How are you? I do hope that you are well and have an easy and relaxed weekend.

Sunday noon, as soon as I came back from my vocal music lesson, I cooked food and dishes with my electric cooker and gas, while I was working in my bookroom. Suddenly, my door bell was ringing while I smelled some bad fragrance. Wow! My dish on the gas was burnt! I jumped up and rushed into the kitchen. The smoke was full of the room. Some guards of the building administration office were looking at my kitchen’s window under the building.

I waved my hands to appreciate them for a terrible accident was avoided.

Ten years ago, I gave up the apartment that the company had distributed me and I bought this one, for it’s in the golden area and is convenient for my son to enter the best school. Now, my son has been abroad for 6 years. Many people want to buy it from me.

Yes, I can buy a new apartment or a new house at once. But, I keep living here. One reason is that I have not made sure where I will go after I retire. The second reason is that it is near the company, hospital, sport center, post station, supermarket and bank. The third reason is because I like its topping building administration.

Every Monday morning, before I leave for the company, I can hear the woman official ask her colleagues: What is our target? They answer, to offer a topping service. Yes, they do have done that.

Since I moved here in 1997, I have seen how the garden, where we are living has getting more and more beautiful. The administration from handwork to computers. There are more and more services for the old people, children and women: healthy checking, painting and calligraphy game, singing and dancing, traveling here or there. The best thing is that I feel safe, comfortable and easy to live here. Every morning, I get up in the songs of birds in the green trees and flowers. Every night, I work until midnight and I never worry anything about safety. In case I meet difficulty, as soon as I make a phone call, I would get a good help.

Sometimes, my mailbox, hose or the door bell did not work, my cleaning lady called the service, things would be ok in the same day. Days ago, I was awaken at 3:00 am by some terrible sounds, I called them, they told me that was the typhoon had entered the fire protection tube. They would deal with it within 10 minutes, then the sounds disappeared soon. Sometimes, they reminded me that I had forgotten to close the window of my car. They climbed up the building and entered my room via a window to take my keys out. Also sometimes, they made us sure the people who knocked at our doors were some investigation people from somewhere, instead of tickers.

I do not have any family in the city, since my son left for abroad. I do not make sure who are who and what are their family names. But, I do have a safe feeling. I do feel that I am one of the true hostesses of the garden and the building.

How about you? Do you enjoy living in your community? Do you satisfy with their service?

I am just a learner on art, music, English and the work on the web site in my free time. Anyway, 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, Friendship and Language Learning. During the process to help the others and to improve myself.

I do appreciate your understanding, directions and supports. I do hope to get your great help continuously now and in the coming time...

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please write to shirley@ebridge.cn or shirleyz004@yahoo.com. You are welcomed to publish your opinions in the forum.

Shirley Yiping Zhang
Written and Edited on Sun, September 2, 2007