Larry Bjornsen

 is a contestant from Survivor: Trinidad.

Profile
Name (Age): Larry Bjornsen (65)

Current Residence: New York, NY

Occupation: Coffee Shop Owner

Claim to Fame: Keeping my humble little cafe alive for thirty years despite the competitive nature of New York City. Starbucks and other big corporations have always been on my case since people seem to really like the coffee I serve, which means competition that might lower their bottom line. I’ve never given in, and I’ve proven that care and dedication matter more than sheer power and money when it comes to the industry.

Inspiration in Life: I have a huge amount of respect for my father. He’s the reason why I have a “never give up” attitude towards not only my coffee shop, but to life in general. He immigrated here from Norway before I was born, and because he didn’t come from money, he had to start from basically the bottom, knowing very little English. Still, he taught himself the language and did whatever he could to make my life and the life of my siblings as comfortable as it could be. When I pray each night, I always ask for the same thing - for God to bless me with even half the strength and fortitude my father had.

Hobbies: I’m an avid bike rider; that’s how I’ve chosen to commute for at least the past twenty years, if not longer. Beyond commuting, going for a ride helps me to blow off some steam and reflect on my life and how things are going. It’s a really great stress reliever. (smiles)

Pet Peeves: I think it’s awful that so many people don’t seem to care about the beautiful planet we live on, and are content with littering or polluting it just to make themselves a quick buck or because they’re too lazy to dispose of things properly. (shakes his head) I can’t stand ungrateful people in general. I get that we all go through hard things in life, but a big part of life is powering through the darkness rather than wallowing in it.

3 Words to Describe You: Respectful, dedicated, & humble

If you could bring 3 things on the island with you, what would you bring and why?: Oh, I know this is a silly answer, but I’d bring a bike. There’s no way I’ll find a suitable trail to actually ride it on, but just the idea of maybe being able to makes me happy. I’d also want some coffee with me there, since I love to drink it just as much as I love to make it. Lastly, maybe a camera to help me capture the beauty of where we’ll be staying.

SURVIVOR Contestant you are most like: I relate a lot to Mikol Jowyk from Survivor: Uruguay. Like me, he can be a little awkward around people, although I’ll admit that his is more due to an actual condition he has while I’m just, well… awkward. (chuckles) He was also a huge fighter even though all the odds were stacked against him, and I think that’s really inspiring and also how I plan on playing this game.

Reason for Being on SURVIVOR: I’m mainly on the show for the experience. I mean, I know I’m no spring chicken, so now is one of the last times I’d be able to do anything like this. It might not be my thing, so to speak, but wilderness survival was something I wanted to kinda experiment with when I was a teenager. That, and the money would make it possible for me to expand the options or size of my coffee shop to make the experience better for my customers.

Why you will be the Sole Survivor: I know I’m going to be one of the older guys there, which means I might be underestimated and not seen as a threat. I’m also pretty good at relating to people of all different backgrounds and personalities, and it takes me a lot to get fed up or frustrated with somebody. I think that and my refusal to give up are what will get me to the million-dollar check.