The greenish mophane shrubs that are still fresh from the recent rains that have hit this area in the past weeks pave and sandwich the otherwise dusty and bumpy road that takes one to this place. This is an approximately 20km stretch from Tutume village. The bleating of the goats and the mooing of cows also punctuate the atmosphere in this area. This is coupled with the whistling from the people as they drive their animals' home after a day's grazing outing by the animals.
Two women pass by riding bicycles. The speed at which the bicycles are moving forces me to look at my companion, a resident of this village, in amazement. Suddenly a very strong smell hits our vehicle. We are forced to close all the windows. "There must be a snake somewhere nearer," my companion says and before he puts a full stop to his remark, a very big snake quickly dashes in front of the vehicle forcing me to apply the emergency breaks as my companion urges me not to run over it. Though convincingly afraid and shaking, I put up a brave face. As we arrive at the village, one thing becomes clear. This is a typical Tswana village. It is a village that bears the scars of modernity as it boasts of a primary school and secondary school. Modern houses that boast of tiles and iron sheets can also be seen flashing through the thick mophane shrubs that undoubtedly has a heavy presence in this village. Another reality is that this is a village that continues to display the ability to welcome and embrace modernity and at the same time retain its traditional socio- economic patterns of lifestyle.
