How are you?

Since I wrote to you Sep 14, I have been to 3 three counties nearby Springfield, MO, USA and had so many wonderful experiences:

-- On the road from Springfield to City of Seymour, Webster County, Sunday afternoon, Sep 14, 2013, by the good guide of Mrs. Wanda Nova and her husband, I attended a study meeting of a life group of the biggest church in Springfield, MO. Except knowing some good new friends, once more, I was impression on the strong religionary atmosphere, how the local people believe in the Gad and their passion for Christianity.

About this, I have taken some photo and written something on my web site. You are welcome to share them with me via the link:

A meeting of a life group of the biggest church in Springfield, MO

-- Then, Monday to Friday, Sep 15 – 19, 2013, as a volunteer, I offered 6 Chinese poetry classes, 9 Chinese painting ( 2 Chinese Baimiao painting classes and 1 Chinese Xieyi Painting class) classes for about 300 person- times’ students and 1 Chinese painting demonstration for a group of adults at Seymour R-II School, City of Seymour (1895 - 2013), Webster County (1855-2013), a part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area, United States.

About these, I have put 43 photos and I have also written something on my web site. You can share them by the links below:

My Chinese poetry and Chinese painting classes at Seymour R-II School, MO, Sep 15 – 19, 2013.

A part of Chinese Baimiao Paintings of the students at Seymour R-II School

A part of Chinese Xieyi Paintings of the students at Seymour R-II School

A part of students at Seymour R-II School were singing a Chinese poem

My Demonstration on Chinese Poetry, music and painting at R-II School, MO, Sep 18, 2013

In the memorable and meaningful 1 week in Seymour R-II School, I did have a good experience and be touché by a lot of things:

First of all, the good education facility, education level and opening teaching thoughts.

Can you imagine? In the small city just had a population of 1933 residents in 2011, there is a R-II school which has 799 students in 2013, good utilities, advanced logistics support and nice teaching style.

On their wonderful indoor basketball court, under their big tiger mascot, I saw the passion of the students for the basketball. Before the game that would be started for maybe 10 hours, the members of cheering squad, and the members in the play teams were introduced to the students and their parents in the music, dance and applause. Everyone seemed like so excited. :- ) The lunch of students and staff was good and nutritional. Almost every day has the different food and it was given so much so that I had to ask the clerks gave me a half. :- )

Secondly, I am impression on both of the school leaders and their staff’s opening minds, far-sight and understanding about the cross-culture studying; their responsible work for their students and country.

Not only had the School Superintendent – Mr. D. Bruce Denney and the High School Principal – Mr. Brian Wilbanks come to my teaching classroom, but also, Mr. D. Bruce Denney heard my introduction about Chinese painting, music and poetry, even, he painted his first Chinese Baimiao Painting in person.

Knowing some art students had learned and sung some Chinese poems with fun, their English teacher Ms. Juice led her 3 groups of high school students joined in my 4th – 6th Chinese poetry class.

Thirdly, I am impression on the responsible work of an American art teacher and her kind contribution to the country.

Mrs. Wanda Nova, drove me at 8:00am each morning. It was 1.5 hours earlier than the teaching time, so that I could chose and hung up the different paintings for the different classes. Every day time, she registered her students, taught, asked and recorded whether they would come next time and made sure what she or he would to do in the next art lesson; and almost each evening, as a volunteer, she kept going to a prison to speak Bible for the prisoners when I worked at her school.

Can you imagine how long time she has kept doing this? 13 years already.

With the same responsible work style. It was she did the most jobs to arrange my lessons, connected the school leaders, picked up me in Springfield, drove me to Ava, sent me to everywhere I had to go, even, she carried a little quilt from her home, asked me to cover my stomach when I had a nap in her car after I had checked out of the motel, offered 3 classes and to wait for her to send me to Ava in the afternoon.

From what she did for her students, the prisoner and me, I have seen an American artist and art teacher’s exquisite and responsible work attitude, kind heart and excellent work ability...

Fourthly, I am impression on their students’ craving for the new knowledge from the other culture, brave nature, alive and lovely.

