Survivor 39: Island of the Idols Season Premiere Blog Party

It's here! After a rather troubling season of Big Brother, this should be a relief! The show seeks out those who WANT to be on it, not merely showmance types 
Remember -- although Sandra and Rob are there, they are mentoring, not competing.

Lifeguard Laurie has so kindly made the random matches for the blog pool once again. YAY! Remember -- nobody in the pool goes home tonight!
Lairo
Aaron Meredith - Auntie Leigh
Chelsea Walker  - Big winner Brian, Margo
Dean Kowalski  - CherryPie, Merrilee
Elaine Stott  - Cheryl in NC
Elizabeth Beise   - CherylNY, monty 924
Karishma Patel  - Ed in Ohio, SueGee
Missy Byrd   - Janice, TS14Fan
Ronnie Bardah   - jennifer
Tom Laidlaw   - Judi Sweeney, Laurie
Vince Moua   - Kelsey NY, MikesGirl

Vokai
Dan Spilo   - Bizaro22, marthalight
Jack Nichting   - David
Jamal Shipman   - Donna in Alabama, Petals
Janet Carbin   - Donna NY, Sharon C
Jason Linden   - Dr_Celine, Nickelpeed
Kellee Kim   - Glenn Allen
Lauren Beck   - Jackie, Sharon N
Molly Byman   - Jenna G, tbc
Noura Salman   - Jennasmom

Tommy Sheehan  - Karen in CA, Terry is a Texan

My blogging coverage might be a bit spotty tonight since A. I don't know who is whom yet and 2. I'm still having tendonitis issues with my right wrist making typing a bit hard. Please bear with me. It is improving!

As always, the real party is in the comments area -- please feel free to join in on the fun!

Survivor School is now in session!
Jeff does not escort the new castaways to the island, instead he's in a helicopter overhead. Without Jeff, they set about setting up their shelters and getting to know one another after finding camp flags and buffs.

Elaine, Tom and Vince already bonded … and their fellow castaways noticed it. In the other camp it's noticed that Jason has already gone off alone looking for idols.

So many of them already have their eyes on Jason. 

On Vokai, Tommy is schmoozing. But Noura gives Jason a heads up. On Lairo, they're already thinking of a girls alliance.

On Vokai, it turns out that Dan isn't respecting personal space, especially with the women -- he's touchy-feely. Janet warns him about it nicely but thinks it might hurt him in the game. On Lairo, Elaine and Ronnie already mistrust each other.

They finally meet Jeff and his dimples. It's the first immunity challenge. Reward is in the form of flint for fire. Climb a net, down a slide, on mat, grappling hooks move logs, climb to top of a hard incline, to puzzles -- building a village one hut at a time in order. This is a hard one!

VOKAI wins Immunity and Reward!

Jeff tells Lairo that one person will go to Island of the Idol and Elizabeth's name is drawn out of a bag. Jeff tells them she will return by Tribal time.

She lands on the island, sees giant busts of Rob and Sandra, then Rob and Sandra come to meet her. They will mentor her and then test her on what she's learned. Rob teaches her how to make fire. Sandra also works with her on fire.

Now if she takes a challenge to make fire against Rob, she could win an idol good for the next two tribal councils or lose a vote.

Back at camp, Ronnie seems to be targeted as does Elaine's. Some are not on the target Elaine bend, though. 

Elizabeth goes for the challenge and … loses. She loses her vote, but now knows how to make fire and to go with her gut. She gets to pick the name from the other tribe to go to Idols next.

Back at camp Elaine is trying to make deals to stay. Now it looks like Vince is in trouble. Elizabeth is back and lies, doesn't tell them anything about Rob or Sandra or fire making. She makes up a story about breaking urns and not winning anything.

They all want her nonexistent vote, she doesn't tell them she lost her vote.

Tribal Council time! 
Sandra and Rob are spying on them.
Elaine tries to defend herself knowing she's the main target.

The tally --
Vince, Ronnie, Vince, Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie

Bye-bye Ronnie ...