Okinawa Preshow: Sato Last-Minute Preparations
By Mario Lanza






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SATO
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* Matt Carter sat in the terminal of Los Angeles International Airport, staring out the window at the tarmac. He wasn't carrying much at the moment, not much more than a duffle bag, really. But the big teenager sat by himself now, staring... watching.

Matt was not a small guy. Standing well over six feet, his bright red hair and large frame were sure to attract attention most anywhere he went. But besides all that, he was shy. Matt may have looked imposing in person, but deep down he was as meek as a lamb.

And it is now that he stood looking out the window, watching the planes take off and land. His dream was about to come true. He was about to leave for Okinawa... to play Survivor. And he thought he was ready. Ready as he would ever be, anyway. Matt was a clown. The class cut-up. He had an easygoing nature that helped him fit in most anywhere. And he hoped it would help him on the island. He hoped it would help him in Okinawa.

"Flight 221, now arriving from Tokyo," said a voice over the P.A. And Matt smiled. It was just about time. It was time to kick this thing off with a bang. He now reached into his duffle bag and pulled out his luxury item-- his hockey mask. It had raised a few eyebrows at the x-ray machines, but this was his lifeline to his family back home. He turned it over, and looked at the inside.

And there they were.

Signatures. Good luck messages. Signed responses from people back at home, written on the hard white plastic of the mask. He smiled as he read through them all, hearing the hopes and dreams of all his friends back home. They were all behind him. And then suddenly, he found the message he was looking for the most. The one from his dad.

"Matt," it simply said, "Knock 'em dead."

And with that, Matt was ready to go. He smiled as he put the mask back inside his bag, and then zipped it up. Then he walked over to gate 73, and waited for his turn. The tall 18-year old stood a head above most of the other passengers as they prepared to board. And in moments, the journey began...


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* "Elisabeth, make sure you stay away from the jellyfish. They can kill you out there!"

Elisabeth Marie sat in the backseat of the car as she was being driven to the airport. The 15-year old blonde girl stared out the window as they drove, watching the planes take off and land. She was more or less blocking out her father's advice, already daydreaming about her Okinawan adventure.

"Elisabeth, are you listening to me?"

She blinked now, startled, and turned to face her father. He was giving her some last minute advice for the trip, but Elisabeth really didn't need it. She knew she would be okay. She was an athlete, she was a competitor and most of all, she was a hardcore player. She wasn't too worried about the survival aspects of the game at the moment. Because she was a soccer player. She was an athlete. And despite her age, when her teammates got a look at her for the first time, they were going to be impressed. Because she could blow them all away in the challenges.

She just knew it.

"Are you really going to bring Papa Bear?"

Elisabeth looked down at her lap, where her large teddy bear sat. Her friend since childhood, the large bear was more than a little worn down by now, but she wouldn't have left him behind for the world. Papa Bear was coming with her. After all, she was going to be the tribe sweetheart. Who wouldn't love a girl with a teddy bear?

"Yeah, I'm bringing him along," she smiled.

"Do you want me to walk you up to the gate?"

Elisabeth shook her head. She loved her dad but... no thanks. She would be on this adventure on her own, and she wanted to start it off right. And in minutes, the car stopped. The athletic girl with the teddy bear bounded out, wearing a backpack that was nearly as big as she was. And in moments, her trip to Okinawa had begun...


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* David McDaniel had already boarded his plane, as it flew out of Minneapolis. He sat in the last row of the coach section, already smiling at the frugality of the CBS ticket bookers. But here he was, and the game was ready to begin.

He sat with a pair of sunglasses on, trying his best to sleep in the back row. But he was having a hard time sleeping, he was simply too excited. So he opened his eyes from time to time, staring at his fellow passengers on the plane. Staring through darkened lens. Trying to read them. Trying to people watch.

This was his training for Okinawa. He hadn't done the most fierce training regimen of the players. He hadn't trained his body to subsist on fruit and fish like some others. No, what David had practiced were his people watching skills. He had gone to malls... to parks... to crowded places... and just tried to predict what people would do. And by the end of the summer, he had been pretty good at it.

