How are you? I do hope that every thing is well with you and have had a good weekend.

This week, the biggest thing in China is still Olympic Games. No matter where you are, you can see that people are watching TV or talking something about the result of the games. We cheer for the Chinese athletes and all the others who have made good achievements. We wish the Olympic Games will be a successful event of friendship and peace.

It also seems like my “lucky week”. The school transcript of my English tests in Beijing Foreign Studies University have been announced. I got 95, 76 and 74 in the first term. The department of the Shenzhen Human Recourse has informed me that the foreign university as their cooperation partner has agreed with me to be their visit scholar student for 1 year.

A crazy thing is that I have painted 7 pictures within the 7 days. Since I came back from Australia, I especially wanted to paint. Then I watched many peonies on the walls and floor in the hall that Chinese president Mr. Hu Jintao treated the foreign leaders a state banquet via TV on August 8, then I saw some peonies on the tables that Mr. Wen Jiabao interviewed some foreign leaders, then the opening ceremony of Olympic Games -- a huge Chinese painting was painted, and Chinese people “were/are painting” a great history on it for 5000 years, I have been having a strong impulse painting. I wanted to create a big picture with many peonies with the title ? Xinxin Xian grong “Flourishing”. But, I did not think that my skill is good enough to create it yet. So, I wanted to practice as much as possible. Ha, I did not think that my teacher would give all my 7 new painting 90 marks and thought that I have had the ability to create a peony painting independently.

The other crazy thing is that I wanted to play piano very much since I came back home and I have recovered my piano practice so that I am feeling that my fingers pain now. The happiest thing was that Sunday afternoon, I suddenly felt that I have known how to make an improvisational accompany. Wow! I was so happy for my long term dream has become true finally, so that I could not help making a telephone call to my piano teacher whom had been in Xian for more than 1 year. She was happy for my progress and she promised to direct me as soon as she comes back next week.

Comparing with the neutral news to study abroad, I am much happier for my artist dream of painting, music and language is getting true along with the time. I am sure that as long as we keep working on something that we are doing for a long time, we will be certainly successful; as long as we keep learning something new and positive from anyone and anything anywhere, we will get endless creating resource always.

What is your opinion? Do you agree with me?
I am just a learner on that 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 little bit things with what I have learned to make this little web site to be an Electronic Bridge of Culture Exchange, Language Learning & Friendship. To help the others while to improve myself.

I appreciate your understanding, directions and supports. I do hope to get your friendly help...

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, you are welcome to write to shirley@ebridge.cn or shirleyz004@yahoo.com, or to publish your opinions in the forum.

Shirley Yiping Zhang
Sun, August 17, 2008