Normality

As we live in Thailand, one of the things I ponder, and sometimes struggle with, is normality, or lack thereof. We don't live completely like Thais and we don't live completely like Americans. We're just different. As it's summertime, my friend Crystal and I have been enjoying taking our kids to the pool several times in the last couple of weeks. It gives us a lovely feeling of normality as we enjoy sitting at the pool with our children, and swimming is the only outdoor activity you can really do during the hot season, so it's great for all of us. We usually go to the pool at the King's park. It's a wonderful pool, but has some interesting rules, like the one that says all females must wear a swim cap (hence Emmy above). Today we went with our friend Jan to the pool at the school where her kids attend (no swim caps required), and it was a good morning of talking with friends and watching our kids play.

At lunchtime we went together to eat. This is where I started to ponder the question of normality. Thinking of my former life, a lunch after a morning of swimming would probably mean loading up in the car and driving to CFA or somewhere similar. Here's what we did. Walked a quarter of a mile or so from the school in the blazing sun (weather.com said it was 97 degrees and felt like 109- I believe it) to a string of outdoor stands. Sat around a folding table on red plastic stools (babies on our laps). The kids ate fried rice with chicken, I ate stir fried noodles with veggies, and we had fruit shakes and watermelon. While Asa and I waited our turn at the fruit stand, some women took an interest in him, as usual ("I'll take the farang baby; put him in a bag"). It was crazy hot, but the stand was covered and the food was really good. Then we walked back to the school, hailed a taxi (our car is still in the shop), and came home (2 adults and 5 children in the taxi). I just had to laugh as I sat sweating, feeding Asa bites of rice on my lap, at the contrast between this life and what might otherwise be.