Kadod...ra?

In mid-July, Claire and I ventured all the way to Surat to fix one of the many computer issues that we have encountered since coming here. On the way home, we got off the bus in Bardoli to eat some dinner and catch a rickshaw to Kadod. After eating a huge meal at the Tulsi hotel (right across from the gas station that all of the rickshaw drivers frequent), we decided to cross the street to negotiate a cheap rickshaw home. It took at least ten minutes to convince someone to take us to Kadod, not because it was far away, not because of the price, but because they couldn’t believe that two Americans actually wanted to go to Kadod.

Me: How much for a rickshaw to Kadod?
Driver #1: You mean… Bardoli?
Claire: No… Kadod.
Driver #2: Kadod-RA? (Suburb of Surat)
Me: No… Kadod.
Driver #1: WHERE are you going? Surat?
Me: No… Kadod. It’s a village 30 minutes from here.
Driver #2: Like: K-A-D-O-D, Kadod? (writes it on his hand for clarity)
Claire: YES, K-A-D-O-D, Kadod.
Driver #1: (Laughs along with a chorus of other rickshaw drivers, and mumbles Gujarati) Ok, Kadod it is. (snicker, snicker)

Needless to say, this man half-expected us to get out of the rickshaw completely confused and lost. He was quite surprised when we directed him straight to our home and waved at the security guards posted outside of the gate, who happily waved back welcoming us home.

We have gotten so used to everyone in Kadod knowing everything about our jobs, our house, and our lives, that it has begun to feel almost normal that an American would come to an isolated village in Gujarat to teach English and computer literacy. Though it is nice to have some level of normalcy, this recent reminder of how rare it is for teachers to come to this region was refreshing. It solidified in my mind the importance of my position at Kadod High School and the rare opportunity I have to become a part of this amazing community.