Life Is Wild

I'm sorry,I thought you guys just said "Africa."

South Africa. For a year.

It's a chance for us all to get closer as a family.

Who's family,his or ours?

We're all one family now.

We went to stay with my grandfather at his lodge.

Welcome to the Blue Antelope.

We're staying here?

It's not easy running a bed and breakfast.

I'm eager to help and I'd love to bring it out of retirement.

There's a goat that won't survive a couple of days.

He needs a vet.

You are the vet.

He is.

You must be the doctor's daughter.

I'm... I'm Tumelo.

The doctor's daughter.

Now this is what I call a lodge.

Mara caters to tourists.

Thought you might like it.

I'm Oliver,this is my sister Emily.

You two brother and sister?

Well,her lunatic father duped my mother into marrying him.

Yeah,that's exactly how it went down.

It's paradise. You can do what you want whenever you want.

After the rockiest of starts,

it almost started to feel like home.

They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Good,no pressure there.

Today is my first day at a new school

in a new country on a new continent.

I get to make friends...

mand definitely make impressions.

Africa.

Okay,listen up,everybody.

I would like to propose a toast...

Dad,you're not serious.

I'm very serious.

...to your first day of school,

to my first day at work.

Let's all get a fresh start as a family here in Africa.

To new beginnings.

And I'm waiting.

God,that was moving.

Mom,can't breathe.

Okay,I'm sorry. Okay,you look great. Get on that bus.

So,new teachers,new classes,new students. You nervous?

Well,now I am. No,I'm fine. Just,this skirt's itchy.

Skirt's great. You look great.

I'm wearing knee highs and a pleated skirt. I look like Lolita.

Honey,honey,stop. Stop.

Africa is different. But you are not.

You just got to...

Embrace it. I know. The day will be easy. School I do well.

It's the one thing I have on resume.

It's just the skirt I have an issue with.

Bye.

- Bye,guys. - Be good. We love you.

Excellent behavior. All right?

Bye-bye!

Oh,my gosh.

We just became those parents.

It was only a matter of time.

Hi. Can you point me to room 124?

Hi. Can you just point me to room 124?

- Katie. - Oliver.

You,uh,you seem a bit confused.

Yeah,it's just... this school

Relax,it's first day jitters.

Allow me to be your official tour guide.

Oh,you're hired.

Can we start by why does no one speak English?

I thought this was an international school.

Each month,our class focuses on one of 11 official languages in South Africa.

This month is Zulu.

Zulu. Well,thank God I'm not taking that class.

Spanish was hard enough.

Well,what do you have now?

Heh,that's Zulu.

Come on,follow me.

Okay.

That's her. The girl next door.

For some reason,Oliver seems to like her.

Well,we'll see how long that lasts.

Ah,this is gonna be fun.

Our first assignment for today will be

to have each of you write a poem in Zulu.

Now this poem needs to describe your favorite place in South Africa

and why.

Katie,Jesse,since you are new,

I don't expect you to read the entire poem in Zulu,

but just give it your best shot.

Now who here would like to partner up with Ms. Clarke?

So, how's it going,partner?

We've got dry rot,bad pipes, the roof needs replacing.

I need to order some corrugated iron... partner.

Iron? I was thinking more about tile.

Too pricey. Just because you've stayed in a hotel,

doesn't mean you know how to run one.

We're gonna make this a great lodge.

I want to out-Mara Mara.

Ah,I see.

The American way,bigger and better. Super-size it.

Well,you're not in America now and you're not at your New York law firm.

This is the bush.

And if you fight it,it's gonna eat you up.

Oh,yeah,I am so growing on him.

Hey.

Hey.

I've got a proposition.

I'm all ears... and knees. Never mind.

You know I want to be a vet.

I was hoping you could ask your father if I can apprentice with him.

Sure,but why don't you ask him?

Well,I thought it'd be better coming from his own flesh and blood than me.

Do you speak Zulu?

You know,I don't.

And you know,I do.

I mean,I could be of invaluable help on this class project.

Mm... how very quid pro quo of you.

Hello.

I'm Doctorlarke.

Just,just call me Danny.

Umkulu sent me,said you had a sick cow. How are you? Nice to meet you.

Do you speak English by any chance,sir?

I'm not gonna understand a thing you tell me.

It's not good.

Okay. So... good,good.

Let's,let's take a look.

Partnering with Katie? It's the poor girl's first day. Go easy.

I just wanna get to know her.

Lauren,get over him. My brother isn't worth it,trust me.

I get to see what he looks like in the morning.

Oliver and I break up and get back together. It's what we do.

It's twisted and romantic and I'm not gonna let some new girl mess it up.

Ugh,I hate new girls.

Especially,New Yorkers. Th think they're cool.

Hey!

- Hey there,new girl. - Hi.

Hey,thanks for taking me on.

Oh,first days are the worst.

But stick with us and we'll help you navigate

Oh,come on,mate, change,you're gonna be late.

It's bad enough wearing jackets to class,

but dressing up like Colonel Sanders is where I draw the line.

You're gonna get tossed out of gym.

Exactly.

We love New York.

My dad spoke at the UN last summer. I took Emily along.

We partied every single night. Yeah!

It's the party capital of the world. We go out like every night.

Who's we? Uh!

Let me guess. You've got some hot New York boy toy.

Is he older? 'Cause guys here are so lame.

Yeah. College junior at NYU.

,really? Maybe he'll come visit. We'd love to meet him.

Yeah,sure.

Who is that guy?

He's hot. I told you so.

That's Jesse. My stepbrother.

Clarke.

Chase Clarke?

My name's Madiba.

Madiba is Nelson Mandela's honorary title.

Your name is Chase Clarke. The new boy from New York,right?

I've adopted Madiba as a tribute to Mr. Mandela.

Well, while tributes are important,

in my class you will respond when your name is called.

Chase,why don't you write the problem on the board.

My name is Madiba.

Chase,to the board.

Madiba.

Well,Madiba,you have just earned yourself a first visit to the principal.

She's got a lion!

Wait,no.

What? Isicubu.

Wait. Uh,hold on a second.

Uh,wait.

Come here. No,no,no.

No,no,not out the door.

I'm an innocent man,unjustly accused.

Yeah,me,too.

Don't even try it.

Chase,Mia,early bedtime.

Jesse...

You wanna send me to my room? I got a better idea.

Send me home on the first flight.

Oh,I'll gladly contribute to that airfare.

If this is what they call family bonding,I've really missed out.

Katie,since you are the only one who the principal didn't grill us on,

how was your day today?

Fun! I met two cool girls, started my first day of Zulu,

and I have to write a poem about my favorite spot in South Africa.

Wow. All that in a pleated skirt. I'm impressed.

I treated a water buffalo,impala,two goats

and a very sick cow thank you very much. Typical day. And you,dear?

Oh,gee,uh,Art,you wanna field this one?

She wants to out-Mara Mara with her vast experience as a New York City divorce attorney.

Can't wait.

Yeah,so,while Art has been murdering my spirit with his bare hands,