Dalian days

So I had thought I had more time to blog. Sadly not. So here goes the
recounting of details.

Shopping in china can be one of the most fun or most annoying
experiences ever. Labor is extremely cheap and there is never a lack
of stores, products etc. So labor bring cheap means that almost every
store, restaurant, hospital is ridiculously over staffed. I walk into
a bakery that's maybe the 200 sq ft. All six employees look up to
welcome me: "huan ying guang lin!!" it's quite startling. As I look
through each of the little items, all of which look amazing, there's a
person literally following me up and down each tiny little aisle
offering to get me anything I want. It's way too much.

I went into the Carrefour and saw that they have cucumber potato chips
and seaweed pringles. Yay! And of course my favorite: lulu. Almond milk.

Next time I'm coming back here, I'm definitely bringing a Swiffer.
It's sooo dusty everywhere. Even inside. Literally, every morning
there is a new coat of dust on the floor. You HAVE to wear flip flops
inside the house or your socks or feet will be black in a heartbeat.

Of course showering and washing clothing here suuuucks. Your showering
options are either to brave the house shower or spend 30rmb for a bath
house. Showering in the apartment entails first turning on the water
heater. Few private families have their water heater running 24/7. It
simply uses too much energy. The water pressure isn't great, but I do
prefer to shower in the 4 sqft-ish stall at home because of the
privacy. The other option is the bath house. A large room where prices
start with a 30 rmb public shower room. You can also get people to
exfoliate you, massage you, or give you a foot massage. But of course,
this is all while you're naked in front of other people. Creepy.

The other day, my parents, my aunt, uncle, and I went shopping for
decorations for my grandfather's 80th bday. We saw lots of red paper
art. Stuff well put on the wall :-) yay for making it to 80.