DIFFERENT VOICES: Chinese student Ling Hensey got more than she bargained for when she came to Ireland three years ago to learn English.
Within 15 months, 30-year-old Ling had fallen in love and married Dubliner, Michael Hensey. They are now the proud parents of one-year-old Conor.
"I had been to university in China and had worked in marketing with Pepsi Cola and Kentucky Fried Chicken.
"But I wanted to go abroad to improve my English and to do further studies," said soft-spoken Ling.
She selected Ireland because she heard it was a friendly country with a high standard of English.
"My plan initially was to stay six months. My host family were the Henseys in Artane who were really nice and kind to me."
At that stage, the family, including Michael, was planning to move to New Zealand, where two daughters were living.
"They were going to sell the house and move but myself and Michael started going out and that put an end to that plan! We married in 2000," said Ling.
After she married, Ling worked in Superquinn and in May started a job as a student liaison officer with the Swan Training Institute on Grafton Street which has about 400 Chinese students enrolled to learn English.
"I think Ireland is a great country and I have had a great experience here. My in-laws are great and treat me like their own daughter."
She has no fears raising Conor in Dublin and says in her experience Irish people are tolerant of other races.
As liaison officer in the Swan Institute, Ling is helping students settle in and sort out any practical problems they have.
She admits that Chinese students tend to stick together.
Ling has been back to China to visit her family since she first came to Ireland and had a wedding ceremony in both countries.
"At first my family were concerned about me marrying an Irish man and were worried about the different cultures and backgrounds but now they are very happy for me."
"I even gave my son an Irish name! And I cook Chinese food for Michael's family. They love it!"
Oliver Long, of the Swan Institute, says the school is lucky to have someone like Ling to be there as a contact point for the students.
"Our business from China is increasing all the time and someone like Ling is invaluable to us here," he said.