Robinson Crusoe and Friday (or the dawn of the Cuban blogosphere)
Friday, 13. January 2006, 15:10:55
I am enormously happy today. I found that I am not alone blogging in this beautiful island. I suppose that my feelings must be similar to those of Robinson Crusoe after he found a fellow man one Friday. He even called the guy that way: Friday.
And coincidentally, today is Friday. I swear I didn't hold this announcement to provoke the coincidence. I just happened to check out my account news and messages today, and I had a comment in my previous post (the fourth comment actually) from one such fellow Cuban blogger, a Cuban lady called Dayana. She was the one who found me. She's currently not in the island, she's abroad working at some university in Quito (Ecuador) temporarily, so I count her as blogging from Cuba. It's not the same as some Cuban people blogging, but actually living abroad permanently; like those who left the island forever.
Well, as she found me, I'm the one that should be called Friday. But the joy is greater because Robinson Crusoe found just one friend, and I found three. Through the blog of Dayana I heard about the blog of Belkys, who is more or less known here because she works on TV as a journalist. And it turns out that Belky's daughter, Patricia, has a blog too. Both blogs started recently, but are already active enough, and I expect them to keep going. On the other hand Dayana's blog is older. Actually a little bit older than mine.
I haven't been able to check all these blogs in depth, but I can make some little reviews. Dayana's blog is called Confluencias (Confluences), and is more like a personal diary with bits of Cuban present reality. It was quite interesting at first sight. Belkys' weblog is called Proposiciones (Propositions), and is more about current Cuban affairs, and talks very favourably about our present reality as a country. I do not agree with several of her points, as far as I have read at the moment, but I respect her opinions and I am glad anyway for having her along. It seems that the concept of Cuban blogger is not that weird after all. And last but not least, Patricia's blog is amazing. This wonderful little girl with just eight years old is capable to write about her reality very naturally. She seems to be a fairly good chess player for her age.
By the way, I forgot to mention that all these blogs are in Spanish. Sorry, but in fact the weird guy is me. I'm Cuban so I am supposed to be writing in Spanish too.
And coincidentally, today is Friday. I swear I didn't hold this announcement to provoke the coincidence. I just happened to check out my account news and messages today, and I had a comment in my previous post (the fourth comment actually) from one such fellow Cuban blogger, a Cuban lady called Dayana. She was the one who found me. She's currently not in the island, she's abroad working at some university in Quito (Ecuador) temporarily, so I count her as blogging from Cuba. It's not the same as some Cuban people blogging, but actually living abroad permanently; like those who left the island forever.
Well, as she found me, I'm the one that should be called Friday. But the joy is greater because Robinson Crusoe found just one friend, and I found three. Through the blog of Dayana I heard about the blog of Belkys, who is more or less known here because she works on TV as a journalist. And it turns out that Belky's daughter, Patricia, has a blog too. Both blogs started recently, but are already active enough, and I expect them to keep going. On the other hand Dayana's blog is older. Actually a little bit older than mine.
I haven't been able to check all these blogs in depth, but I can make some little reviews. Dayana's blog is called Confluencias (Confluences), and is more like a personal diary with bits of Cuban present reality. It was quite interesting at first sight. Belkys' weblog is called Proposiciones (Propositions), and is more about current Cuban affairs, and talks very favourably about our present reality as a country. I do not agree with several of her points, as far as I have read at the moment, but I respect her opinions and I am glad anyway for having her along. It seems that the concept of Cuban blogger is not that weird after all. And last but not least, Patricia's blog is amazing. This wonderful little girl with just eight years old is capable to write about her reality very naturally. She seems to be a fairly good chess player for her age.
By the way, I forgot to mention that all these blogs are in Spanish. Sorry, but in fact the weird guy is me. I'm Cuban so I am supposed to be writing in Spanish too.
WIDGETIZE
zenya # 13. January 2006, 21:34
I am happy for you this is great news to know some of your country men or women are blogging..
Great post as usual.
Eve
Anonymous # 16. January 2006, 12:41
Hi Ernesto,
Thank you for the bloggers information. I don't read much Spanish or it just takes me longer but I'm sure I will enjoy reading them. Keep writing the way you do. I was asked by people here if you write in English or have the computer translate it for you. I told them I thought you wrote it all in English but wasn't sure. Yes, you were the topic of conversation here in the States this weekend. I was sharing with my friends what I found and since I don't have much computer knowledge they wanted to know how I had done this. I'm sure your blog is going to see more traffic this week.
I was wondering if you have internet cafe's or do students have computers?
Also, your English is perfect. Did you study English in Cuba or outside of Cuba?
Well, I'm glad you are so happy about finding other Cuban bloggers and that you shared this with us.
gnapse # 16. January 2006, 14:19
Thanks again for your comments and your sincere interest in my blog. I should also thank you for the free publicity that this blog is receiving from you, and be sure that all that additional traffic will be welcome. It has taken me more than the average time to make this blog read by some people, and it is now, partly with your help, that I'm succeeding at it.
