| Being relocated to a new setting, overseas particularly, means disruption of established social networks and challenges to develop new networks. In this study, the author aimed to examine how the Chinese students' wives, who were relatively socially isolated, managed to keep the established social networks and develop new ones in a U.S. university setting. The result of this study indicated that Internet played a significant role through the process of networking and mutual support. Strong ties and weak ties became blurred and happened at the same time through Internet. New networks developed in the host place functioned in a more utilitarian way. Even though these wives hardly had chances to interact with people in the host place, they managed to form a "virtual" ethnic enclave through the Internet. In other words, the technology created a space for sharing information, mutual support, and other needs, which enabled them to adjust well in the new environment, and increase life satisfaction. |
