How are you? Have you had a good first week in the New Year? I do hope that everything is well with you and you have had a relaxed weekend.

There are only 2 business days in the company this week. But I have worked for 5 days including my New Year's Day holiday except watching the New Year's Concert in Vienna via TV and had my art, music and French lessons. I feel a little bit pity that I could not paint as much as I did in my usual holidays. I am still happy because I know it is more important to work for the country and the company than to work on my own hobbies at the important time of a year. In Chinese culture and my education, we more admire the work and life style to think of the country, company and the others at the first and ourselves as the second. It is same to live and work in a family, we always think that we should think of and work for the others in the first place and make ourselves on the second position. So, no one forces me to work in the holiday. Just I felt it was my obligation to the company.

I am really happy for 2 good things in the only two business days in the new week.

One is that my work report, that I wrote in the holiday got a good comment. The company has decided to use it and one of my researching reports to be the general manager report to the directorate and hope that the directorate agrees with a big proposal of us in the new year and coming 3 years. Meanwhile, the general manager asked me to read a book The World Is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman of the N.Y. Times to open my eyes and improve my theory level. I am glad that my work is admitted once more. I am confident in myself and the company. I am sure I will make a better job with the help of the team.

Even though I am working in a company, our lead team was made of experts, 5 people in the 7 have doctoral degrees. So we are standing for some important duty for the industry and the country. One of the team is to make the price indexes of the listed securities in the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. There are only 2 Stock Exchanges in Shenzhen and Shanghai in China. Our average age is 45 years old and our company's average age is only 30. As the oldest one in the company, I am called an "elder sister" when we have a work meal or I was given something most difficult to work. I am happy to feel much respect and trust by my colleagues and the company.

The second is that I suddenly found that I can read smoothly and directly a China Daily, that the company has ordered for me in the new year.I don't need any dictionary and I have known over 90% words and understand all of the articles that I have read. My English dream has been true finally. I am so excited and I feel that I am right to start my French learning now. I read the works by Honore de Balzac, Alexandre Dumas and many French writers 28 years ago, but then, I did not dare to think that I would read then in French some day as I wished to read Shakespeare in English one day. It was too difficult for me to learn one foreign language already. But now, just like a dream, I can not only read in English, but also I have started to learn French. Am I making a dream or it is a true thing?

How is your starting of the New Year? Is everything well for you in the first new week? Are you smiling to face the New Year?

I am just a learner on art, music, English, French 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
Written and Edited on Mon, Jan 7, 2007