There was a big change of my life after I came to Canada. I found there were a lot of differences between Canada and my own country -- China. My new life in Canada is amazing and interesting.

When I just arrived here, I felt so excited. This was the first time for me to go to a foreign country. I found that Vancouver is a very beautiful city: green trees and colorful flowers were everywhere; streets were wide and clean; buildings were so different from China… Everything was novel for me. I felt happy and excited all the time.

After two weeks, the happiness and excitation were over. I begin to feel out of sorts. I had no friends at this new country. Sometimes I felt lonely and bored. I found it was cold and cheerless. People kept a slow and relaxed way to do things. At that time I began to miss the life when I was in China. I thought it should be too hard for me to get used to here. I stayed at home everyday and became too impatient to wait to go to school.

Finally, a new term in BCIT began. I began to enjoy my new life in school. I made a lot of friends, so I didn't feel lonely anymore. I had a lot of courses in school. Although they were different from the courses I had ever had and they were challenging for me, I felt substantial and happy. As days went by, I had adapted to life in Canada and I liked it.

I think if you want to adapt a new life in a new country, the best way is to join more activities there and make yourself more substantial.

November 19, 2001