Li started attending the Conversation Circle program after two years of staying in her apartment. Both her husband and son taught at the university, but she felt her English wasn’t good enough to develop new friendships and so she stuck close to home. When she finally got up the courage to go to the local newcomer centre, she found out about a wealth of programs, met others with similar experiences, and soon started volunteering in the childcare program. Her English improved, her confidence came back, and she developed a strong social support network. After about a year, she took on a leadership role in her local church. “Imagine, I met someone I knew at the Safeway!”, she exclaimed with a smile during an interview.