By John Powell – GlobalTV.com

Through no fault of their own the Kele Tribe is one step away from becoming the Ulong Tribe of the new era. Not only have they lost every single challenge so far and have had to vote out three of their six members but in a freak accident Jake Latimer exited the game due to the complications of a non-venomous snake bite. Castaways have been stung by jellyfish and stingrays but nothing as potentially serious as this.

Much to the disappointment of Survivor fans across Canada both Jake and Jeremiah were eliminated in last night’s episode insuring that a Canadian will definitely not be taking home the title of Sole Survivor, at least not this year. You won’t find Jeremiah crying over split milk though. His Survivor journey and fate was what it was.

John Powell: It’s great to be talking to today. Jeremiah, how are you?

Jeremiah Ing: I am doing so well! I got to watch Survivor last night with my parents and live out my dream! I’ve been a fan for 24 years. I’m from Canada. Never in a million years would I think that I was going to be on Survivor and to actually be on the show and to get voted out is just so surreal, a dream come true!

John Powell: I have to say it’s hard to take two Canadians being eliminated in the same night.

Jeremiah Ing: That’s what makes Survivor so unscripted and so amazing! Jake and I being on the same tribe was really cool. Jake told me that he was mad that I was on his tribe and I was Canadian because usually there’s only one Canadian but then we grew to love each other and we have such a strong bond.

It was so cool that there was another Canadian. We just understood each other. I don’t know if Canadians would have gone against each other or worked with each other. We just didn’t see that play out but it was cool to play with Jake.

John Powell: Canadians have done fairly well in the New Era of Survivor. Did you feel any pressure to do well?

Jeremiah Ing: I was looking at it as like I want to play the game because this has been my dream for 24 years. I want to play the best that I can play but if there’s another Canadian that thinks that they can play better than me then I invite them to go and apply. (laughs) For me I didn’t feel the pressure and I just wanted to live out my dream and play how I wanted to play and remain true to who I am. That’s not how everybody would play but it’s how I played.

John Powell: Speaking to your other tribe members they didn’t feel threatened by having two Canadians on the same tribe. What was the feeling, impression you got out there?

Jeremiah Ing: Even when Jake said that he was from Canada on the mat I’m like: ‘Bro! Don’t tell everybody that you’re Canadian!’. When we landed on the island, when he stepped foot onto the island I just couldn’t hold it in any longer. I’m like: ‘Oh, I’m Canadian too.’
The rest of the time were the guys are from Canada. That’s cool!

John Powell: Why do you think that you were the one voted out and not Sophi?

Jeremiah Ing: You know what? Here’s the thing, all four of us were working together, and we were strong. I think it just came down to who Alex wanted to bring at the end of the day.

They spent a lot of time together. Sophi and I had a number one thing with each other and I know she had a number one thing with Jake so she was with Jake and Alex a lot.

Alex and I connected a lot outside of the game, more on a personal note and we were able to talk about real life and just have fun but during pregame Alex was the number one person who I didn’t want to be on my tribe.

It was the worst case scenario for me and he’s a Libra. Libras are just so hard to understand and they ask a lot of questions. When you’re not eating and you’re not sleeping and it’s so hot out, I just can’t ask 100,000 questions. I can’t even remember who I’m voting for or spell people’s names properly but I love Alex.

John Powell: What do you think the weakness of your tribe was? The puzzles tripped you guys up but you were also very physically and emotionally drained.

Jeremiah Ing: I think it was morale. We didn’t eat. We didn’t sleep. We didn’t have fire. When you look at the challenges we were do fine up until the puzzles. I feel like puzzles for us were like trying to break through a brick wall with our hands and we just couldn’t do it. We just didn’t fault anybody for not being able to do puzzles. It’s just one of those things granted though if we had more nutrition in us could we have done it? I’m not sure.

John Powell: How truly bad was it out there? seeing.

Jeremiah Ing: I came back and realized that was really crazy but I didn’t know any other way. That was my first time playing. I just thought that people had to eat worms. I thought that you have to literally form alliances instantly and turn on each other pretty quickly.

Then when I was seeing other people eating crabs and doing yoga and having these mansion like shelters I was stunned as that was so completely opposite from my experience. We didn’t even have a shelter. Annie built that whole Shelter by herself in a day while I was bitching about her. Poor Annie. I love Annie!

John Powell: You finally got to see everything that happened to Jake. Did anything about it surprise you?

Jeremiah Ing: I have spent a lot of time with Jake, talking to Jake and so I think it was more about we didn’t see the behind the scenes and we didn’t know a lot that was happening. I didn’t know that it was a non-venom bite. I didn’t know that. So, I learned a few things.

What he went through, he kind of described it to me but I think it was just kind of that’s what makes Survivor so real and as a player, you don’t really want to see somebody be hurt or potentially die. It’s a game! We’re there to have fun! We know that it’s all of our dreams and so for someone to be taken out you wouldn’t wish that upon your worst enemy.

John Powell: Some fans were surprised last night when the guide was brought out and all that was introduced but let people in on a little bit of some of the behind the scenes, because as far as I know you guys arrive early and you are taught, coached about the wildlife and the environment, correct?

Jeremiah Ing: Yes, there’s Survivor school. That book on site for us to reference…but it’s just one of those fluke situations. It’s like getting struck by lightning!

John Powell: Is there anything about your journey that you wish fans would have seen?

Jeremiah Ing: I wish people would have seen how uncomfortable I was the whole time and so outside of my element. Eating worms is something that I would never do! I shower two times a day! I eat six meals a day at certain times! I live a very regimented life!

When I told my parents that I applied to be on Survivor like they laughed in my face. I know why they laughed at me. Now, I get it!

I just had so much fun out there. I connected with my tribemates. I love those people. I know it’s only six days but in those situations you get close and I would pick up my phone or go and visit them like any day.

John Powell: What did you learn about yourself?

Jeremiah Ing: What I learned about myself was before going into the game my dad told me don’t talk straight to anybody and talk to a tree because I’m a little bit too honest. I also need to bounce out my ideas and talk out all my thoughts.

When I went on the island I just kind of stayed true to who I was. I didn’t really confide in anybody and I just kind of stuck to myself. I think it’s more trusting my gut and being a little bit more independent

I try to live like a very positive life but when you’re out there and you’re not eating and you’re not sleeping and you keep losing, you could go down like a slippery slope but the way that I look at it is that’s my Survivor experience. That’s my journey. That’s what’s meant to be.