Today I went home to visit my parents because my Aunt is staying for a week before returning to Hong Kong. My aunt (who us kids call Kooma which probably means something like "dad's older sister", Chinese is very specific with the familial names) is our favorite relative and the only one who has a good relationship with us kids.

Anyway, Kooma is back from Peru where she was visiting grand- mother. She'll be flying to Hong Kong next Sunday, where she works as an English language teacher. Since she lives in Hong Kong, she has a British accent which I never really noticed until I thought about it recently.

Now that Hong Kong is back under Chinese control there hasn't been any real changes. China has promised to let Hong Kong be autonomous for the next 50 years. Smart thing, as it's a major source of wealth but only if the people stay there.

China is quite big on getting back it's wayward territories, and it's only a matter of time before Taiwan is reintegrated. Although Taiwan is controlled by the Nationalists, many of its people have no problems with reintegration. It'll probably take another generation, but China is quite patient.

So, one thing Kooma wants to do is take my brother Chris to Europe as a High School graduation present. My sister will probably go to. I'm not too sure if I'll go. As I've mentioned before, I don't particularly like being a tourist. And I don't know if I'll have enough vacation time, as I use it like candy at times.

Kooma is the only person who I write letters to. I only write 3-4 letters a year, trying to keep her up-to-date with my life and the rest of the kids. I think my sister also writes to Kooma, Chris being too much of a teenager to write. I'm quite bad at writing letters (even worse than my journal writing). The biggest problem is that I don't think there's anything significant to tell about current events.

Kooma was married but has no kids. I think she's divorced now, her husband having left her for a younger woman. Quite sad. Uncle Ron was a nice guy, whom I met when I was in High School. He taught me how to find a break in a wire using a voltmeter. I think he's an electrical engineer.

She, along with my parents, have been urging me to get a house closer to where I work. Or at least move closer to where I work. That's something I still don't want to do, as I'm happy where I am. Kooma even offered to help with a down payment on a house, which is out of the question. I'm trying to be self-reliant and don't want to depend on relatives.

I've grown up with this sense that I need to be responsible and take care of myself. At least financially. No matter how badly I'm doing, I don't want to depend on other people. Perhaps it's foolish and outdated, but as adults, we are responsible for ourselves.