Campus Village Changes

We have about a month until we move back to the US. Reflecting on the last three years, it is amazing to see how much about our neighborhood has changed. Many friends have come and gone, left me with memories of a lifetime. I think hundreds of people moved from one city in the US to this city in China. The kid's school grew from one class per grade, about 8-12 kids per grade to two classes per grade 30-35 this fall.

We were allowed to take a trip to Dalian about a year before we moved here (to see if we would like to move to China). This is what the view of the school was from our condo building).

Now this is what that dirt field turned into. They built a track, gym, swimming pool, although no one has been allowed to swim yet, needs to pass another "government inspection".

The construction has been crazy this past six months. When we got back from summer vacation there was an empty lot as you left our gate. Now there is this castle!

Walking to the beach was never really peaceful since cars went zooming by, it was scary have a family bike ride to the beach. The difference now is that there are up to 50 people working along the side of the road (always staring). The dump trucks, cranes and all kinds of construction equipment make it difficult to even walk let alone ride bikes. (There are still cars zooming by as well). After living here three years, I am use to the traffic, road construction. It doesn't surprise me, it is just different.