ANDERSONVILLE — James Morgan didn't win the grand prize of a family reunion with long-lost relatives on the Swedish reality show "Allt för Sverige."
In fact, he didn't make it past the second episode, but that didn't stop him from finding those relatives — or more accurately, stop them from finding him. After the episode aired Sunday in Sweden, Morgan's Facebook has been flooded with messages from people "claiming to be family," he said.
"I wanted one family member, that's what I expected, but I got like a billion. I didn't get the reunion right then, but it's coming," said Morgan excitedly Wednesday night.
Morgan, who applied to be on the reality show twice, was the first contestant to be eliminated. The show takes Americans with Swedish roots back to Sweden to reconnect with their family history and lineage. But before he left, he shared lots of tears, laughs and a moment he says he'll never forget.
In the second episode, the crew spends time in Morgan's Andersonville home as he explains the sentimental value of a tea kettle his family has kept since they moved from Sweden. Later in the episode, he enjoys tea from the tea pot at his great-grandfather's half-brother's house in Sweden after achieving one of his goals — understanding why his family left Sweden in the first place.
But the tea was bittersweet. Morgan's great-great-grandfather Gustaf, who immigrated to the U.S., was actually forced out of the home by his stepfather and stepbrother.
"It was hard to be there," Morgan said. "This was the guy that made my family leave Sweden. At first, I was mad, but [the producers] did the best they could. I didn't know why he left at all, but now I know."
While there were a lot of emotional moments, there were also some fun moments, like when Morgan and the bubbly Jamie Lystra stop at local tailor, so Morgan could buy a traditional suit worn in Sweden during the 1800s.
"I always wanted that. I'll wear it to Midsommarfest and different cultural things," Morgan said.
His short time in Sweden came to a close after losing a music memory competition. Contestants were given an iPad and 30 minutes to memorize the artist and titles of songs for the competition. Unfortunately for him, Morgan isn't very handy with an iPad "or any idevices," as he calls them.
"I can't work technology. I wasn't worried [about the competition] because I know a little of everything but, when I saw the iPad I knew I lost. I was so frustrated they gave me this thing and I didn't even know how to turn it on," he said.
Understanding that his memory would be tested and admitting his wasn't the strongest, Morgan started taking B vitamins a month before the show, hoping to strengthen his memory.
Though he had a tearful goodbye, Morgan admits "I was kind of done."
"I had a great time, but I was done. The pace behind the scenes was so fast," he said.
For the show, producers told the contestants to pack enough clothes for 10 days to five weeks and for temperatures from 45 degrees to 95 degrees. Those vague instructions, coupled with his on-screen persona of a dapper gentleman, meant lugging around two heavy suitcases from 7 in the morning until they arrived at their hostel, sometimes as late as 10 o'clock at night, he said.
"I packed for the long haul," said Morgan.
But Morgan didn't depart empty-handed: As a parting gift he received a family tree tracing his lineage all the way back to Sweden. Plus, he still has all those Facebook messages to sift through.
James Morgan was given this family tree as a parting gift from the show.
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