My Love for Computers
By Axel Saenz
HAVANA TIMES – I am a native of Nicaragua, at 13 months old (take this information with a grain of salt because I do not really remember) I traveled with my mother to Cuba where my maternal grandparents were, and it was there that I lived until I was 8 years old.
My family lived comfortably, not with great luxuries, but with the necessary things, among those were the two computers in the apartment where I lived in Havana. My grandfather’s work computer, and the family computer.
My grandfather tells me that since I was 4 years old I said: “When I grow up I’m going to have a computer to help you work” and today I work alongside him, although not as I was imagining at first, but I enjoy it.
Soon after, thanks to my mother, I got to know video games and I remember spending some afternoons after doing my homework. Me and my mom used to play “Super Mario World 2: Yoshi Island” on an old computer, those that had a CRT monitor, and there I would play for a while passing the platformer levels, which is currently the genre I enjoy the least.
On the other hand, I feel that my love for computers comes as an inheritance from my father who studied Computer Science, a career I began to study, but I didn’t feel it was what I really wanted to do all my life. Software Development is the career that I’m passionate about today.
I love researching about computer components, or cutting-edge laptops, whether they are Creator series or Gaming series, which have extra things like colored lights in all places and powerful components that used to turn laptops into a brick. Nowadays technology has advanced so much that powerful laptops are now quite compact.
Recently I started saving to be able to build the desktop computer of my dreams. The whole process was one of the most fun things I have ever had the pleasure to experience, I felt like a kid again; checking components, compatibilities, prices, performance, and it is really a vast world that I have completely fallen in love with.
What was not fun at all is to see the amount of money I must save for that PC (Personal Computer) I want to build. I could buy cheap components, but my way of thinking is the following: If I spend more now, then I won’t have to spend on upgrades, which means I can have the same PC for years.
The sheer variety of components, and prices, means that there are really all kinds of combinations possible. You can build a computer starting at $400 if you want to build it from scratch. Of course, that is if you live in a place where you have access to buy the components you choose separately, which in Central America is very difficult if you are looking for very specific components.
What I did learn from this experience is that I really enjoy researching about computers or watching videos about hardware (Hardware is the term used to refer to the physical components of the computer). I have friends who ask me for help to choose good deals on devices in general and I have to dig into the different online shopping sites to find the best option with the budget they have available.
All these experiences are just a part of my love for technology in general.
At some point I plan to make a guide with the little information I know about the components. If it will be useful to one of you, faithful readers of Havana Times, I will be more than pleased.
I also want to do articles about different video games, animes, series, or movies that I enjoy.
See you soon!
Andy:
In answer to your specific question: “ . . . Is there an embargo in place?” Yes and no. It all depends on what products are being shipped to Cuba. Most people assume the United States has an “embargo” on Cuba and that everything from the U.S., particularly from the government, is forbidden.
Well, in fact, many food products – like boxes of United States chicken drumsticks- do indeed end up in Cuba and with the full knowledge of the U S government. The U S government rationale being that their shipment of foodstuffs are for the ordinary Cubans and are not sent directly to the totalitarian government. A humanitarian gesture if you will. This is , wink-wink “allowed.”
Now in answer to the first part of your question about sending computer parts to Cuba, the answer would be: No. For a foreigner to send anything through regular mail to Cuba is insuring the recipient does not receive it. The postal system in Cuba like everything else there is totally unreliable and inefficient. Cuban postal workers, underpaid and unmotivated, through no fault of their own, will given the opportunity help themselves to valuables. Computer parts in Cuba are very valuable.
Most postal packages destined for Cuba are sent via a “mule”. That is, say a Cuban ex pat living in the U S wants to send a product to a Cuban friend or family member the Cuban ex pat does so by paying a person in the US – the mule – to personally carry the intended product directly to the home, or an agreeable vicinity near by, of the intended receiver. This is the work of a mule. This is how they either earn their income or supplement their income. No Cuban government authorities are involved in the transfer which makes the process extremely reliable and worthwhile.
Now, in terms of computer parts? Don’t know if a “mule” would be comfortable in carrying such items because at the airport customs, many questions would be asked and perhaps financial penalties may have to be paid. Sending computer parts will no doubt raise suspicions from Cuban airport custom authorities.
Best bet, if you or someone you know intends to go to Cuba, is to personally bring down a computer- claim it to be your personal computer at customs – and deliver it to the intended recipient. No hassles, no problems from Cuban authorities, and no doubt a very happy Cuban computer user.
Is it possible to send some parts to Cuba, or is there an embargo in place?