Bye Dalian

I'm sitting at a Starbucks waiting for my train to JinZhou. My parents
are back at the apartment getting the luggage while I'm waiting for my
laptop to restart.

The Starbucks here is surprisingly Westernized. I can order my grande
vanilla americano in English. They have muffins!! And a Westernized
bathroom, normal liquid soap, and no smoking. It's a nice little haven
of the Westernization I've become so accustomed to in the US.

Anyhow, today is my last day in Dalian. It's always hard leaving.
Having practically been raised by my grandparents until I was 5 and
then having them live with us until I was 11, my grandparents are very
close and dear to me. It's always tough leaving them, in the hospital,
in a city where they have no relatives. Unlike in the US, the elderly
is generally taken care of by their kids. Sadly both of my
grandparents kids are in the US.

But with all of today's sadness, it also comes with the happiness to
see my other grandparents in JinZhou. :-)