Judy is pretty worn out when she heads to school today. She has regular classes during school, and then a musical rehearsal after school. My day is pretty easy. I have my two classes, then I ate lunch. After lunch, I visited with Josie and Lashawnda about the Pearl Market. Josie has advice on some small shops, and we’re probably headed there tomorrow.

Back at the apartment, Lilly is finishing cleaning. Today is her last day until March. Her mom will be replacing her for next week (before we leave for the US), January, and the one week in February before the Chinese New Year holiday begins. Lilly is returning to her home in a rural part of the China. Her baby is due Dec. 27. She wants to have the baby in her hometown where it will be cheaper, and also warmer. She doesn’t have heat in her hutong home here in Beijing and it would be pretty rough on the baby. Also, Lilly’s mother is very busy with work and wouldn’t be able to help with the baby, and back home, the mother-in-law will be able to help. That’s going to be an interesting dynamic since Lilly and her mother-in-law don’t get along. Lilly is always discussing how “lazy” she is. Her phrase is “she not good, no work”.

When Judy finally leaves school, she and Shannon attend a holiday “cookie baking” party at a BISS teacher’s apartment. By 10:00 pm, I was beginning to figure it turned into a slumber party. She finally came in, totally exhausted, and full of cookies.