In the same episode of “Double Occupation Andalusia,” Céline Girouard and Sami Benlamlih left the band. Even though they weren’t able to find their soulmate during the show, the two New Brunswickers say they had an unforgettable adventure.
First, let’s talk about Sami. The Edmundston doctor was not immediately introduced to the contestants’ famous mansion. He had to wait in a hotel room for about two weeks before he could join the rest of the group.
However, once he began his adventure on Double Occupancy, he was charmed by the other participants and the activities organized during the six weeks that marked his time on the reality TV show.
“It was basically like summer camp for adults. In short, we show young adults doing what most young adults do, like trying to find the right person for them, in an entertaining context.”
After more than six years of celibacy, Sami was tempted by the prospect of finding love in the context of dual occupation.
“In everyday life I rarely meet new people, especially when working in the hospital. Plus, as we get older we meet less and less new people, so Double Occupancy gave me the chance to do that.”
Instead of discovering his soulmate, the young man used the experience to learn more about himself.
“We were forced to do activities we would never do in real life. For example, during a “date” with one of the girls, I floated 88 meters above the air in a hammock.”
“There are things that I have been able to improve in my life through double occupancy. We spend so much time in our heads that we can take the time to think a little more about our lives. I also learned to take more care of my mental health because we had the opportunity to talk to a psychologist for an hour a day. She made me realize that you don’t have to feel bad to talk to a therapist or psychologist.”
However, Salim Benlamlih admits that he had to overcome some challenges during his time on the show. Since he describes himself as a person who takes his time before committing to a person, the format of the show didn’t make it easy for him.
However, he developed friendly relationships with many participants, including his fellow New Brunswicker, Céline.
“We were able to build a brotherhood pretty quickly. Apparently we were together constantly for six weeks.”
“In Céline I have found one of my good friends for life. I didn’t find love, but I did build relationships with unique people.”
Furthermore, his subsequent appearance on the show was a moment that the young man feared.
“Everyone had already taken the time to get to know each other, so arriving later as black sheep didn’t make the experience easy at first.”
Salim is also aware that his status as a doctor has caused a stir, with some viewers suggesting that it would have been better for him to remain in his post given the delays in the healthcare system. However, he believes that before becoming a doctor, he is above all a person who is looking for things in life, such as love.
“We don’t just define ourselves by our profession. I understand the people who didn’t like it, but I believe that having people like those who took part in this adventure can be a good thing for the people who watch us and take us as an example.
The time after the double crew was also a special experience for Salim Benlamlih. He admits that he had to get used to “real life” again.
“We were cut off from a lot of things, so it’s special to come back to it afterwards.” There are also people who come up to me and talk to me about Double Occupancy. It’s special because I’m the same person as before, but people’s perception has changed. There (in Andalusia) everything was experienced exponentially, so the return was marked by a certain melancholy.
Celine Girouard – Noovo
Céline Girouard, a clinical nurse in Moncton, may not have found true love, but she describes her experience as incredible.
“When I auditioned, I had no idea I would be accepted, but I am very grateful to have been able to experience this adventure. I met incredible people and had extraordinary experiences that took me out of my comfort zone (…) I didn’t emerge as a winner in love, but I did emerge as a winner in friendship.”
Just like her compatriot Sami, with whom she had a great friendship, Céline had some concerns, particularly because of her New Brunswick origins, her age and her accent.
“I wasn’t sure how it would turn out at first, but I wanted to find love and discover myself as a person. I was pleasantly surprised at how welcoming the other contestants and production people were. I was surrounded by people with great emotional intelligence who were kind, and that helped me in my experience.”
The first time she had such an experience, Céline Girouard admits that she had to get used to being constantly under the gaze of cameras. However, she claims there were a variety of services available to participants to assist them on this adventure.
“Production did a good job making us feel comfortable. We had a psychologist we could talk to when we were going through difficult times. The production people were there to listen to us if we weren’t comfortable with something. Even though it was something new, we were quickly reassured.”
In addition to the quick contacts she made with the other Double Occupation participants, Céline says the activities she took part in during her stay were also impactful.
“We were able to travel to Switzerland and Morocco. As someone who hadn’t traveled much before, I realized I had an incredible privilege. We did a lot of activities that I might never have done on my own, but it allowed me to push my personal limits. It made me proud of myself.”
“From a personal perspective, you experience something really intense and everything is amplified. Your habits will be reinforced, including your romantic relationships. This created great chemistry between the girls and I will always remember that.”
Céline Girouard admits that she has also experienced certain challenges. As someone who thinks a lot about her thoughts, she constantly struggled not to hurt anyone with her words.
“In the end, it was less “fun” to tell someone they had more potential to be a friend than a lover. As I watched the shows, I wondered why I was so stressed because everything was going well.”
If she had to do it all over again, Céline admits that she would hesitate, not because she didn’t like her adventure in “Double Occupation Andalusia,” but because she wants to preserve the unforgettable memories she made during her transition to the show.
“For me it is what we call a “once in a lifetime experience”. It was so special that I just want to keep this adventure in my heart.”
The young woman, who is also passionate about fashion, believes that her experience at OD Andalusia may have inspired her to create a podcast.
“It is a place where I was able to discover many things. We’ll see what happens in the future.