David smiled now, excited to be here. He was very excited, although it was mixed in with more than a little sadness. Because David had not applied to Survivor alone. No, he had sent in a joint application with his father, Dale. The two McDaniels had both asked to be cast for the show... and only David had been selected. It had been a cruel blow, and David felt guilty over coming out here instead of his father.

But Dale had pulled him aside a few days ago, and laid it straight out.

"You're going to go, and you're going to win. Don't worry about me, I'm just proud they picked you to represent the family. Go out there and kick some butt."

David smiled now, the 36-year old web developer more than confident in his abilities to play this game. He was going to go, and he was going to win. And there was nothing they would be able to do to stop it.


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* Henry Jenkins was scribbling in his notebook, and very nearly missed his plane.

"Flight 445, last call. Repeat, flight 445, last call for boarding."

Cursing to himself, Henry leapt up, nearly spilling his bag. He had been so engrossed in capturing this experience in print, he had almost missed his plane to Japan. What an embarrassing start that would have been. He raced over to the check-in counter, breathlessly arriving just moments later.

"You're on 445?" asked the counter girl.

"Yeah," said Henry. "Sorry, I didn't hear you."

She took his ticket and then he was ready to go. The 22-year old writer walked through the jetway door, carrying a strange knapsack over his right shoulder. It wasn't really a suitcase, or a duffle bag, it was more like an old Army bag. He traveled with it a lot, this was his all purpose travel bag. But he entered the plane... taking note of the familiar still air in an airplane... and then took his seat. Like David, he was seated in the far back, another gift from CBS. But he didn't mind. Because the moment he sat down, the notebook came back out.

The documentation began again.

Henry was determined to document this entire trip, from start to finish. He knew there would be a market for it somewhere. In print, perhaps, or maybe on the internet. But he was going to provide the best first-hand account of what a Survivor contestant goes through, and it was going to make him famous. Especially when he won. Because Henry was going to win. He had no doubt in his mind. He was a writer. He was charming. He had a way with words. And they wouldn't even know what hit them... as he strolled out of town with his million dollar check.

Smiling, Henry finished up page twenty-four in his notebook. This was going to be a heck of a journal when he was done. He could already feel it.


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* Beth Sowles wasn't much a fan of flying.

The 43-year old woman sat nervously in the snack bar of the airport, trying to make herself eat a banana. But she wasn't having much luck. Her stomach was already doing flip-flops, and wasn't about to take any new food in. And while she thought it was the plane trip that was making her nervous, she was about to come to the realization that she was wrong.

It wasn't the flight at all.

It was what came after the flight that was starting to terrify her. Because the moment of truth was nearly upon her. It was almost time to start playing Survivor. For real.

Beth had followed and loved the show since its very inception. For every Thursday for as long as she could remember (as well as some Wednesdays!), she had followed the show almost religiously. She considered herself a Survivor fan. Some would consider it her obsession. Along with all things Disney, Survivor was the thing she loved most in the world. She had said so on her application. You pick me and I'll make good things happen. You won't regret it, I promise!

But now she was suddenly awash in self doubt. Suddenly this didn't seem like the piece of cake she had built it up to be in her head. She was a 43-year old woman! She would be out there, running around with people likely half her age! Did she really expect to compete with them?

Already feeling a tad panicky, Beth closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. She did this to calm herself, and it seemed to be working. Soon she felt better. She felt that old inner calmness come back. The feeling that said, you can do this, Beffy. You'll do well, and you'll kick butt.

Smiling, she stood up and started to walk over to the terminal. It was almost time to catch her plane. And she felt better. She felt confident, she felt strong, and she felt like she was here for a purpose. She was here to win... and she was here to show the kids how to play.

And as she boarded her plane she felt pretty good. At least she thought she did. But her stomach wasn't feeling any better. Her banana sat in her bag, uneaten, all the way to Japan.


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* Lance McHale slept most all the way to Japan.

He had curled up against his window with a blanket and a pillow, with nary a care in the world. Because Lance wasn't much of a worrier. Unlike most of his future teammates, he wasn't even dwelling on his trip that much. It was just something he would be doing... and something he would succeed in. Because if Lance knew anything, he knew Survivor.

If Lance knew anything, he knew group dynamics. He had been on teams since he was a kid. He knew how teams worked.

If Lance knew anything, he knew athletic competition. He had done it all his life... and been successful.

