‘I don’t wish to be right here.’
4 episodes into this 12 months’s collection of Race Throughout The World, it appeared as if 19-year-old Sioned was on the verge of quitting the BBC collection.
Following their arrival in India, she and 18-year-old boyfriend Fin needed to discover a transport hyperlink to the town of Varanasi, after driving in a bus that had Sioned placing her head between her knees to deal with the loud visitors round them.
Two episodes earlier, she burst into tears whereas sitting on a seaside in China with Fin, as the fact of being away from house hit her in a large tidal wave. Some followers of the present ridiculed her for ‘at all times crying’, and stated that they had been ‘fed up’ along with her complaints.
In my view, anybody who sneered at her for sobbing, for admitting that she was overwhelmed, or that she was out of her consolation zone, ought to be ashamed of themselves.
How onerous is it to attempt to put your self in one other individual’s footwear, even when you can’t relate to the way in which that they’re feeling?
I admit, I can’t relate to Sioned in a variety of methods. She grew up in a small village in Wales, whereas I grew up within the hustle and bustle of London. I thrive on the power of a busy metropolis, whereas Sioned prefers the peace and quiet of the countryside.
That doesn’t imply that I can’t fathom how troublesome it might be for a young person to embark on a globe-trotting journey for the primary time of their life. Particularly in the event that they’re travelling to a rustic with a large change of tempo, whereas determining methods to full their journey with a language barrier and combating what appears to be sensory overload.
Sioned wasn’t being spoilt when she burst into tears. She wasn’t displaying herself as much as be a toddler who’s been wrapped in cotton wool for her complete life. She was permitting her feelings to bubble over the floor, relatively than bottle them up and have them explode at a later level.
She has a proper to really feel what she’s feeling, even when you would have been completely positive in her scenario. And letting her feelings out is certainly more healthy than holding them to herself.
I can’t think about how I might have coped travelling for over 50 days in international locations I’ve by no means been to after I was 19 years previous. The summer season after I completed faculty, I went to some spots in Spain and Italy with my pals for a few weeks.
It was fun, and I didn’t cry like Sioned, however I additionally had my cellphone, my passport, pre-planned accomodation, a good understanding of the place I used to be heading, and wasn’t racing towards anybody to finish my journey.
Had I been racing the world over, I do know I might have been woefully unprepared. Positively extra so than I might be if I went now in my 30s with a decade extra life expertise underneath my belt.
Thankfully, different folks watching Race Throughout The World equally admire the way in which that each Sioned and Fin have developed since day one of many race.
They each have grown considerably, with Fin turning into much more assured in his selections relatively than counting on his girlfriend to make the onerous selections every time they had been at a crossroads.
‘I’m so impressed with Sioned and Fin!! Is likely to be rooting for them now,’ Bethan shared on X, as Kate commented: ‘If Fin or Sioned’s household are on right here you have to be so happy with their honesty, maturity and empathy.’ I couldn’t agree extra.
Not solely have Sioned and Fin had a journey the place they’ve overcome challenges they’ve by no means encountered earlier than, however they’ve additionally made nice progress within the race. Throughout legs three, 4 and 5, they had been massively behind the leaders, ending 23, 27 after which 33 hours behind.
However they by no means threw within the towel, like loads of folks thought they’d. On the finish of leg six, they’d managed to slender the margin in order that they had been simply six hours behind leaders Brian and Melvyn, earlier than transferring as much as third place by the tip of leg seven.
So for everybody snarking at Sioned for crying as Fin held her tenderly, telling her that every little thing was OK as they took a second to breathe, simply ask yourselves – how would you fare on Race Throughout The World?
I’d wager it’s loads tougher than it seems. And these two youngsters deserve your respect.
The Race Throughout The World 2025 closing airs tonight at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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