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An Action Is Better Than A Bunch of Dreams-- Shirley's America Travel Diary 145 & 582nd Friendly Greeting - June 29, 2018

Hi,Dear Friends

Hello, How are you? Have you had a good week until now? Do you have any wonderful plan for your weekend?


I started this letter at the airport of Chicago and continued it on my second airplane from Chicago to Beijing¡­


As soon as I completed my teaching plan, basically completed some writing and fixed a new room and a new dryer for my house in the USA, I came back to Beijing ahead for 2 months for my study in Chinese National Academy of Arts.


Although I had no a seat until I arrived in Chicago for I changed my tickets in a hurry, and I had to work for 23 hours before I left for the airport, Springfield, MO, I have had a good rest on the airplanes and now, I am sitting at home to write to you in Beijing; and tomorrow afternoon, June 30, 2018, I will be in Yanhuang Art Gallery to attend a lesson of my supervisor ¨C Professor Mu Jiashan, and involve in my study at Chinese National Academy of Arts in Beijing quickly.


Now when I recall my 8th travel in the USA, a big word jump into my mind: One action is better than a bunch of dreams. For me:


A treval is better than multiple imaginations: Many things I have seen, met and experienced in the US are so different from what I had imagined according to the information I had read, heard and thought according to the media in China.


The biggest gain from the 78 lessons for about 1500 American students (person times) have helped me to create about 21 kinds different teaching styles on the basis of different teaching contents and students; brought me so many inspirations and new thoughts. These experiences have helped me to improve my current teaching in the USA and also it will help me to innovate my work and to create a more reasonable teaching models.

Meanwhile, a true America is really different from what I had heard and imagined before I went there, no matter 10 years ago or now.

An action is better than a lot of dreams: Nov, 2013 to Feb, 2014, after my study in Beijing entered in the 4th year, 2 presidents of 2 American universities asked me about my plans in the future. Their questions were just like some flashing lightning suddenly illuminated my mind, first time I realized that perhaps my future would be able to be another way, then I started a new dream for getting my second master degree - Master of Fine Arts from Chinese National Academy of Arts, but until this travel, when my study in Beijing would enter into the 9th years in a few weeks, first time, I started to write something new to someone else who I didn¡¯t dare to think of working with after my original plan had not worked, then I got a response soon, let me see a gleam of light after going into a blind spot on my dream seeking road...


A phone call is more efficient than 10 emails: 8.5 years ago, my first art exhibition sponsored by Springfield Chamber of Commerce and Springfield Region Art Council and their executive manager and executive director held the opening ceremony on Sept 4, 2009 ; 8.5 years later, all of the acquaintances left from their positions so that I do not know anyone there at all. Since I had no much time to write more emails before I left for the airport, directly, I tried to call the latter. Then I got an opportunity to talk face to face with them together...


This made me realize that in the international communications, to make a phone call directly would be more efficient than to write a lot of emails in the mobile information times...

I feel a little bit pity for I didn¡¯t realize it until a few days ago, I would realy like to do it much more in my future work international travels.

In one word, an action is better than a lot of dreams and emails¡­ :- )

How about you? Do you have anything special to share?

Photo Notes:

No.1:Mrs. Kat Allie (Chair of Humanities Department and Manager of Art Gallery at Ozarks Technical Community College ) and I in her art gallery, June 27, 2018.

No.2: Ms.Rachel Johnson (Director of Programs and Exhibitions of Springfield Art Council,in the middle),Ms.Nicole Chilton (Director of Marketing and Development) and me in their office, June 26, 2018.

No.3: Mrs. Fran Giglio(My English Instructor in Ozarks Technical Community College) and me on June 25, 2018.

No.4: Mrs. Feith Chucks (who offered me a good emergent assistance by driving me to Best Buy to change my order at her dinner time, which I needed a dryer with Gas, but it was with electricity on my order sheet.The problem was that I had been there twice, each time I had to wait for a taxi for going back home for about 1.5 hours. If I was there 3rd time in the same evening, I would not come back home until Best Buy closed. So, I called her and got her good help) and me, June 13, 2018.


No.5: Mother of Dr. Qiao Yuhua, Dr. Qiao(a Lifetime Professor of Missouri State University who offered me a lot of help on my Bible study, was baptized and travel life in the US since 2009. It was she who sent me to the Airport at 5:00am Feb 26, 2017 and June 28, 2018 ) and me, June 21, 2018.

No.6: Mr. John Walker (who have helped me so much on my house purchase and daily maintenance), His Wife and me June 23, 2018.

No.7: A new room in my house which was fixed by Mr. John Walker,but I had no time to print yet,June 13, 2018. :-)

No.8: My new dryer (right one) which was fixed by Best Buy in my laund, June 22, 2018.

Shirley's Art Works 1344- Chinese Mogu 84- Shirley's 626th Assignment & the 215th One in the 2nd Phase of CNAA- June 23, 2018 in the USA

Shirley's Art Works 1343- Chinese Mogu 83- Shirley's 625th Assignment & the 214th One in the 2nd Phase of CNAA- June 23, 2018 in the USA

I am just a student on Arts of Painting, Music, English and Management,and work on the web site in my free time. I would really like to do something with what I have learned, to make this little web site to be a little Electronic Bridge of Cross -cultural and Comprehensive Art Study and Chinese Language Learning, to help the others while to improve myself.

I would like to appreciate you for your good understanding, directions, supports and help.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, you are welcome to write to shirley@ebridge.cn or leave your message on Message Board.

Shirley Yiping Zhang

June 29, 2018 (Chicago Time)

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