[JohnnyB]

Congratulations Qiang! Calgary is going to be a big change from Wuhan. Get ready to see beautiful blue skies and amazing sunsets almost every day and to not worry about food, water or air quality.

It will be very different though and have big challenges.

It seems like you are an extrovert. That's definitely a good thing for you as it's very helpful in work and social life in Canada. Be ready to speak out your ideas a lot and to defend them, whether in work or in building friendships and relationships. Being open can help you a lot. Also, have an open mind and be ready to try very different ways of enjoying time with people that you meet. There is so much to learn socially, and the best way to do that is to take the initiative and make friends.

Any Canadian city is going to feel quiet and boring compared to Wuhan and other large Chinese cities. There are much less people. Stores and restaurants close early and there's not so much to do in the evenings. So, you should learn to enjoy what they do have. Most of the really amazing and great life to enjoy in Canada comes from nature. Join a sports team, learn to go hiking and camping, swim in rivers etc. These are some of the best things I think Canada offers that are just so much harder to enjoy in China.

A few more small things that may help. Go out for beers with colleagues or neighbours. Take the initiative to invite them, but just because you invite people out doesn't mean you need to pay for everything every time you invite them. It's not rude to pay separately. When you are out together, you don't have to eat just because you're drinking together. Also, you don't have to raise your glasses and drink at the same time as the other person - raise your glass to drink with the other person once, at the very beginning and after that do it whenever you want and the other person will do the same. You don't need to finish your drinks at the same time, and you don't need to make sure the other person's glass is always full by topping it up for them. You will have a lot to learn about different manners in Canada than in China. They may seem much less caring in Canada but they are simply more independent. Also, treat women with respect as equals socially and professionally and speak with them that way. Lastly, don't expect relationships to count as much for success and getting things done. People are less likely to offer favours and benefits based on having a relationship with you or anyone else. That also means you don't need to have a relationship with someone before you try to get things done as much as in China.

I think these things are all keys: act extroverted, make a point of going out and mixing with people socially, be open minded and learn all the different manners people have and learn/do the different ways to enjoy life in Canada such as outdoor sports.

Good luck!