How are you? Are you enjoying your new week?

Today is the 20th day that I have come back to China and the 9th business day in the company. My first and the strongest feeling can be summarized to be one word “More”.

First of all, there are more cars everywhere. No matter in the garden that I am living, or in the park of the company, no matter in the streets or on the public occasions, there are so many cars, so that I often feel that I am walking or driving in the "Sea of Cars".

Secondly, there are more people everywhere. There are so many strange faces in the company, there are so many people in the streets, so that I had not been driving until the 19th day. I was a little bit scare to drive in the "Sea of People" indeed.

Thirdly, there is more dust in the air for the second and third period constructions of subway in the city. My feeling is that if saying 17 years ago, when I just came to Shenzhen, whole of the city was working over the ground, right now, Shenzhen is developing to the underground...

Meanwhile, I have seen more greenland -- lawn, trees and flowers everywhere. More and more purple and white morning glories have covered the fences of the garden that I am living in. I can almost always go in the shaw of the wayside trees even though in the sunny day, live and work in a peaceful entironment at home and in the office...

Except something “More” surface, I have also found something “more” inside.

Since I went to the company first day, I have been going through the busiest shopping street since it is between my home and my office. The first finding is there are more artistic steel chairs among the trees and street lamps.

I can often see some people reading something in the morning sunshine. Many of their books are thick and big, sound like some professional material or data. Their luggage under the chairs tell me that they are the new ones in the city, they maybe just came from some places inland and they are finding their “New Land” in the first special economy zone. Just like I had done 17 years ago -- every morning, went to work with my luggage and every evening had to find a place to live. So, I can imagine how they are tight to study for they have to pass series professional examinations, then they can find jobs. After all, in my city, one job opportunity has at least 100 people there to compete it. Just this week about 16,000 people have enrolked to compete about 150 positions of the civil servants, 8000 substitute teachers are competing 1000 formal teacher's positions.

In my city, to catch an opportunity via hot competing is a quite normal thing. In our company, we usually employ an employee from about 200 people and everyone must past some professional examinations.

So, when I see the people who are reading ourdoor in the morning sunshine, I feel to be touched indeed. From them, I have seen my own feature 17 years ago; from them, I have also seen more hope of the country...

How about you? Is there anything special in your life?

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 shirley004@yahoo.com, or to publish your opinions in the forum.

Shirley Yiping Zhang
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 From China