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

After seeing my son; visiting art gallery, opera house, wild zoo, fish market, beach, harbors, universities, House of the Parliament and the War Memorial; tasting food, going shopping and buying books... I was planing to fly to Hong Kong with a happy heart on August 5. However, just in the morning August 4, a mistake was found and my son would have to learn another 3 new elective courses for 3 of he has passed lessons, Japanese, environment science and something else are not listed in the courses that he should choose from, so that the credits that he have gotten from these course can not be accounted into his total credits...

When I heard this news, my first reflection was that I must keep calm and to treat my son with an especial peaceful attitude and never gave him any extra pressure since he had felt very frustrated for his "stupid mistake" and he had said many "sorry" for the increased cost after he has learned in Sydney as an international student for 6 years already. Without complaining him one word, I said 3 opinions of mine. First of all, this is a mistake that he should remember for whole of his life. After all, it is something should be avoided if he was careful more to read the notes before choosing his elective courses. But this is also a good thing to let him realize that any little careless in a job will lead some loss. This just increases about 20,000 USD and a half year’s time. If he worked with the same style for a company, how much loss would be brought to the enterprise? Secondly, I told him that everyone will make a mistake, as long as we can remember the lesson and do not make a same mistake in the coming time, then, that will be ok. Thirdly, as a mother, I did feel that I should bear a part of responsibility for his mistake for I didn’t think that I had cared for his studying enough. So, I should certainly share the cost of this mistake and to do my best to support him to complete his studying and to help him to make his dream to be true. After all, the more knowledge he has learned, the better for him. The “Wrong courses” would maybe bring him some more opportunities?

Even though the sudden event has changed my traveling plan and the beautiful working dream of my son's, we have quickly adjusted our original idea and made a new plan. What I felt comfort is that my son would like to correct the mistake with his own effort to resolve the extra living fee; his father would like to continue to support him; plus my support, I am sure that going through the bad and also good experience, my son will grow up with more healthy and positive style...

I am glad that I am in Sydney to share my son's frustration at this time, at least to give him the warm of a mother. Even though there is much more worrying about my son in my heart right now, I will have to go to the airport tomorrow because some work has been arranged on August 6 already.

Anyway, I am still confident with my only child and I believe that I will be proud of him as a Chinese youth and my son. After all, I have given him 95 marks on my traveling arrangement and treatment already. I do have learned so much from Australia’s culture with his good job already.

Have you met similar things? How would you deal with it if you met the same thing?

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
Monday, August 4, 2008