In my third Chinese poetry classes, a group of high school students did not want to get out of the class after the bell dinged, for they wanted me to explain and to sing all of the poems on my paintings on their wall. So, our lesson was extended for another class time.

A 14 years old middle school student who was not in the groups that I had offered my Chinese painting and Chinese poetry lessons, followed me to ask something about Chinese language and Chinese characters as soon as he met me, no matter in the dinning hall, the classroom and in the aisle, and he attended the demonstration I did for the adults. With so much touch, I have taught him something about Chinese pinyin’s 4 tones, the numbers from 1 to 10, the basic greeting words and I sent him my new books, DVD, and album of paintings. I do think he will become a wonderful linguist in the near future. :- )

Also, I do a little bit regret, maybe I should not tell Mrs. Wanda Nava I could not offer the same lessons as I did in Kentucky in 2011 and in MO 2010 ( I had offered 8 free lessons within one business day in KY Sep, 2011 and also I had offered 5 classes within one business day in MO in May, 2010) but I would be only able to offer 3 hours’ lesson each day for I just had a surgery August 21. Otherwise, maybe I could offer some more lessons for those students who are same as this student?

After all, Thursday noon, a group of students asked me to sing some Chinese songs for them, thought of I just completed 3 lessons in the morning and I would have a demonstration for 2 hours in the evening and almost every night Sep 14 to Sep 18, I suffered the sharp stomachache, I did not say YES. However, since then, I have been feeling sorry to the students. So, I have connected Mrs. Wanda, Nova, if her these students who have not had opportunity to attend my classes last week, but also want me to sing for them, I will be happy there to offer a Chinese poetry lesson for them someday, because since Sep 20, the stomachache has gone from me for a few days.

What made me happiest in Seymour R-II School was: When a group of middle students painted their second Chinese painting, but their first Chinese Xieyi painting, a girl raised her hand, and she asked me to lead them to sing a Chinese poem that they had learned from me. I did. Then, they painted their birds and flowers while they sang a Chinese poem Zhu Shi. That was really the most peaceful, lovely and harmonious time in whole of my teaching experience. I am sure they felt same, so that as soon as we finished the class, the group of lovely children run to me and took a wonderful photo with me. :- )

Really, I have a memorable, meaningful and enjoyable time at Seymour R-II School. In my heart, it is full of the appreciation to the school leaders, Mrs. Wanda Nova and their students . I have recorded it by more than 100 photos, some writing and video, you are welcome to share 43 of the photo and some articles with me via the links over.

Then,

-- Friday evening, Sep 20, 2013, I went to City of Ava, Douglas County (1857 - 2013);
-- Saturday morning, Sep 21, 2013, I visited the Hootin An Hollarin Festival in Ozark County (1841 - 2013).
-- Saturday afternoon, Sep 21, 2013, I offered a free demonstration of Chinese painting, music and poetry for more than 30 local artists in Ava Art Guild, Douglas County (1857 - 2013), MO.
-- Monday morning, Sep 23, 2013, I offered a free class for the students who are studying Chinese language in the Modern and Classical Language Department at Missouri State University.
- Monday afternoon, Sep 23, 2013, Dr. Wenrong Yan, who is the second staff of Missouri State University (the first one is Ms. Zhang Peng) I have met since I reached MO, Sep 12, 2013 and I had a good talking.

Now, I would just like to share the wonderful experience I had in Seymour R-II School and hope to bring you a big smile and to hear your comments and advice. I will write something more about the other experience one by one later.

How about you? Do you have anything special to share?


I am just a student on Arts of Painting, Music, English and Management, to work on the web site in my free time. I would really like to do somethings with what I have learned to make this little web site to be an Electronic Bridge of Cross - Culture and Comprehensive Arts Exchange, Chinese Culture and Language Learning & Friendship Making. To help the others while to improve myself.

I would like to appreciate you for your understanding, directions, supports and help.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, you are welcome to write to shirley@ebridge.cn or leave your message on Message Board.

Shirley Yiping Zhang
Sep 24, 2013