And if Lance knew anything, he knew organizational skills. After all, he was a pre-school teacher. If working with children didn't prepare you for Survivor, he didn't know what else would!

So Lance slept, peacefully dozing over the drone of the plane's engines. He was as excited as any of them. This was the chance of a lifetime, who wouldn't be excited?! But he was surprisingly calm all day, and he slept like a baby throughout most of the flight. Of course, he and his wife had a newborn back home, so it was just nice to get some nice... peace... and quiet... for a change. He hadn't had this in months, and he was darn sure going to take advantage of some quiet uninterrupted downtime on an airplane. After all, the game would be stressful and intense soon enough. There would be plenty of time to worry later on. For now, he would just enjoy the chance he had been given.

So Lance dozed. And Lance was happy.


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* Amy Twieg was already running late.

"You guys, I have to catch a plane. Could you please help me clean up here?"

She was speaking, of course, to her two sons, Alex and Brandon. One was six and one was four, and they weren't giving her much help at all right now.

"Alex, please stay out of mommy's computer room. You know I don't want you in there."

Alex wandered out now, pouting. Because he wasn't happy she was leaving. He didn't like that mommy was going away, and he was sulking.

Amy sighed now, as she looked at her watch. The 27-year old single mom was already a bit frustrated with the day's events, and she hadn't even left for the airport yet. She was still stuck here... and her plane was set to leave in two hours. She needed to go!

"Grandma should be here any minute, guys," she said. And then the doorbell rang. There was grandma. Amy ran to open the door, as her mother came in, carrying two suitcases. She apologized profusely, having been stuck in traffic, but now Amy could leave in peace. Now she had her babysitter.

"Brandon, Alex, come over here."

Amy went to give her two sons a hug. The slender auburn-haired woman bent down to hug her little men, telling them both goodbye.

"Mommy's going to play Survivor. You know that, we talked about it. Like we watch on TV."

The three of them watched Survivor every Thursday together, so this was not a foreign concept to them. This was not a surprise. They had known mommy would be leaving for a few weeks now.

"Mommy," asked Alex, "Is Ethan going to play too?"

"No," she smiled, almost laughing. "Ethan won't be there. These will be all new players. It will be a whole new game."

"But I like Ethan!" Alex was pouting again.

"Well I'll tell you what," she said. "When mommy comes back, you can watch me on TV. We can all sit and watch mommy together, and we'll have fun, okay guys? But mommy really has to go, okay? I love you and I'll see you both when I get back!"

She kissed them both and, with that, Amy dashed out the door. She hoped that the traffic to the airport wouldn't be too bad.


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* Hogan Mueller was the last of the Satos to board his plane.

The 16-year old Eagle Scout sat in the back of his plane, staring out the window. And as the plane took off from Kansas City, he stared out at the city, looking at the ground below him.

Hogan was no stranger to flying. He had been traveling practically his whole life. Even at his young age, he had lived in multiple states, gone to multiple schools, and succeeded wherever he had gone. Simply put, Hogan was a nomad. Adapting to new situations and new social groups was something he had done his whole life.

He smiled as he sat in the back row.

Hogan Mueller was someone who would be unique in the annals of Survivor. He knew it, the casting department knew it, and the players would soon know it as well. Because Hogan was one of a kind. Few people had ever accomplished the kinds of things that this young man had done in his lifetime.

He was an Eagle Scout. The youngest one in the history of Washington state.

He was a debate champion. Many times over.

He worked at a Fortune 500 company. Their youngest employee ever.

He had a stellar academic record, with not a single blemish. Ever.

He was a superstar athlete. Basketball, track, football, he could do it. And he could match anyone.

He was a big and strong kid. He would have few equals on the athletic field. Or the academic arena. Or the self-confidence department, if you got to meet him. Because Hogan was only sixteen. He had turned sixteen just days ago, and he had experienced very little failure in his life. And he expected nothing less in Okinawa, either. This game was going to be his, and he would be the last one standing.

He would be the Sole Survivor.

And it would just be another notch on his resume. For when he became the President of the United States. He could already see it happening in his mind.





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These are the eight members of the Sato tribe. Their adventure will start in the next 24 hours, when the first episode of Survivor: Okinawa is posted, and they all meet for the first time.

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