The initial buzz of landing in a brand new country has worn off and we are already feeling as though we are getting used to life here. The first days were series of being picked up and dropped off by the school van drivers to take us places for various things – local eateries, supermarkets, fresh produce markets and the like so that we (being the 17 new staff at the school) could get familiar with the area, set up a new house and learn the ropes of getting around without the safety blanket of our own transport.
We have already met a rickshaw driver/rider that has ‘adopted’ us. We met him by chance and doesn’t try to rip us off, so we are using his might and stamina to get around. His name is Rashid and is 23, married and has two little ones. The fact that he’s supporting himself and three others makes us happier to pay closer to the white westerner price that we are inevitably charged everywhere we go – even when there is a set price tag! He seems to be a top bloke and is almost always in the area (often hanging around the outside of the apartment when we get home from school) and keen to take us anywhere we want.
Lori and a couple of friends (meaning other teachers that we live either in the same building or very close to) grabbed Rashid and a mate (in the green T-shirt) and went for a tour of the local area last weekend. After an hour and a half of checking out local parks and picking up groceries, she came the haggling time to negotiate a price for the ride. Rashid merely said, “You decide.” – extremely un-Bangladeshian! This won massive brownie points in Lori’s book and gave him Tk150, to which he was extremely pleased.
I was doing the very incredibly boring task of waiting for the internet blokes to hook up the world’s dodgiest connection and stuff around with computers, so I missed all the action… She will no doubt give you a much more interesting version of events soon.
Every trip here is different. Sometimes even suggesting to the driver/shop owner whose services and/or goods we are keen to pay for that the price they are charging is ridiculous will bring about a disgusted reply, claiming, “Long ride” or, “This is quality imported thing,” and other times a grin breaks out, showing that they know that they’re busted and accept a more reasonable price. Keeps life interesting…
Pore dhaka hobe
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