How would you define 'normal' anyway?

Well, time to answer another question from you good folks. This time around, it's a question about Aidan. Actually, most of the questions I get or have gotten before are about him. This time, it's a question of life. Specifically, 'how normal is Aidan's life in a third world country?' Well, let me show you...

It's good to have friends... especially ones that will stare at a phone camera in abject fascination!

We've been over this before, but it can't be said enough - Aidan has made some great friends. As you can see above, they love to play with iPhones.

Aaron

You remember Aaron? Well, Aidan gets to have this guy over to watch movies and play together. He didn't really have any friends like that in Florida.



On Saturdays, we ride out to children's service in Sa'ang with Jacob and Aaron, and he gets to run and scream and jump and wind up playing in the dirt or poking bugs with sticks.


Poking bugs with sticks is awesome! ...except bees. Trust me, don't do that.

Sokun

Then, of course, there's Sokun. You got to see him on my blog recently when we all went to the amusement park.



Aidan and Sokun have gotten to hang out at various locales, most of which you've seen already. What's more though, Sokun actually spent the night a couple of times! Yes, I know this seems mundane to you other-parents-of-first-grade-children, but for him, it's new and exciting.



For Sokun's part, I catch him smiling more with Aidan around too. :)

Remember her?

Remember Srey Ohn, the village outcast? Well, she's taken a friendly liking to Mr. Aidan, and hangs out with him as much as possible on Sundays. She attends church, and comes over to play with him or crack his knuckles (She really likes to do that! She does it to Jess and I too.). As you can see in the photo, Aidan's been good for her too. She laughs and smiles a little more, and is less shy around our family. Win-win!

Ok, so he has friends. What else? Well, you've seen him go to a water park, and to an amusement park, but I bet you didn't know he goes to...

Aidan, now appearing in 3D! To see this image in 3D, you have to cross your eyes slowly while backing away from the computer.

...the movies! Yes, we have a movie theatre! It's strange to think about, isn't it? Third world country, movies in 3D (How many of you tried what I wrote in the caption? Be honest now... ), and movie snacks! There are some differences though. For starters, when it first opened, they had to post signs telling everyone to be quiet during the movie... and keep their shoes on. Yeah, movie etiquette was something that took a little time here.

To see this image in 3D... you have to come visit! What? I only trick people once every couple of posts. :)

Be that as it may, I recently went with Jacob to see the new Spiderman movie. I thought it would be a huge treat to bring Aidan, and I was right. He was absolutely thrilled to see movie posters, popcorn (3 flavors - salty, sweet, and caramel. No butter though.), and of course, ice cold Sprite.

Facing out from the theater. They have a food court! Squid anyone?

Since they do assigned seating, we also wandered into City Mall, which really is a little mini-mall attached to the theater. We didn't buy much, but we did stop by the DVD store, where for the low price of 1$, you could take home a copy of... Spiderman! Well that,  and Brave, Ice Age 4, and a few other movies that haven't even made it into theaters here yet. Yes, they are illegal in the States, but you still get a chuckle out of seeing it in an established business.

So what did I miss? Movies, pool, friends... oh yeah!

Just try not to put your eye out with the sticks!

Cotton Candy! His grandmother spoiled him with this one. She found some and had Saraun buy it for him (would've been 2x as expensive if Ginny bought it herself). He was a sticky mess after, but really happy.

"So," you ask, "does Aidan ever encounter anything scary?"

Yes. In fact, I got a picture of it:

Even here, children are forced to learn algebra. 

Yes, that's algebra... in Khmai!

Be afraid... be very afraid. ;)