My family was admitted to Canada when I was in my first year of university and I was expected to continue my studies there. As I was very satisfied with my life in China, studying abroad did not interest me at all. I was upset that I had to leave and argued with my parents about it. However, living in Canada has had unexpected benefits in that I have learned to be more independent, rediscovered my motivation for learning, and become much more relaxed. Living in Canada has required me to become more independent. As my father has remained in China, my mother and little brother have gone back on multiple occasions. I’ve had to learn to take care of myself and manage our household. In addition, I am thinking more about my future and considering getting a part time job. It is common for Canadian-born students to work part-time, which has led me to recognize the value of gaining practical experience and earning my own money. Essentially, Canadian culture is more independent than Chinese culture. Being part of this culture is helping me to mature as a person, develop my own opinions and make my own decisions. Studying in Canada has motivated me to perform well academically. I worked hard during high school, but once I achieved the goal of being accepted to university, I lost my motivation to study. As a result, I got low marks and did poorly in my exams. However, when I started studying at Langara College in Vancouver, I knew that I needed to get a high GPA in order to transfer to university. Although it is not easy for me to study in English, the challenge has made me even more determined to do well and I am working hard to overcome the language barrier. I have recaptured my love of learning and my efforts are being rewarded. . Canadian culture has changed my personality in that I have Canadian culture is very civil and the pace of life here is much slower than the pace of life in China. People are always rushing in Chinese cities – on the streets, in the train stations, and even when eating meals in restaurants. People fight their way into the