I did not find boredom to be an obstacle at all. Our camp was very organized, there was always something to do, and we all are very hard workers. So rather than sit around bored, like you see Ogakor doing, we were always improving and enhancing our camp. We had a totally different experience than Ogakor. They laid around and did nothing all the time. And their camp shows that.
slobby: How many hours a day did you typically spend by yourself, and who was the most private in your tribe?
Jeff Varner: Each of us had our own private time. Alicia would sit at the river's edge, wash and brush her hair and lounge in the sun. Kimmi would go off to her favorite log and would color and meditate. I would break away approximately an hour and a half each day. I had my favorite rock in the middle of the river. I would wade up and sit on the rock and contemplate strategy, think about home, listen to music in my head, and just basically download the experience. After the famous finger-waving catfight, we all decided at Kucha that private time was probably a mandatory thing. And that everyone needed to go away and spend some time with themselves. And that was Rodger's order. Rodger was very much the tribe's father.
DrewCripps: Did you guys encounter any kind of wildlife out there, such as kangaroos and koalas?
Jeff Varner: Yes! A lot…all the time! We saw wallabies, wallaroos and kangaroos daily. There was one day that I was walking through the woods and spotted a huge kangaroo just sitting there. And I stopped and stared at it, and it stared back at me. And it would scratch its belly, and I would scratch my belly, and it seemed like we had this exchange back and forth. It was beautiful!
We saw dangerous, deadly snakes everyday! I accidentally picked one up when it was in a log one day…that scared me! We saw turtles and snakes swimming through the water. We saw crocodile's eyes, sometimes, in the water when we walked to challenges. And every night and every morning, huge poisonous spiders would appear in huge webs between trees. They were plentiful. I was amazed at how many we saw, but how big they were. The wildlife was magnificent! The birds were tropical…bats flew over at night. We saw only one pig, which Mike was able to catch. And we saw Mike everyday! Yes, there were several other things that didn't make the show, that I did to intentionally taunt Ogakor. One of my strategies was just to relax and have a good time and not take it all so seriously. I'm sure Ogakor hated me for a lot of what I did, but to me, I had a ball! I have no regrets, and I would do it all again, probably harder!
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SuRvIvOr_FaN_007: Who is the one castaway that you really wanted to get to know but never got the chance too?
Jeff Varner: Maralyn. Mad Dog! I could tell she was such a personality. I figured her to be tons of fun and I was very sad when they voted her off. When she took her teeth out at that challenge, I fell in love with her immediately! I got to know her after the game, but would love to have lived with her.
chelseaboy: Thanks for the great scene where Tina was trying to swallow the insect and you contributed to her gagging. I thought that was the best, and it gave us a good understanding of the fun person that you are. I would have done the same. Are there any more examples like that which us viewers have not seen?
Jeff Varner: Thank you very much for that! I don't know what came over my body and that moment, but I knew Tina needed to throw up in order to keep Kucha from losing its 3rd challenge in a row. When I saw her take a bite out of the tripe and dry heave, I saw that as an open opportunity to jump in and make a difference. This is not summer camp, this is not a fraternity or sorority social…this is Survivor, and I didn't feel that gagging at her was out of bounds. I actually cracked myself up with it...and laughed even harder when she threw up, because it worked!
simple_simon: Hi Jeff, has the experience on Survivor changed your life? And what would you do differently in retrospect if you could do it all over again?
Jeff Varner: In retrospect, I would be a little smarter about convincing soon-to-be-banished castaways to vote for someone else, and to avoid the votes accumulating against me. And Survivor has changed my life in every way possible. It has made me a more patient person, a more accepting person, a stronger person, and I guess the feeling…it will continue to change my life in the month to come.
CBS_Moderator: Thank you so much for being here and chatting with us, Jeff. Would you like to make any final comments?
Jeff Varner: Thank you everybody for stopping in to ask me questions. This has been a blast. I'm honored to take the time to talk with y'all! I look forward to getting e-mails and letters from all of you, 'cuz i would love to hear from you. Keep an eye out in the near future for survivorjeff.com. That site will keep you posted on me, where I am, what I'm doing, and will offer you an opportunity to talk to me. Keep watching the show! It gets really interesting! Cross your fingers and hope Jerri goes home Wednesday night!
CBS_Moderator: And thank all of you for your great questions. I'm sorry we didn't have a chance to get to all of them. Remember to tune in to an all-new Survivor on a special night this week, Wednesday at 8PM ET/PT only on CBS. And don't forget to check out www.survivor.cbs.com for all the latest Survivor info!! Goodbye all!
survivornut: Bye Jeff--You're #1
WoolyGal: Love you Jeff! Hope you and Alicia date!
JeffFanKJL: We Love ya
jennor: Thanks Jeff, love you, bye
AliciaAllTheWay: Good luck in the future
Sad2CJeffGo: Jeff...Yer the bomb! I love ya buddy!!!!!! Thanks for the MANY laughs!!!!!!
patchouli: You're very cool, I'll miss you
chatty: We love you Jeff!!!
yohoo: Thanks jeff!
AnnieH: I wish you all the best in the future. Good luck on Regis and Kelly tomorrow!
survivor_to_be: Bye Jeff We love you!
Locke_Scythe_Survivor_Junkie: Canada loves you!
lmp: Bye Jeff. You were great. Are there any smart people left?
min: Thanks for your time Jeff. Wish you could have survived longer
Robin: Bye Jeff, you played a great game!!
Sad2CJeffGo: You were my favorite Jeff! I love you!!!!!
TheDanMan: BYE JEFF! THANKS FOR CHATTING WITH US!
wolfie_pb: Thanks for taking the time to chat with us Jeff!
Marsha: Good bye Jeff! You rock!!!