An early start for our Mandarin lesson, where we spent more time gossiping with Miss Cao than learning the language. She told us that we would be having 3 days of for new year and 3 days off for exams, then went to check something with Mrs Lio and came back to tell us we could finish teaching on Friday!!! Hannah made lots of noises about wanting to teach on Christmas Day whilst I prodded her and tried to remind her that she would get to spend more time with her family. We hardly dared believe it (sometimes things do get lost in translation!) but when I went back to my office, the teachers came and told me the same thing. We both couldn't stop grinning all day and were busy talking of what we could do with the extra time. We have to still 'be around' until mid Jan, but I really don't think anyone will notice if we slip away for a few days. My only regret was that I had such a boring lesson yesterday!! The lessons today went well - or maybe I just wasn't so bothered! I cut the boring stuff down to 20 minutes and then we talked about Christmas and gave each other drawn presents - I made sure they knew the correct language for giving and receiving presents just to make it vaguely educational! This evening we went to the Park restaurant for one final time before Christmas.