Oh, don`t get me wrong, this is
a very personal story. It is how I changed from a second-hand user of
technology to …… technology-friendly user! I have never heard anyone actually
saying `second-hand` user of technology
,but that`s exactly who I was. You see, I did use technology, but only if
somebody else set up everything for me. So I had a facebook account because my
daughter opened it for me. I used Skype only when she was around. My sister
downloaded from youtube for me. I used Twitter but only for direct messages to
my friend Natasa, who opened my account. It gets even more sophisticated! I
made a few PPTs! Actually I did the typing, my daughter did everything else,
including saving. …… So you see, there was always a pair of first hands to
help. Mine were the second! Very kind of them, but I could have asked them to
explain, to teach me how to do it. Maybe I did, and maybe they did explain. And
then maybe I did something once and then I definitely forgot everything! I`ve
told you I am forgetful in my first blog, remember?
I must say I`ve come a long way from the decision to change that and
to join BaW. It seems so long ago that I can hardly remember the beginning. Is
it possible it was only five weeks ago? Time flies, doesn`t it? And yet, I can
still feel the occasionally bitter taste of the first week! I stiill see my
giant photo serenely smiling from the deleted BaW wiki page! I can still
remember wandering around Tapped In Building like a ghost invisible to
everybody and everything. I, in a nutshell, felt like Alice in Wonderland, I
even wrote about Alice and me! (take a look at two blogs down) And I also wrote the letter to the mods, trying to explain, justify,
confess, come clean, like I was keeping a bad secret that needed to be said
aloud. I still keep the letter just to remind me!
Dear friends in need, dear moderators! I just feel a need to write about the first week here. So, how was it for me? Well, it was exciting, frustrating, amusing, time-consuming, enlightening, painstaking, groundbreaking, rewarding! I felt great, satisfied and happy when I didn’t feel lost or confused! To sum up, it was beautiful!!! Now I have a confession to make. (No, I`m not an alcoholic :) ) I don`t think I am passionate about technology :( !I wish I was! I really wish! I think it is useful, I think it is necessary and I am keen on it. But I don't feel on the safe side with it. I hesitate to use it. I am afraid of making mistakes! I know it is wrong, (I keep encouraging my students to do so. NB I teach adults in a language school). So, why did I join the courses? (Alas, I'm also on the Digitools, too!) Because I want my computer to be my friend, not my misery. Because I need some driving force to make me sit and learn about technology. Because I need a friendly push, advice, encouragement. And that is what I've realised I have here with you. Thanks a million for that! Thanks to organizers, moderators, peers for sharing and caring. You are doing a great job! And I'll keep clicking :) ! Lots of love to you all!
After
saying that, I felt much better, I felt free from my guilty conscience! Free to
go on! How great and supportive you mods
and webmates were then! And that was the point of no return! I crossed the Rubicon,
it was time to conquer Rome!
Yes, it is true that all the roads lead to Rome, just some are more
direct than others. Of course I chose the most indirect roads, I chose a lot of
bypasses and detours, not to mention blind alleys. Especially at the
beginning! It changed in the weeks to follow, and I`m extremely satisfied with
what I`ve learned. And I`ve learned here absolutely everything I know. I still
don`t use highways, too much speed for me. I`m probably still on country roads,
but I don`t mind. I know this is just the beginning of an exciting journey to
the age of technology.