As for my English, I write it all originally in English, Without translating from Spanish, and without any supervision from any other person whatsoever. The only aid I have is that I almost always have my texts spell-checked by the computer before posting or commenting. My English is good, but although my spelling is not bad, it ain't perfect either. When I spell-check, I take a look at what I misspelled, so that I don't do it again. This way I improve my spelling abilities, and I've made progress. I learned English abroad, but I've improved it overall here in Cuba, mostly my vocabulary and spelling.
I am curious about what did you and your friends talked about this blog in your conversations last weekend. Did they like it? Are they already visiting it? What's the overall impression?
I've said this before and I am saying it here again: I'm worried about the fact that this blog is receiving most of its traffic and attention because of me being from Cuba and writing from Cuba. It wasn't my original intention, as the blog is about topics related with current information technologies, Internet, web development, and perhaps other tech-related stuff such as space exploration and such.
But it turns out that many people contact me regarding the blog, but mostly because of me being from Cuba. Maybe I should have reserved this fact for my self, but I do not regret it, because in the end I've made a few good online friends, and I value friendship very much.
Well, enough for now. I'm awaiting your response as I'm eager to know what my blog made you talk about.
Anonymous # 16. January 2006, 15:06
I feel you should be proud of letting everyone know that you are a Cuban blogger. I'm sure you get a lot of questions on different topic but your blog has very good information on internet and information technologies. I don't like to read about that stuff but the way you write it I have enjoyed learning. I need all the help I can get when it comes to computers. I was out of the work force for many years and it's not easy to come in and start now but I have no regrets that I did it that way.
This weekend I had dinner with friends and we were discussing computers and I remembered your blog. I was telling my friends how I found you and how interesting I thought it was to read a blog written by a Cuban person that lives in Cuba. They had the same questions I had when I first read your blog but I exlained to them that your mission was to talk about Techonology. This morning I cut and pasted your page and
e-mailed it to them. I know there must be a better way but it's how I know to do it so that is how it got to them. I also spoke with my family and told them about this and they live in another area of the United States but are also Cuban so I sent them an e-mail. So your blog was sent to New Jersey, Florida, New York and to all ages. I have many young people in my life and we talk all the time. I made sure they got the information. I know they will enjoy it just as much as I do.
I have alway like to learn how people live and grow up all over the world. My friends asked me about your writing in English or Spanish and my thoughts on the blog. You have to remember most older people (35-40ish) are just learning about blogs and how they work. It's you young kids that are up to date on all this infomation and how to use it. The topic of blog is new to my circle of friends. We also discussed Steve trip around Cuba and how he wrote his blog.
I hope I have not written too much since this is a comment area.
Your turn to answer questions:
Do you have internet cafe's? That is a place where you buy coffee and they have computers you pay to use. They also have Internet Laundy Cafe's here. You can wash your laundy and pay for use of the Computer. How or where do you write your blog?
Where did you study your English and computer knowledge?
I look forward to reading more.
gnapse # 16. January 2006, 17:41
this is more and more like a personal communication between you and me, so perhaps we should go through email, but I'll answer your questions here anyway, because this conversation could be educational and informative for many other readers, including your family and friends.
We barely have Internet Café's here, and most if not all of them are in hotels and commercial offices of the local phone company. These limited services are very expensive for the average population, if available at all. For most of it, Internet access in Cuba is very limited, compared to international standards nowadays. I guess laundry café's are inexistent. Few people have access from home, for the most part through modem connections to their workplaces, for work reasons. Most of the access here is from workplaces during work. These limitations are partly because of economical sanctions imposed by the US government.
I write my blog mostly at home, when I plan to write something in advance. Then I actually post it from work or at some friend's house where they have limited but functional access. From time to time I post short in-situ notices (or comments like this one) from work. This kind of postings or comments are not planned, for as you can see, we're practically chatting this morning.
I studied Computer Sciences at Havana University, where I graduated a few years ago. The studies are hard and most graduates of this degree are very good professionally, even by US standards.
I learned the basics of English while a kid. I didn't study it actually, I learned it a bit like kids learn their mother tongue, only that a bit after already knowing Spanish, so it cannot be considered my mother tongue. As I told you before, I've been improving my vocabulary and spelling abilities throughout the years, just as any native speaker do while growing up. My English isn't that of a native American though, but I like to tame it, I need it for my everyday work, and I keep improving it whenever I can. This blog is also a way for me to keep my self practicing it, and that's another reason to write it in English.
Anonymous # 17. January 2006, 03:28
What is the age or grade that children are taught computers sciences in Cuba?
Do the schools have the tools to teach kids of a young age or is it something they learn later?
gnapse # 17. January 2006, 12:42
Anonymous # 18. January 2006, 18:52
hi
I'm doing a school project and I need to know how may people in Cuba, Italy, Russia and Greace know how to read and write and their over 15 years old can you help me? If you dont know Italy, Russia,and Greace but know Cuba send the info back.
thank you