now I’m getting ready to make my first documentary film.

Tashi: What is it about?
Ian: I came along for this trip to explore doing a documentary on Ethan’s Grassroots Soccer – about HIV and Aids in Africa and what we can be doing about it as US citizens – somewhere that’s so far away. When I get home I leave immediately for Louisiana, New Orleans - I got a job on a shrimping boat down there, as a deckhand.

Tashi: Why?
Ian: I’m gonna write about it I think. I’m gonna spend a month or two down there and write about the experience, what it’s like for the people who have to build themselves up after a disaster and see how I can play a part in that. I’m using Survivor as an opportunity to do the things I’ve always wanted to do but never had the time. I’m only 24 so it’s cool.

Tashi: You had your dolphins before the show and you haven’t gone back to them?
Ian: No – I haven’t.

Tashi: Do you miss them?
Ian: I do – in my job I was an animal assistant therapist – using dolphins as rehab for kids with special needs – it was cool stuff – I did it for a while and now it’s time to move onto something else. There’s a lot to see out there.

Tashi: Why did you go for dolphins in the first place?
Ian: It sounded cool. Like Survivor – it sounded cool – so like “Let’s go.”

Tashi: During your Survivor I was devastated with the decision you made when you felt so bad about plotting and gave over your final two position to Katie and Tom. I didn’t agree with it all – I thought you should have hung on to the balance thing and gone for it. Do you regret your decision?
Ian: Not at all. Not a moment. If I had a dime for every time I’ve been asked I’d be a millionaire by now. The way that it happened for me – I guess there are different ways of looking at it but I discovered on Survivor that it’s not just winning a million dollars – it’s how you win it that becomes the most important. It’s not just the goal but the journey to the goal that you remember.

Regardless of what everyone said and thought – "Oh you know Ian, you didn’t do anything wrong – you lied and cheated as much as everybody else – you were just playing the game” – they’re all right –

Tashi: Yes, I was very annoyed with Tom and how he manipulated you into thinking that you’d played differently from him.
Ian: I’ll give you that, for sure, but at the same time – I wasn’t happy with the way I’d played the game before that. You get that unsettled feeling in your stomach and you feel like it’s not right. I’d just gone through this big thing with my sister at home. She’s 12 and she was fibbing a lot and my parents had a big talk with her – right before I left – and they said it was important to stay true to yourself at all costs and it was big deal.

It was a big lesson for her at that time and I was up on the pole and all I could think was: "It’s important to stay true to yourself at all costs, think about the example you’re setting for your sister, your town, your country – everything." It was the right decision for me – as much as a lot of people had a problem with it.

Tashi: How did your family feel?
Ian: Ah – they were like: “Noo!” I had a great group of friends who came to New York to the finale and afterwards they said: “Totally an Ian move.” I feel good about the decision – and I’ll tell you what – you can make a million dollars. I’ve worked hard this past year and you don’t miss the money – you can make it back.

Tashi: Did Tom give you any of his million?
Ian: Naaah, heh, I wish. He buys me dinner whenever we go out – how’s that?

Tashi: We’ve recently finished seeing The Amazing Race 7 -
Ian: Ah – you saw Uchenna and Joyce win - Thank God -

Tashi: I was going to say – did you want Rob and Amber to win?
Ian: No –

Tashi: Why??
Ian: Because – Amber’s from five minutes down the road from me back home where I stay and I thought there wasn’t much of a personality to her then and I think there’s not much of a personality to her now. Rob played the game exactly like I detest the game. I detest that part of it – not only did he use it to get second in All-Stars – he does it in life in general. I don’t appreciate the way he played – he’s that way – I don’t like it.

I loved Uchenna and Joyce – they’re two of my favourite people from Race – they’re great people – I’m very happy for them.

Tashi: You got into Survivor as a result of your audition – not for Survivor - but for The Amazing Race?
Ian: That’s right – I auditioned with a climbing partner of mine – I got lucky enough that someone found my tape in the bottom of a box somewhere. They took it, put it in, saw me and gave me a call for Survivor instead.

Tashi: So when are you going to do the Race?
Ian: I dunno – we’ll have to keep watching and see.

Tashi: Without giving anything away – who’s your favourite in Survivor Guatemala?
Ian: The kid with the long blonde hair – the farmer, Brandon – I really like Brandon.

Tashi: Who do think the biggest Reality TV star is ever?
Ian: Probst – Jeff, probably, he’s the biggest. Different people create their notoriety based on different things. There's the biggest villain - which would be toss-up between Omorosa and Jonny Fairplay – they’re archetypes and there are lots of those that go around. There’s the biggest softies – the Ruperts of the world. Ritchard Hatch – especially with his recent notoriety.

Tashi: I would say Kelly Clarkson’s the biggest out of everyone.
Ian: Oh yeah – she’s become an honest to goodness success. She’s one of the few who’s been able to take reality success and turn it into professional success and I think that’s fantastic. It’s fun to see what people do with their success.

Tashi: What’s your fave TV show besides Survivor:
Ian: Besides Reality my favourite show is – do they have Entourage in South Africa?
Tashi: No –
Ian: It's on in the US at the moment – it’s produced by Mark Wahlberg. It’s about a crew of guys – one guy is up-and-coming famous – it’s supposed to be based on Mark Wahlberg’s life. It’s just three friends and they’re like hangers-on – it’s set in Los Angeles – it’s hysterically funny. That’s my favourite show right now.

Tashi: Is it your all-time fave?
Ian: I watch Amazing Race religiously. I didn’t even watch Survivor this last season. I would rather watch someone moving ‘round the world than standing on a beach somewhere.

Tashi: Five years from now?
Ian: Five years older. I dunno – I have a lot of things in the works. I’m looking forward to the next page – even though it’s blank.



2 Comments

morticia
02 May 2006 10:41

Kisses to Ian for this comment!

Ian: Because – Amber’s from five minutes down the road from me back home where I stay and I thought there wasn’t much of a personality to her then and I think there’s not much of a personality to her now. Rob played the game exactly like I detest the game. I detest that part of it – not only did he use it to get second in All-Stars – he does it in life in general. I don’t appreciate the way he played – he’s that way – I don’t like it. 

Great interviews Tash!!

Rat
03 May 2006 01:38

 Funny you mention that particular comment Morts; that's the one I was most disappointed with. I didn't expect soemthing so mean spirited to come out of his mouth.

 Meh...

 I still love the guy though...


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