title: Python MySQL connector returns bytearray instead of regular string value
body: <p>I am loading data from one table into pandas and then inserting that data into new table. However, instead of normal string value I am seeing bytearray.</p>
  <p><code>bytearray(b'TM16B0I8')</code> it should be <code>TM16B0I8</code></p>
  <p>What am I doing wrong here?</p>
  <p>My code:</p>
  <pre><code>engine_str = 'mysql+mysqlconnector://user:pass@localhost/db'
  engine = sqlalchemy.create_engine(engine_str, echo=False, encoding='utf-8')
  connection = engine.connect()
  
  th_df = pd.read_sql('select ticket_id, history_date', con=connection)
  
  for row in th_df.to_dict(orient=&quot;records&quot;):
      var_ticket_id = row['ticket_id']
      var_history_date = row['history_date']
  
      query = 'INSERT INTO new_table(ticket_id, history_date)....'
  </code></pre>