How are you? Have you had a good weekend?

Until this Sunday afternoon, all of my health checks were finished. It excluded the possibility of the cancer for me and I will be able to accept a normal treatment on some root problems.

I know the road of the health recovery will be a long process, the releasing feeling reminded me a famous Chinese legend: Feng Huang Nie Pan -- Rise of the Phoenix.

It is said that:

Phoenix is from the Paradise. It is a happy emissary of the human being. As soon as it has lived for 500 years, it will collect the branches of phoenix trees, to burn itself with its heavenly voice, to exchange the peace and happiness of the human being.

After experiencing the huge pain and transmigration on it body, it would then rise from the ashes, to live another five hundred years with a more beautiful feather, the more wonderful sounds and the more pure soul.

This story admires a spirit of the human being -- to pursue a beautiful dream while to improve ourselves continuously, no matter how hard and pain process that we have to experience.

Along with this idea, I created a new and my first phoenix painting after I came back from the hospital to match a Chinese classical poem. I have also re-played the music that I had created for it in 2006, re-sung it in English and in Chinese.

I would really like to share the spirit of the "Rise of the Phoenix" via my painting, music and language works with you. Hope to bring you a big smile and to hear your comments.

To be honest, after I wrote this legend of the pheonix in the letter, I had a new understanding about the poem. So, I will re-write the comments about the poem later. :-)

How about your? Do you have anything special? I am just a learner on art of painting, music and English, 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 shirley004@yahoo.com, or to publish your opinions in the forum.

Shirley Yiping Zhang
Sunday, September 27, 2010