Happy Chinese New Year!

Today is the Chinese New Year's Day and the 115th day that I am in the US. Instead of Making Jiaozi, or to do something traditional as Most of Chinese Do On the New Year's Day, I got up at 6:30 am, run in the fresh air, worked on my new lesson and write to you right now.

A good news is that I have passed the most difficult lesson -- Financial Management with a grade B, meanwhile, I completed 4 little papers with 43 pages that the professor did not require after the hard working for 51 days by the good help, patient direction, self-giving support from the professor Dr. Ragan, tutor Mr. Gong Xiaoou in the university, friends Dr. Chen in N.Y., Dr. David L in San Francisco and George J in Los Angeles.

I can not forget the happy moments when I went out of the examination room Jan 20 and 21, I suddenly found that the sky was so blue, the clouds were so white, the birds and the squirrel were so cute, and my steps were so light.

If saying the professor, tutor and friends over helped me on my lessons and psychology when I was in the most difficult time, then, Dr. Zheng ? my boss in China, Mr. Michael. W. ? the CEO of my working partner in N.Y., Dr. Meinert -- the leader of the EMBA project, Ms Anna B ? the “Angel Guard ” of our Chinese students, Dr. Park ? the professor of marketing management lesson, Mr. John B and his assistants in the a church, Ms. Mary J ? the hostess of my host family and all of my 1401 mail friends and you, have offered me so much support and concern when I was in the deep frustration, helped me to keep going over the hardest time.

Right now, when I have entered a new field and seen much wonderful knowledge that deserves me to learn, explore and research, I do not know how to express my endless appreciation, I would really like to sing a Chinese Folk Song Fu Lao Xianqin My Elders & Folks to thank all of the people who have helped me, and wish you to be luckier, happier and have a more successful career in the New Year!

I am sure that this unusual experience in the US has brought me a huge positive effect now and will effect me in the future.

First of all, I have overcome a big and natural psychology obstacle on Math, Statistic and Accounting ? I have filled many blank points in my knowledge stucture and I have realized that no matter how difficult things I will meet, as long as I work on it down to earth, I will be able to do it.

Secondly, I have learned some new methods to study in English in a US university. They are: 1) Keeping Previewing ? to find the questions and mark them. Then the professors would answer most of them in their classroom. 2) Keeping Asking ? to ask the professor directly is efficient more than 10 times to ask the others after the class. 3) Making Notes with Handout Together ? now I take adhesive tapes, scissors, paper and portfolio with lays into the classroom, as soon as the professor offered us handout, I attach the paper on every piece of handout, then I will have room enough to write down my notes and questions on it. It will be easier for reviewing and need not worry the notebook divided from handout. 4) Noticing Every Detail that the Professor Does and Learn the Way ? Dr. Ragan often changes the order of a equation. That can save time and reduce copy mistakes.

Thirdly, I have felt a perfect combination of the strict management and the humanity in the US education. At the first, from how Dr. Meinert dealt with my case. Then, I felt it from Dr Ragan’s strict and lenience. Yes, he was so strict and our examinations are in the paper A. B and C. Meanwhile, he was so kind to treat a student who was in the difficulties. After knowing that I would like to give up the studying from his lesson, instead of talking many words, he just simply said that ? “Shirley, you can come to my lesson still”, “you can find me when you need help”; then when I handed in an empty paper to him and got a 0 in the first quiz, instead of giving up me or looking down on me, he gave me an opportunity to start from the next chapter, then to learn something I missed in the Christmas holiday.

After passing the quiz II and two examinations on Dec 11, 19 and Jan 12, I suffered a severe headache so that I had to take 5 pieces of medicine one day (it should only take 1 for each day) Dr Rogan required me to attend his lesson on Jan 14 still, then to think of delaying the time of my last examination and the quiz. With much grateful and hard working, I kept and kept with my biggest effort and backbone, finally, I passed all examinations and quizzes and I completed 4 little papers until Jan 20 and 21. I have still many thoughts in my mind right now. I will continue to write them out and combine all of my little papers to be one paper as long as I have time. I wanted to strengthen what I have learned in the so short time and I will bring the data to my company and motherland as much as possible...

I believe that with this kind of strict teaching and training of the US education, a student will certainly have a strong willpower, serious working attitude, good operating skills. And maybe a kind heart with lenient, patient and humanity? In my opinion that latter maybe is one of the preconditions to develop a good student or a good employee with some potential abilities as a professor or a manager?

Yes, I think so, not only in the Western Eduation, but also in the Easten Education... just for the kind personal quality and much patient waiting for and direction, my Chinese art professor Mr. Tao, made me get the Certification as an artist by China's Culture Department in 2008 but can you imagine? Five years ago, as soon as he asked me to paint Chinese Xieyi or practise Chinese Gongbi, I felt tired and wanted to get sleepy, so that I often made him and my cleaning lady to wait for me me for 5 minutes in my sitting room. Wow! What a bad student I was at that time!

Yes, I am sure about it at this time, because, I have seen it from my tutor ? a graduated MBA student and a clerk in the same university ? Mr. Gong Xiaoou.

I was lucky to get the help from him when I was in the most difficult time and felt helpless. With a very well-knit basic knowledge and skill on math, statistic and accounting, plused his kind personal qualities ? serious, patient, responsible and skilled on his work, I have learned something more than 10 times than the examination themselves. About this, I will write another article later. What I would like to say is that -- From Mr. Gong, I have seen the high level education result of the US, the endless hope of China, also, my own weakness in both of the professional field and English. So, except learning English in the US, I have asked the Beijing Foreign Studies University to keep my status as its student (I came to the US just studied there for 6 months) I will continue my studying after I come back to China.

How about you? Do you have any thing special in the New Year?
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
Sat, January 24, 2009 From USA