This morning I took my computer downstairs to show our door guard(Yvon) some of my Haiti pictures. He is Haitian so I thought he might enjoy them. An hour later we were still looking at the computer. He was fascinated with the computer. My 7 year old Toshiba that barely charges was a hit. He really enjoyed Itunes and Word. He enjoyed typing his name and his parent’s names. It was such an odd feeling to show somebody what the space bar does and the enter key. I don't think he had ever used a computer. The mouse pad was an experience in itself. It is hard to think of something we take as so basic to be such a major task to others. He is not even considered "poor" here. He is around computer savvy people everyday. I can only imagine the people who live in the slums. After an hour of playing around with the computer I had to explain to him in my very limited Spanish that he could not find Haitian music on my computer. I think he knows about the internet and he could not understand that the music I have is only on my computer. I did have Wycleaf Jean who is Haitian. He did recognize Bob Marley and he liked Fleetwood Mac for some reason. He really wanted something in Creole though. My roommate then spent another 30 minutes explaining to him all the costs involved in owning a computer. He thinks he just buys it and that is that. He is hooked. Probably something I should have considered before showing him the pictures. If I can ever afford another computer I would pass my down to him.
