The first former Sweet 16er to get Exiled was Amanda.

In Season 2(Eps 9) of My Super Sweet 16, Amanda had a Polynesian-themed sweet 16 party which included a performance by R&B sensation Ciara. Though Amanda’s parents spent more than $200,000 for her party, Amanda seemed to have little appreciation for what her parents did for her.

Six months after high school graduation, Amanda was still floating through life depending on her parents to make life great for her. So dad decided it was time for a change. She was ‘exiled’ to a Masai village on the Kenyan/Tanzanian border for one week.

After watching this episode, I honestly don’t think many watching this show would have acted any differently.

1. Amanda discovered that there were no bathrooms; the people do their business in the sand. I would have pitched a fit at that point. It’s the one thing I don’t accept when doing primitive camping. I always carry a little camp potty with lots of toilet paper. Sorry, but I just can’t handle the whole ‘find a bush’ idea.

2. The hut where Amanda would live was made out of cow dung. While I would have been respectful, I don’t think I would have slept well for fear of the hut collapsing. Not sure smothering under dried cow dung is the way I want to exit the world, but maybe that’s just me being spoiled.

3. Amanda had to walk 4 hours to a watering well, that’s one way. Like others, she had a small barrel of water strapped to her head for the 4 hour walk back to the village. I know physically fit people who would have found that trying and Amanda doesn’t seem like someone who has working out on her daily schedule. Also note that this was the hot African desert. Amanda cried when she had to take a ‘normal’ car to her b-day party because the a/c went out in the limo she was supposed to arrive in. Was it karma or just plain cruel to send her to a desert?!

4. Amanda was asked to help build a new hut … remember what it’s made out of … with her bare hands. While I might not have flat out refused like Amanda, I might have spent the time making weird faces and gagging. They kept watering it to make it squishy. EWW!

5. The tribe holds a ceremony for Amanda which involves killing and cutting up a goat she had been petting earlier that day. Like Amanda, I would have been visibly gagging, especially when members of the tribe drank the blood and ate a raw kidney. I’m willing to bet many were grossed out just watching it on tv.

The one thing I’d want for this show is that it be required viewing for all parents who spoil their kids. Once Amanda realized that she needed to accept the situation and make the most of it, she revealed her inner goodness. That’s what parents need to really get, spoiling your kids will not prepare them for the real world. It’s the challenges and hardships of life that build character. I’m not saying you have to travel to some third world country, but having to take some responsibilities for your life and the things you want can make a difference.

Amanda did very well on this trip. In fact, better than a lot of the teens where I live, who aren’t spoiled by rich parents. Of course, this could have just been the editing. We may have missed out on the embarrassing tantrums and whatnot.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised.

Check out full episodes at: Exiled