Unexpected Gain-- Shirley's US Travel Diary -052 & 212nd Friendly Greeting --Sun, Aug 9, 2009

Hi,Dear Friends

How are you? Is everything good with you? I do hope that you are doing well and enjoying your weekend.

Today is the 313th day I have been in the US. Friday morning, I attended the final examination of the course -- Management Information System by Dr. Randall S. Sexton and finished this lesson. I have not known the final score yet, but my average score of the quizzes, paper and presentation is 89/100. I do hope my final examination can plus 1 score for me and let me get A. Do you know? I had gotten 89/100 in another course, so that I could just get B. It is a little bit pity. Right?

Anyway, I have written a long letter to my bosses in China, to report what I have learned from this lesson and what I am thinking about our information system’ construction and management.

The biggest gain from this lesson is that I have realized that the philosophy of the information system management in the US is not only focused on the information system itself, but, it is a tie or a bridge to connect all of the other business systems, via managing the information system to manage the whole of the company.

Before I came to the US, I had been to the Hong Kong branches of Bloomberg and Reuters in 2000 and 2006 to learn their management experience. I really admired their information management system and I wished to build a similar system for our company. However, then, I could not really make sure its running principle yet. Right now, the learning in the US has offered me a wing to work better in China.

I am thinking, since we have created something No.1 in China and our company has become marketing leader in some field, if we can keep creating and innovating, to integrate our current advantages of Television, Web sites, Magazine and the other productions via some new technology and methods, we should be able to keep the top company’s position in our industry and to go forward to the international market...

I am confident with our company and myself. I will certainly go back to China with the knowledge that I have learned in the US, to work for our company and my motherland.

There are another two pieces of unexpected good news in my life this week.

First of all, Dr. Bill Booth, he founded Chinese American Education and Culture Exchange Foundation invited me to be the vice president of this Foundation Thursday afternoon.

I was happy and felt honor to get this invitation. So, I have reported the news to my bosses in China and I wished to get their permission and allow me to work for the Foundation in my free time before I retire. Then I would like to be a professional artist of painting, music, language and writing, to involve myself into the work of the education and culture exchange between China and the US, to work for the human progress and civilization.

Then on Friday, I was lucky enough to get a letter from Mr. Brad Bodenhausen ? the Executive Vice President Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce，he wished my art exhibition would be opened in Springfield, Missouri in September. Meanwhile, he recommended me to attend the Art Walk in the same night, to know more local artists in the activities.

It was a pity that I missed the opportunity for I read the letter later. However, according to the direction of the data in his letter, I visited somewhere else and a famous bridge in the US ? the Jefferson Avenue Footbridge. Which was built in 1902 and crosses 13 different railroad tracks, stretches 562 feet and be designated specifically for pedestrians.

I am also deeply touched by Mr. Brad Bodenhausen’s painstaking work indeed.

As a leader of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Brad Bodenhausen is very busy. But, since our Chinese students came to the city September 28, 2008, he has been caring for us and being with us together. On the second day we came here, all of the students were invited to the Chamber of Commerce to listen to the introduction of the local economy, international business and development outline. In October, we were invited to attend the local middle and small companies products exhibition. In November, we received some investigation tables to know where we are from and what business our companies want to develop in the US. And in December, we got invitations to attend different Christmas or business activities...

What I had, impression not only for those wonderful lectures by the local entrepreneurs by the Chamber of Commerce and the College of Business and Administration, but also, I was touched by the especially responsible work attitude of Mr. Brad Bodenhausen. Before going to St. Louis to attend some important activities, Mr. Brad Bodenhausen came into our classroom, to offer us a lecture on the US and Chinese Culture's difference, to answer every student’s questions patiently.

With the wonderful cooperation between the local Chamber of Commerce and the College of Business and Administration, one hand, we have learned the necessary theory knowledge in the classroom, the other hand, we have touched some American companies and entrepreneurs, learned a lot of business experience. So, I do think, within every little progress of our Chinese students, includes the painstaking effort from both of the professors and the leaders of the Chamber of Commerce.

As a student, I met Mr. Bodenhausen in the classroom or some meetings. I did not speak to him directly, but, it was him to care for and makes my art exhibition to work directly.

From Mr. Brad Bodenhausen, I have really seen how an American government official and an entrepreneur worked, why American international business has been going on the front of the world.

I would really like to cherish the opportunity to work by the lead of Mr. Brad Bodenhausen and his team, to create best art works to repay the local friendly American people. To bring the work spirit of the local Chamber of Commerce to China, let more Chinese people know and learn from them...

How about you? Have you had anything special in the week?

I am just a learner on art of painting, music, English and Chinese language, to work on the web site in my free time. I would really like to do a few things with what I have learned to make this little web site to be an Electronic Bridge of Culture Exchange, Chinese Language Learning & Friendship making. To help the others while to improve myself.

I would like to appreciate your understanding, directions, supports and hope to get your friendly direction and help.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, you are welcome to write to shirley@ebridge.cn or Yiping007@MissouriState.edu, or to publish your opinions in the forum.

Shirley Yiping Zhang