Friendly Bridge-- Shirley's US Travel Diary -056 & 216th Friendly Greeting --Sun, Aug 24, 2009

Hi,Dear Friends

How are you? I do hope everything is good with you and you have had a good weekend.


Today is the 327th day that I have been in the US. Our Supply Chain Management Course had been had a half examination and I attended the second examination done Friday morning.

According to the arrangement of the college and our own willingness, Wednesday afternoon, I drove my classmates Amy and Kathy to visit some new schoolfellows who just came to the US from China, then, I drove an Inner Mongolia girl XiaoYue to buy her life necessity. We met a rainstorm on the road. The heaven rain dropped on the window of my car and I could not see the road signs at all, so that I run the red light and lost my road ? when I found I had run the red light, I quickly turned my car on the right and drove on another road. In case the road of Springfield, Missouri is very square, in case Amy was in my car and took a map in her hand, we guessed the road and found the right way.

Except the daily studying, this week, I spend most of my free time on preparing my art exhibition, that will be opened in Springfield, MO by the support of Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and the Springfield Regional Arts Council.

I am lucky enough to get so much help from them, during the work process with them together, I have seen how the local American officials to work and to treat their career.

Monday noon, as soon as I finished my lesson, I got a phone call from my tutor Mr. Gong Xiaoou while a student clerk in the local Chamber of Commences, for resolving the problem that my paintings could not be mounted as I did in China, the executive vice president of the local Chamber of Commences ? Mr. Brad Bodenhausen would like to take us to a professional art store in person, to find a solution in the noon. In about 15 minutes, we reached the art store. Mr.Webr Warren treated us warmly. Quickly, we found a good way to make my paintings to be exhibited with the American + Chinese style. Then I saw how Mr. Brad Bodenhausen paid for the first test samples, how he told Mr. Gong Xiaoou to work next step, how he kept going back to his office by walk instead of by car鈥�

Then I met the Executive Director -- Leah Hamilton Jenkins and the Education Coordinator Ms. Stephanie Cramer from Springfield Regional Arts Council Wednesday afternoon. This is the second time we met each other, within about 30 minutes, we made sure the theme of the art exhibition, place, amount, agenda, publicity material and photos, and the news of my art exhibition has been published in media next morning.

Every thing is pushed quickly, in good order, not only gave me the impression of Professional, Knowledgeable, Meticulous, Considerate and Responsible, but also made me understand why there is a so strong art atmosphere and rich art tradition in Springfield, MO for about 95 years already...

By the patient direction and help by Ms. Leah Hamilton Jenkins and Ms. Stephanie Cramer. I have basically chosen my paintings already.

I have confidence with our cooperation and I am sure that by the effort of us together, we can certainly build a beautiful friendly bridge between local American people and Chinese people.

Are you happy for me? Would you like to see my art exhibition?

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
Sun, August 24, 2009 From USA