"I can't believe we're getting eliminated on the first leg of the Amazing Race," I think to myself. Mentally and physically exhausted, I sweat profusely in the back seat of this small Hanoi taxi with a heavy backpack on my lap. Mimi and the sound guy are crammed in the back with me while the cameraman sits in front recording our every move. I feel his lens zoom in on my face now, eagerly searching for emotion. How excited would he be if I lost my cool and yelled at Mimi right now? If I break down and cry, even better. Instead I force a smile and tell Mimi that I don't care if we get eliminated because we tried our best. That's a lie. Mimi knows I am a huge fan of the Amazing Race, and it has always been a dream of mine to be on the show.

Before I moved to Vietnam in 2009, I did not watch much television back in New York. But I did watch every episode of the Amazing Race, and I am very excited to be a part of the first season of Amazing Race Vietnam. I want to make my family in Los Angeles proud. I wear my Yankees cap on the show as a shout out to all my friends in New York. As the only non-Vietnamese person on the show I feel am not only representing America, but all "foreigners". And now I am going home after just one episode. Lame.

The events leading up to this moment began earlier that day (Really? It seems so long ago) at My Dinh stadium in Hanoi. Dustin Nguyen started the race with a wave of his arm and what followed was a scene from Thuc Nghiem Elementary school minus the toppled gate. The ten two-person teams ran frantically towards the stands to find the first clue hidden in a 10,000 seat section of the stands. Mimi and I found our clue quickly and proceeded to the first task: abseil 40 meters straight down a rope from the top of the stadium.

We decided I would be the one to complete the abseiling challenge, and that was our first mistake. All of the safety equipment was "Vietnamese sized" except for one set which was currently being used by another team. I felt frustrated and anxious as I watched several teams advance ahead of us while I waited. Finally I was able to gear up, and I ran quickly to the roof of the stadium. Some men there attached me to a rope and gave me instructions in Vietnamese that I did not completely understand. I looked over the edge and suddenly lost my breath. It was high. Blood rushed to my hands and feet making them tingle. I remember thinking, "Will this rope hold me? Am I going to die on the Amazing Race Vietnam? I guess there are worse ways to go. The camera got a good close-up of my obviously concerned face, "Super sợ!" I said under my breath (Super scared!).

Một, hai, ba, VÔ! I took the literal leap of faith and closed my eyes. Fear turned to exhilaration as the rope held, and the rest of the way down I was grinning from ear to ear, truly an unforgettable life experience.

We continued on the race and encountered our next problem at Dong Xuan market. We were tasked to collect some items from different shops around the small streets of Hanoi's historic Old Quarter. Unbeknownst to us at the time, not only is there a small street named "Hàng Vải", but the second floor of Dong Xuan market is also referred to as "hàng vải". We asked several people where is Hàng Vải and everyone directed us up the stairs of the market. Here is a behind the scenes clip of us wasting 30 minutes or so running around the market before finally realizing our mistake.

Hot and tired from running all day, we were both starting to get irritable. "Watermelon!" I tell Mimi, faking a smile for the camera. "Watermelon!" Mimi didn't smile back. This is a secret code Mimi and I discussed before the race that basically means, "Hey don't forget we're on camera. Stop arguing and smile!" I have to say that having a secret code word didn't help very much. We continued on.

We collected all the items on our shopping list and when we went to get our next clue, Mimi collapsed on the sidewalk.

Before the race, Mimi and I had a discussion about not drinking too much water for fear of wasting time finding a toilet. We made many mistakes during this first leg of the race but this was by far the stupidest. We will pay a very dear price for that later.

Mimi picked herself up, drank some water, and we quickly got in a taxi to go the finish line at the Museum of History. I lived in Hanoi for two years, so I probably should have known this, but apparently Hanoi has two Museums of History. Of course, the taxi driver took us to the wrong one. Realizing our mistake, we took deep breaths as we hailed another taxi. At this point there is no imaginable way we are not in last place. Watermelon.

Before we started the race I told Mimi that our goal is try our best and have fun. But I had a secret goal of my own. "No matter what, don't get eliminated on the first episode." As we arrive at the correct Museum of History I am afraid my worst fear is about to come true.

We arrive and are shocked to find out that we are in 8th place! I couldn't believe it. We didn't lose! I am overjoyed. But then Dustin Nguyen, the show host, proceeds to tell us that we entered the museum from the wrong gate and have to go out and come back in.

We run as fast as we can to find this other gate. Mimi is losing steam, but in my head I am doing cartwheels. I am so happy we aren't going home. We find the gate and make a beeline for Dustin. About 20 meters before the finish line Mimi collapses again. Without hesitation I pick her up and as I carry her to the finish line I remember thinking, "I wonder what music they will play when they show this on TV?"

We get to the finish line and Dustin tells us we are in 8th place and not eliminated. I throw my hands up in the air and happily yell "8th place?" I must admit that was a bit of, ahem, acting. Just then Mimi collapses on the finishing mat. That was not acting. I am shown on TV holding Mimi and trying to get her to drink, telling her, "You used up all your energy didn't you?" But within a couple minutes after that she starts having problems breathing, and her eyes roll up inside of her head. The producers immediately provide a private car and take us to a nearby hospital. Mimi is non-responsive and does not wake up for two stressful hours. I stand at the side of her bed along with a couple of the production staff. I am afraid. I am angry with myself for getting Mimi involved in this race which is clearly too much for her. Mimi receives the best care and finally after she wakes up the doctors put her through x-rays and extensive testing but find nothing wrong. Just a case of exhaustion and a little heat stroke. But that doesn't matter to me. This race is obviously too much for Mimi and seeing Mimi in this condition is too much for me. I immediately tell all the producers we want to quit the race.