How are you? Is everything ok with you?

Today is the 6th day that I am in the US. Instead of going to a local Taste Fair with my classmates, I want to order my own thoughts and home.

It was for about 9 years, I had not done any housework of cleaning, washing, order clothes, buy family commodity and so on. My cleaning lady did them for me. Right now, I have to look after my own life in the US. At the first 2 days, I did not know where I should start in the empty apartment, but now, I have done many things.

Since Tuesday, I have attended the first course "Project Management" 3 times. My first impression is that it is very kind and helpful. Because it is near a part of my work in China and it seems like to say something that I just left from. Just like I had felt when I was working with my American work partners, via this lesson, I have seen something weak in our work while I am thinking how to improve our work in China, too. My second impression is that the American university is very serious on the student's quality, every course has different examination styles, include closed-book exam, so that I told my bosses that “I would be dead for that" My third impression is that its developed computer system and comfortable studying condition.

Some of my problem is on the language. I did not think that I understood whole of the content of the lesson. So, I have made some records, to help the others while to improve myself. I appreciate the teaching of Beijing Foreign Studies University in China, I am confident with myself to be ok soon.

Thursday morning, in a local middle and small enterprise's products exhibition, I visited many American businessmen/women and their produces -- printers, software, cosmetic, food, sports, furniture and everything. I was attracted by a high technology product ? some surprised water. It cannot only to put out a fire, but also protects something in the fire. A computer or a cell phone can be kept dry in the water. It is said that the technology is No 1 in the world.

Also, I met a girl artist who was painting with propylene. We discussed something about Chinese painting colors, propylene colors and took a picture together.

The most excited thing is that after talking with two girls who were con-scribing volunteers to help the local children, I told them that I am an artist that would like to teach the children to speak Chinese, paint Chinese painting free while to learn English and American cultures, too. They were excited and offered me a telephone number to call their boss directly.

During the short 5.5 days, I have found some interesting phenomena -- many things are so different from the Internet, newspapers, TV and my own eyes. Before I came here, I thought it was very cold so that I scared that whether I would be ok here. When I am here really, I feel that the weather is very comfortable, just like the spring in Beijing and the deep fall in Shenzhen. I can be in dress everywhere.

Meanwhile, never like something that I had heard before -- every thing needs to pay; every service asks a tip and everywhere full of the dangerous… What I have seen here is that people are very polite and friendly. As I first experienced in Europe in 2000 and I saw in Australia last month, every time, when I wanted a car go ahead, the driver woke his/her hand and asked me go first. The same thing has happened 4 or 5 times at the same cross roads within the short 5.5 days. The writing center of the university would like to offer us a writing direction free, the worker who came to my home to fix a wire for my Internet connecting also did not accept a tip.

All of these, makes me thinking of a Chinese adage-- Seeing is believing, for the virtual hearing.

Of course, I have also felt that the Internet connecting via wireless is better here but the Broad Band service is quicker and more convenient in China. At least in my city -- Shenzhen, the service can be offered within 24 hours from applying it to be fixed ok, just via a telephone call, after the service, you can also get a telephone call to ask whether you are satisfy with the service. Besides, in China, a foreigner can buy anything by walk. Here, if you don't have a car, you will feel very inconvenient. So, I am thinking whether I should buy a car, whether I should suggest our classmates to found a Chinese store or a China town? Just a joke.

Before I send this letter out, I have got my first letter from a local organization. To have a little home in a foreign country is really a fresh and comfortable feeling.

How about you? Do you have any experience to live in the other country as a foreigner for a while? Do you agree with that “Seeing is believing, for the virtual hearing?”
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, October 4, 2008 From USA