In the Bush

Hey, We're sitting here, outside sipping champagne and looking out at the most beautiful view. The bush is not like the desert, like I thought. It's very green, full of short trees and bushes (like a small and less dense forest). All the trees are different and beautiful! On the drive to Kate's house we were so lucky to see almost every animal!! We saw zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, black mamba snake (lucky for us it was just killed by a car on the side of the road, otherwise it's deathly poisonous), blisbok (sp?), kudo and this and that that I can't remember! That was just on the drive, then we got to the house. The house is like those houses you see on tv, a mansion in the bush. It is all open, beautiful decks overlooking the bush, an outside shower, a small pool, a huge fireplace and everything! Gorgeous, I'll upload pictures once I get back to Kate's house (which is also amazing). Tomorrow we'll go for a game drive in a souped up jeep! Post more soon, I'll I can say is that we love it so much!! Hope you're all doing well and enjoying the cold weather!! Love Lauren

Night Before

Hey everyone...this is another (almost) pointless post, but I just have to write because Mac and I had some fun tonight (see link below).

I'm all packed, all my bags are zipped shut although I'm sure I'll find more to add tomorrow morning. We'll be waking up early tomorrow, 4:30 to get all ready and on the road by 5:30. Rory (my awesome boyfriend) is coming with me and he has a flight to Atlanta that leaves at 7:45. My flight doesn't leave until 10:15, but I'm going to try to hop onto the earlier flight so we don't have to fly alone.

From Atlanta, we have till 3:40pm to change our minds and then we're on our way to Johannesburg! I think its an 18 hour flight with a 1 1/2 hour stop in Dakar, Senegal to refuel. I'm pretty sure we don't get to get off the plane there, but I'll let you know what the runway looks like.

Arriving in Johannesburg right around dinner time on Thursday (maybe around 9am Thursday in MN). Kate (exchange student my family hosted when I was in high school) will be picking us up. We'll have Friday to get situated, sleep and go to to the mall while Kate is at work. But then Friday-Monday we'll be at her parents house "in the bush." I think it's near a game reserve so we'll be seeing the Big 5 (take that poll down the page on the left side).

Doo doo doo, see the video and I'll be posting once we get there!

I couldn't upload this onto the blog, so you'll have to go to YouTube to see it. Use the link below, or go to youtube.com and search "lauren in south africa." I'm pretty sure it'll be worth it!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52SGuLEBdOE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5yzYx6hWS4