RACEAsiaII

TheAmazing

TheAmazing

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Special Feature

Mothers in

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Ann&Diane...Text by Kua Kee Eng

Photography byB-Photographic Studio

Make-up by Amy Ng

Ann Tan and Diane Tricia Douglas, both mums, both outdoor fanatics,and entrepreneurs, depicted as the “desperate housewives of Malaysia”who are desperate for new challenges and adventures, had packed theirbags and set out for The Amazing Race Asia 2. Parenthood pries intothe lives of these two long time dancing buddies to check out if theirundertakings had been as simple as dancing hip hop or jazz, especiallywith kids in tow and businesses to run.

acked with only a pair of jeans each, a few T-shirts, a wool sweatshirt, athermal wear and an extra pair of shoes, these two mums had set out forThe Amazing Race Asia 2, representing Malaysia. What’s more, they are theonly mums amongst the teams in this race! Bond by their passions for dancing

and physical activities, Ann Tan Li Lian, 40, a mum of three who co-owns a dance studiocum café, teamed up for the race with Diane Tricia Douglas, 33, an entrepreneur, adance instructor, and a mother of two.

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Getting IntoThe Amazing Race“It was Diane’s idea!” exclaimedAnn. “I’m a big fan of The AmazingRace. I’d watched The AmazingRace from the first season onwards,all of them. And I always said tomyself, if the audition for this racewere to come up, I’d persuade oneof my friends to join the race. Butthe thing that mattersmost is who’s the

best person to bring along,” Dianecontinued from her friend’s remark.Diane learnt that most of thehusband and wife teams inThe Amazing Race that she’dwatched thus far; never seemed towork well during the race. And thisprompted her to choose her friend,Ann, as her team mate, instead ofher husband.

“We’ve known each other for 10years. We’ve danced together,spend lots of time together, fed ourkids together,” said Diane, “andwe’ve been pregnant almost thesame time!” Ann added, and bothof them giggled. “I know her verywell, and I know that she’s very fitand committed, and I wantedsomeone like that to be my partner,”answered Diane when asked whatmade her picked Ann as her partnerin The Amazing Race Asia 2.

“When Diane asked me to joinher, I just said yes. I didn’t really

think much about it, as Ithought we might not evenpass the audition. When

you’re talking aboutselecting a few

teams out of afew thousandsof candidates,it’s definitelytough and ourchances werecertainly verylow. Above all,the candidateswere not onlyfrom Malaysia

alone, theywere from

all overAsia,” said

Ann.

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Diane and youngest child, Michael Ann and youngest child, Tamara

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When Ann and Diane went for theinterview and audition, theydoubted if they would be selected,as they seemed to be the oldestteam in terms of age, whereeveryone else were in theirtwenties, young and vibrant, andmany good looking ones too. Theysent in a three-minute auditiontape, in which they introducedthemselves and performed a dancethat they had choreographed. Theyhaven’t been told about thespecific requirements of what to doin the audition tape, except for thethree minutes time length. “I guessperhaps the judges just wanted tosee our personalities and creativity,what makes us different from theother teams, how we representourselves…”

Getting Ready for the RaceUnexpectedly, Ann and Diane were informed that they have been selectedthree days prior to the beginning of The Amazing Race Asia because theywere on the standby list, whereas other teams had known months ahead ofthem, which left them very little time to make arrangements for their childrenand businesses. They had to spend a month away from their family for therace and it had been a total communication cut-off with their family andfriends, as they weren’t allowed to contact anyone beyond the sphere ofThe Amazing Race Asia during that particular month. Thus, whateverarrangements they need to make with regards to their family and businesseshave to be done before setting out for the race.

“It’s a bit difficult for me because I have Caterpillar (a studio cum café thatshe co-owns with two other friends), especially when we’ve expanded ourbusiness and set up a café in Bangsar, and we’re opening another onesoon. There ’ re just so many things to be taken care of. But I managed tosplit my dance classes between a few teachers before I left for The AmazingRace Asia,” Ann expressed with a sigh of relief. Asfor Diane, while she was away, her businesspartner who is also her sister-in-law had helpedher with the on-line marketing of T-shirts, ahome-based business which both of them haveset up. “But my sister-in-law didn’t complain ofhaving to do all the work herself while I was away,”said Diane, grateful for her sister-in-law’sassistance.

While Diane was required to leave Malaysia forthe Race, coincidentally her husband neededto travel to America at the same time, whichmeant that their children would be alonewith the maid at home, so Diane calledher mum-in-law for help. “We called

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“Life doesn’t stopafter giving birth,”said Ann, whostrongly believesthat mothersshouldn’t use‘motherhood’ as anexcuse for notpursuing theirdreams.

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her on a Sunday afternoon, and she returned our call about two hours laterand told us that her flight was scheduled to land in KL early Wednesdaymorning, as she’s aware that my flight would leave from KL on Tuesdaynight. So she flew all the way from Holland to KL, looked after my kids forabout two weeks and took them back to Holland as it was then a summerbreak for them,” expressed Diane with lots of gratitude towards her mum-in-law.

As for Ann, her mum had helped her a lot with taking care of her childrenwhile she’s away from home. Ann said, “I think because my two older kidsare in their teens, it’s much easier for me. But Tamara certainly misses me,as she is still a young child.” However, Ann was thankful to her husband fortaking such good care of the children when she’s not around. “My husbandis a very hands-on person when it comes to our kids. He is capable oflooking after the kids from morning to night. He would keep them occupiedall day with activities, making sure that they have their meals on time andso on,” said Ann.

Fortunately for both of them, their husbandshave been supportive to all things that theyhave undertaken thus far. “We actually toldour husbands that we were going for a dancecamp in Melbourne, as we weren’t allowedto expose anything about The Amazing Race

Asia to anyone, not even our spouses,” saidDiane. Ann continued, “They knew that it wassome sort of reality show, in fact, they thoughtit was a dance show. They’d never haveguessed that it’d be The Amazing Race Asia.” However, their children were very excitedwhen they finally got to know that their mumsparticipated in The Amazing Race Asia.

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The Meaning of VictoryWhen asked what would they do with the US$100,000 grand prize of The

Amazing Race Asia if they were to win the race, Ann answered, “If we win,I’d save up part of it for my children’s education, expand my businessand I’d plan to set up some dance classes where the less fortunatechildren could join by paying less, or may be even free. Actually, we arelooking forward to start up a communal centre in PJ, where kids whocan’t afford the luxury of pricey dancing lessons could join in, as fees

would be lowered, besides, we’re trying to reach out more to the middle-aged, lower income group as well.” As for Diane, if she won the grand prize,

she would invest the money in her business and treat her family to a nicevacation.

To Ann, winning or losing is not the main concern, but the experience that shegained through this race was something even money can’t buy. It would be

an unforgettable experience of her lifetime. As for Diane, even if they didn’tmake it to the final, she’s glad that she has learnt a lot from the race. Sheknew that there are lots of things that could be done to achieve her dreams,and even if she could turn back time she would not have done it anydifferently, as she has no regrets in her undertaking thus far.

“Life doesn’t stop after giving birth,” was Ann’s comments to all themothers out there. She said that one should never regret the life one leads,

as one would never know what will happen in the future, perhaps, somethingbetter has yet to come. While Diane urges parents to do something for

themselves as an individual such as chasing their own dreams, and not evolve solelyaround their children all the time, because there will come a time where parents need to let gowhen their children have grownup, and that’s the time whenthe parents need somethingelse to hold on to.

Catch Ann and Dianein The Amazing RaceAsia 2 at AXN,Astro Channel 701,this month!

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