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A Touched Week -- Shirley's 109th Friendly Greeting-- Sun, Oct 14, 2007

Hi,Dear Friends

How are you? I do hope that you are well and have an easy and relaxed weekend.

This is the first week after the National Day’s holiday and it is also a touched week.

Monday morning, as soon as I went into the office building, I saw some changes in the company. On the second floor, a new opening and bright office hall has replaced original single office areas. On the third floor, a new TV studio has been fixed. On the 6th floor, the meeting room has changed more comfortable. Our work environment has been improved during the holiday.

After I entered my office, the first news I read was that Shenzhen government has raised the lowest salary standard higher 14% than last year, while the bus fee has cut down 25% since Oct 15. The first work report I got was that the jobs I had arranged before the holiday have been done. Some new servers have been in the company, a software project has completed its technology design.


Saturday night, I went to the new Shenzhen Odeum to attend its 2nd concert by Shanghai Opera House and Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra. The 11 classical Chinese songs, 11 Italian songs and 3 pieces of operas music deeply touched me. One of the main tenors, who had an accident and was forbidden to sing, kept coming to Shenzhen, his Italian song “My Sun” got a long time applause. We appreciated their excellent perform, we more respected their working attitude.


Except the concert itself, I quite enjoyed the new and modern architecture. Its bright and wide Underground Park made me think of a modern building’s hall. Its clean washroom is similar to some international Airport’s, maybe more clean? Its comfortable rest hall made me feel in a star hotel’s hall. Its excellent and courteous attendants made me feel honor as one of the city’s builders.



I am really happy to see that Shenzhen government has paid more attention to improve citizen's culture and educational level while focusing its time and energy on the economy development. During we are creating the fastest developing speed in China, more and more education events for high school, bachelor, master, doctoral degrees by some China or West universities, academies have settled in Shenzhen. More and more science, art, music and culture popularization work is popular here.

Every year, there are a China International High-Tech Fair, a China International Culture Expo and a China International Garden Expo by the China government in Shenzhen. Every fall, a book reading, million residents English speaking activities are organized by the culture and education department of Shenzhen. Every week, a culture cathedral attracts millions of people.

Can you imagine? In Oct, 2005, I had been to a concert of Italian tenor Mr. Jose Carreras with a ticket of 1200 RMB (about 158 USD). Right now, the Shenzhen government has offered 50% of the cost for every music ticket and it is offering a free concert every Sunday, as one of jobs to return the fortune and richness to people. I will attend a pipe organ concert soon.

Ha, this is really a touched week with so many touched experience and feelings…

How about you? Have you had anything touched in the past week?

Shirley Created Art -- Chinese Xieyi 0157: No Title
For improving my ability of composition of a picture and to use the brushes and Chinese ink directly, my art teacher directed me to paint this picture and asked me to sign my name on the middle of the picture. This is the first time that I learn to paint partridges. My teacher asked me to remember the points, that this is a soft bird and its body is round. As usual, I tried to paint mine with a brush directly instead of making a draft with a pencil at the first. My teacher thought that I had done a good job. It was given 90 marks. How do you think of it? Do you like it?

Bilingual Song--012: Shirley Sings The Chinese Folk Song "Hometown of the Moon"-- Yue Zhi Guxiang in English & Chinese
The beautiful moon often makes people think of something soft, tender and kind. Brings people a feeling to miss a friend, a family, a lover or a country. And it has been written, painted, sung and admired by poets, litterateurs, artists and musicians always. Then, where is its hometown? Is it in the water? I have translated and sung this song in Chinese and in English and wish to answer you. Since my new teacher started to teach me, I have been recording my song by myself for 3 months. I wish to learn more things in her lesson and do my practice independently. I do hope what I learn to do will be a little bit help to you to improve your Chinese listening level.
Chinese Classical Poem 0099(By Bai Juyi) & Shirley Created Music-0080-07: Fu De Gu Yuan Cao Song Bie -- Sending Off On The Ancient Grassland.
Do you enjoy the little grass? Do you admire its strong vital force? I do. You see, no matter how cold and how hard winter was, it has experienced, as soon as the spring has come, it will quickly grow up and wears the land beautiful green clothes. In thousands and thousands works of admiring grass, "Ye Huo Shao Bu Jin, Chun Feng Chui You Sheng -- The wild fire can not burn it exhaustively. As soon as the spring breeze is blowing, they will grow up and cover the field again" has been recited in China. It is often used to admire something strong with the quality that does not bend under the big pressure and to keep a strong vital force. I have written a piece of music to match it and hope my effort will be a little bit help to you to learn Chinese culture and language.
Chinese Chracaters -- 001: Chinese Characters' Development Track
Chinese Character is one of the most venerable characters. It has had a history for about 6000 years already. People thought it is too difficult to learn. In fact, as soon as you know it’s developing process and characteristics, it is easy to master it. So today, I would like to introduce the 6 phases of the Chinese characters has experienced. For helping you to have the first impression about its development track, I have written and painted something as an example. Hope it is a help. Later, I will also introduce something about Chinese character's characteristics and constructors. To show you how to write, to read the Chinese characters in common use one by one


I am just a learner on that art of painting, music, calligraphy, languages and to work on the web site in my free time. I would really like to do a little bit things with what I have learned to make this little web site to be An Electronic Bridge Of Culture Exchange, Friendship and Language Learning. To help the others while to improve myself.

I appreciate your understanding, directions and supports. I do hope to get your friendly help...

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please write to shirley@ebridge.cn or shirleyz004@yahoo.com. You are welcomed to publish your opinions in the forum.

Shirley Yiping Zhang
Written and Edited on Sun, October 14, 2007

-- Shirley's 594th Friendly Greeting - June 29, 2019
In the Past 3 Months -- Shirley's 593rd Friendly Greeting - May 6, 2019
Happy Chinese New Year! -- Shirley's 592nd Friendly Greeting - Feb 5, 2019
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! -- Shirley's 591st Friendly Greeting - Dec 25, 2018
The Road Is Long, Far & Winding, Still I Am Seeking My Dream -- Shirley's 590th Friendly Greeting - Dec 11, 2018
More...