More social activities are on the calendar for Judy today.  Kelly, the drama teacher at BISS has resigned her position and has to return to Tasmania to teach or lose her teaching position. She thought she had another semester of sabbatical approved in Tasmania, but found out otherwise.  Their school year begins in January, so she’s finished at BISS.  Several of the female teachers are getting together at the Westin Hotel for brunch to have a final activity for Kelly, before she leaves.

I jump in the taxi with Judy, drop her off at the Westin, and head over to the Yashow Market.  I’ve got some final Xmas details to nail down.  I’ve gotten way too comfortable negotiating prices with the vendors.  It should be interesting adjusting to paying marked prices when we’re back in the states.

As I’m leaving Yashow, I’m carrying 4 big bags full of stuff.  One of the outdoor vendors begins chasing me with socks.  She starts off with 5 pair of socks for 100rmb.  I don’t need socks, but she’s not listening.  By the time she’s finished, she has 10 pair of socks for 30rmb.  I never stopped walking.  She followed me across an alley into an upscale mall area, still hawking.  She gives up on socks and tries to sell me a “Gucci” purse.  The purse moves down to 40rmb ($6 – $7).  Guess I should’ve bought it.

I get home and start unloading the sacks, checking items off the list.  When we’re done, it looks like I’m going to have to make one more trip to Yashow before the holidays.  Darn it.  I hoped I was through.

Judy had a great time at her brunch.  There was lots of talking about way too many things.  When people are teaching all over the world, they have contacts all over the world.  Several of the attendees were job-searching, so there was lots of job talk and intrigue to be discussed.