How are you?

I wrote this letter to you in my classroom yesterday. This morning, when I would like to check it, it has disappeared from my computer. Maybe I deleted it when I made my record last night?

Anyway, since I am learning to write in English, this is maybe a good way for me to re-write it. Right? : -)

The second semester of the first class year of my study in Chinese National Academy of Arts will be finished on July 15. Cherishing the last several study time, few classmates and I still keep working in the classroom.

Even thought there are many difficulties in my life ( Another 3 restaurants by the school have been closed), by the good help from so many good friends ( the biggest help is from the manager of the hotel, since the deals of the students live here include his have not expired, he is helping us by keeping the hotel running normally, even though the gate of the hotel has been removed by someone already :- ) ), with a peaceful heart, I have found the other place to eat and this week, I completed 4 paintings, included 2 of the paintings for my comprehensive art. Also, I wrote two articles to introduce two Chinese classical poems. Because one of them is for a ci poem ? lyric by Li Yu, my English tutor has not completed the checking job. So, I would only share the other 3 paintings with you.

On my study and project, this week, I have gotten the biggest help and support from China, USA and England below:

-- Dr. Fang Zhulan who is an economic professor in Renmin University of China and his husband who is an official of the government came to see me and invited me to have a big dinner. During the meal time, they gave me so many helpful advices. According to their opinions and my healthy situation, I would like to shrink my work on the web site at once. You can find that I have cut down two columns on www.ebridge.cn this week and concentrated my limited time and energy on the comprehensive art.

-- Since my dreamed comprehensive art is base on the Chinese traditional cultures, and I have written more than 1000 articles in the passed 10 years, just the art note part has had over 700 articles already. Why don’t I try to order and edit them with my own advantages as an editor for more than 20 years, to open a column somewhere or to write a series books?

With this idea, after discussing with my classmates, this week, I have connected Shenzhen Daily ? a newspaper in English and Jinan University Press and got some very positive response from some leaders in the newspaper office and the publishing house.

Before we started the jobs truly, I have written My First Story behind My Painting this weekend. I am studying, thinking and making exploration on the topic and the writing jobs. I do hope to hear your comments and opinions. :- )

Are you interested in the new selected subject? Do you think it is interesting and meaningful?

-- In USA, some best friends are working on helping me to have some new art exhibition in the near future in case my health can support.

-- In England, my English tutor Mr. Mike Joyce has helped me to correct my writing in English free for 10 years already and he will also continue to support me to writing in English.

-- On my web site, the registered readers have met 8063 until today.

Besides these, in Australia, my son welcomes me to live there at any time for any long time.

So, yesterday, I wrote the letter with the title A Friend in Need, A Friend Indeed. Mainly I would really like to thank so many good friends who have helped / are going to help me when I was/ am in the difficult time.

Now, except my family members, friends are important more than my work and study. Just because I have so many good friends, I could grow up no matter on my art study or becoming a better and better individual.

I am sure, with so much good help from so many good friends, I would certainly create a Miracle to recover my health while to create something more helpful and meaningful for all of the friends who are interested in Chinese culture and arts.

Miracles will happen to those who believe in them. Right?

How about you? Do you have anything special to share in your life?

I am just a student on Art of Painting, Music, English and Management, 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 Inter-Art & Cross - Culture Exchange, Chinese 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
July 2, 2012