I'm originally from Syria, and I came to Wales to live about 23 years ago after meeting my wife, who's from Pen Llŷn. We met in the Emirates where she was working, as was I. That was my first encounter with the Welsh language which has fascinated me ever since.

When I came to visit Wales, I fell in love with the country because of the topography, the beautiful scenery. My wife speaks Welsh fluently and I began to learn it as soon as I arrived here. I joined the new Wlpan intensive Welsh course, and I enrolled at evening class Ysgol David Hughes in Menai Bridge.

Being able to speak Arabic helped me a lot because the pronunciation of the 'ch' and 'll' was easy for me. People who only speak English find it difficult, but I can say Llanfairpwll and Machynlleth very well and so it made it a little easier for me to try to learn the language.

The different dialects between the north and south have made it more difficult though. Especially communicating with my wife, who comes from Pen Llŷn and is very north Walian. I'd speak Welsh, and she'd say 'what are you saying?' I thought I was speaking Welsh, but she says no, that's south Walian!

Most of her family speak Welsh in front of me because I'm just part of the family. I do sometimes join in with my pigeon Welsh and they realise I might not understand everything and explain in English - but I do understand more than I can talk.

I don't have the confidence and Welsh people are very polite and speak in English.

I work for an ethnic business support programme and am involved in the launch of an economic migrant initiative, to help most people who are coming to this country set up in business and to settle in, and make this easier for them. It is as easy as you make it to settle in here. In depends on the incomers and on the environment - both have to be right for the right people.

We do our part of the work, which is to make them welcome and comfortable and at ease so that we can help them to start as quickly as possible.

I've really fitted in. I've been to a few eisteddfods and they're very enjoyable. I think we would like to team up with them and incorporate this multi-cultural event into the festival, perhaps in the Llangollen International Eisteddfod.