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

It is the 6th day of my traveling in Australia. Tonight, I just came back to Sydney from Canberra after a short travel for one day with my son. Most of time, I stay in Sydney.

As a foreigner, my first impression of Sydney is the harmoniously of people, animals and great nature.

No matter if you are eating near the sea, walking in a street, waiting for a taxi, a bus or a train, staying on a ferry or you are in a shop or a restaurant, there are often some birds walking close to your feet, sitting near your seats or flying over your heads. Even though you are taking a photo with a light for them, they are still swaggering there and make you want to smile.

Many times, I ask myself, what should we inspire and learn from this phenomenon? Now I think, maybe the answer is that an advanced human civilization has helped the city to create a good environment; the wonderful environment has helped the wild animals to develop, then to offer human being a comfortable living environment? The answer maybe also is that the peaceful, quiet and cleaning natural environment, is helping people to breed an especially human harmonious?

Yes, since I arrived in Sydney, I have been feeling a strong learning and friendly atmosphere. Many people read during their short trip in a ferry, a bus or a train. "Hi", "How Are You" and "Thanks" are used everywhere. They have become something to help people to keep a harmonious relationship. Even though they have done something for the other, they still say "Thanks" to the latter.

It was the second day I reached in Sydney. As soon as I got up, I turned on the hot water for preparing a shower. Suddenly, I heard some alarm was sounding in my room. My first reflection was that "Earthquake or Fire?" Quickly, I worn in my jacket and rushed to the window and door, I did not saw anyone in the corridor and I did not find anyone in a hurry in the streets through the window. I was strange for I did not know what had happened...Anyway, I carried my bag and wanted to I rush out of the building.

Before I left from my room, I heard someone knocked on my door and then I saw 3 firemen. I asked them what had happened. Soon, one of them rushed into my bathroom. Then he went out and told me that when I turned on the hot water, I did not close the door. The steam rushed out and hit the inductor on the ceiling and made it alarm so that they thought there was a fire in my room. His words reminded me that after I turned on the hot water, I went out of the bathroom to answer a mobile phone, maybe just at this time, the steam rushed out of the door? After making sure what had happened, instead of any complaining, the firemen said to me "Thanks", then they went out…

Now I am smiling for my funny and meaningful experience. I do have felt an excellent service of Sydney. Especially, I do have felt a wonderful harmonious among people, animals and great nature.

They are really something worth us to learn. Do you think so?
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
Saturday, August 2, 2008