Photos of Summer 2022 Cua Expedition

A few photos of our recent NSF funded expedition in Botswana to document Cua, a central Khoisan (Khoe-Kwadi) language. 

The first four photos are of the team standing in front of the sign at the entrance to the village. The grant made it possible to bring two students along to help with the research.

Credit: Andrea Rodas

The photo below is of me and Morgan, the translator and general assistant to the project.

Credit: Andrea Rodas

The next two photos show Olivia, Andrea, my wife and me.

Credit: Morgan Chebani

Credit: Morgan Chebani

The next five photos are of our lodgings in Diphuduhudu. Below is my 4x4 (Toyota Land Cruiser) standing in front of my bedroom/office/shower. We only had the left hand side of the building. The other side was mostly unoccupied. You can see in the picture that in front of the house there is just sand. In fact, the entire village is built upon the sand of the Kalahari desert.

Credit: Chris Collins

The photo below shows the fire where we would heat up water for showers (in order to make our gas supply last longer). All together, we purchased 500 Pula of firewood (100 USD), which the neighbors helped themselves to without limit.

Credit: Chris Collins

A picture of the dreaded outhouse in the back. We had a key.

Credit: Chris Collins

My beloved solar panel. I have fallen in love with the idea of solar energy. We powered four laptops and four or five cell phones. There were only three or four problematic days when it was overcast. Even then we managed to get by. After this experience, and seeing solar powered water heaters all over Block 6 in Gaborone, I don't really understand why solar power is not more advanced in the US.

Credit: Chris Collins

Our source of water. It is protected by a wire fence to keep goats and donkeys out. But somehow they kept managing to slip in. The water comes from a village borehole. It is drinkable, only a bit salty.

Credit: Chris Collins

A picture of Mma Porwane's beautiful traditional skin blanket. It is decorated with ornaments.

Credit: Andrea Rodas

A picture of Rre Porwane making fire with a flint stone. He is a true expert who is able to make fire in just a few seconds. He strikes the knife against the flint stone, which produces a spark. The spark jumps into the little tin he is holding, which contains a flammable material. He once bragged that he could make fire in the rain. I definitely believe him.

Credit: Andrea Rodas

The famous "Pub with no name" just outside of Molepolole on the road to Letlhakeng. I was telling the students about this during the trip, so they insisted we get a photo.

Credit: Andrea Rodas