This chapter tells the story of Shan, the case study participant who had achieved the highest level of education. Her educational background had had a profound impact on her experience in the UK, especially in the terms of her use of symbolic capital in negotiating a new life. First, I will briefly introduce Shan's background; then I will revisit the relevant theoretical underpinnings. Finally I will elaborate on Shan's experience in the UK, her motivation and emotion, reflection and transformation.

Shan

Shan was in her forties. After finishing her postdoctoral research, she had worked in a top Chinese university. She also had professional experience in the publishing industry. From December 2012 to June 2014, Shan worked in the CI programme in Northern Ireland. During her two years of service, she mainly lived on her own in a rented flat, although she had also experienced different types of temporary housing.

Shan had kept two weblogs: one was a professional blog open to the public and the other was for personal contacts only. She allowed me to have access to both. However, for present purposes, I mainly focus on her personal blog entries from December 2012 to June 2014. Like Su, Shan used QQ space to share her life in the UK with her contacts. She had posted more than 87 entries in two years. In order to complete the picture of Shan's life as a sojourner, I also analyse a small number of entries originally written in English on her professional blog as evidence of her English language investment; a two-hour repatriation interview; and her QQ posts and interaction with her audience.

Identity, Agency and Acculturation

Compared with the other two case study participants, what struck me most about Shan's story were her agentive skills (Vygotsky, 1980). Therefore, it is helpful at this point to revisit the notions of identity and agency, and their connection with acculturation.