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

This week, except the good news from Beijing Olympic Games, in our company, the best news was that 3 new products that were developed by our cooperation partner and our company have started test. With the great helping from our partner for 2 years, something that has been baffling us to go forward in some fields will be removed away and our company will really enter a new and faster developing phase.

I was deeply touched by their high quality and efficiency work so that I could not help asking myself that why within the short 2 years, based on the same material in a same database, they could develop something much better than we had done for 8 years already? What is the gap and what is the biggest weakness of our own company? I think, except technology, theory and management level, the biggest gap and weakness should be the people’s quality.

From this meaning, maybe the most important thing that we should do is to improve the quality of our team via cooperation with a team from the most developed country in the world. With this idea, I drafted a new work plan for the company. I am glad that it has gotten some positive resonance.

As usual, my schedule was tight and I had 4 work lunches in the 5 business days.

This week, I have also experienced something funny in my life. Monday evening, when I came back home, I found a big hole on a wall and near the floor. My first responding was that my neighbor next door had dug something from their side. However, they didn't. Then I thought the criminals that had robbed my home in Feb have not been caught yet, maybe? I could not dare to think continuously. So, I called the police station and the real estate management office at once. Until they told me that my new neighbor upstairs was decorating her home and her workers did the hole when they worked in the well of the wire.

Instead of brawling with anyone, I tried to calm down myself and smiled to the guards of the real estate management office, the policemen and my new neighbor. Just because of keeping a peaceful heart, in the same night, after dealing with the trouble for 4.5 hours, I painted my first picture this week, even though I started it at 11:00pm.

I have no time to have a music lesson this week. However, my piano practice gives me some new inspiration, so that I have started to write something in English and Chinese with the title "Artistic Life & Art of Life" to start my language and writing dream.

How about your? Have you had anything funny or special in your life this week?
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 24, 2008