Stories of Change from Dublin

I started to do some online search to find English classes where I discovered WEMIN English Language & Communication class. Joining WEMIN English Language & Communication class was a relief for me, I could practice my English but also make friends, share experience and have a social life. I attended to several events organised by WEMIN such as International women Breakfast where I met interesting people. Thanks to this classes I feel that my English is way better, I made friends and I learnt a lot about the Irish culture. I could apply for a job and now I'm working and I'm fully integrated to the Irish society. Thank you WEMIN.

My First time to watch horse racing - Rui Lee

Rui is a participant in WEMIN English classes. As part of the class, the women undertook projects on places to go and visit in Dublin, which will contribute to the E-book entitled Places to Visit in Dublin. Rui went to the racecourse for the first time with a group of friends, and found the experience very different and exciting. She has described her experience here.

Last Friday, I went to the LEOPARDSTOWN Racecourse with my friends and watched a very interesting horse racing. Because it was the first time to watch horse racing, I also acquired some knowledge about horse racing before going to the scene.

First, gentlemen and ladies must wear formal dress and ladies should wear gorgeous hats. My friend Ian joked that we'd better dress up as if we were going to the Oscar ceremony. So Ian and I went to the fashion store and bought dresses and hats. Secondly, if you want to really appreciate the fun of participating in this event, you have to bet on every race. So Ian and I discussed that we might be able to see which jockey is handsome on the spot, and we might choose to bet on him/her to win.

There were seven races on that day. The first race started at 5:25pm, and then the races are every half hour. The last race started at 8:40pm and ended at 8:45pm. We had nine women sitting around a table, eating dinner and drinking. We were watching live races on a TV screen, discussing and betting on the next few races. Of course, you can also go to the outdoor open-air platform to watch the live competition. Although the environment is not as comfortable and elegant as the indoor environment, the outdoor atmosphere is higher energy and the crowd is loud. Everyone is shouting the number of the horses they supported. The closer to the end point, the more tense the atmosphere was. And when the horses they supported won, they even hug and jump, and scream excitedly. Of our nine women, only Ian won one of the bets. She was very excited and we were as happy as she was.

For the first time I saw horse racing, my deepest feeling was that it was more like a social activity, because everyone gathered together to enjoy the horse racing process, and to have a heated discussion and exchange, rather than everyone immersed in their respective mobile phones. So I think it's a very interesting and crazy experience.