My computer, my friend!

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It was only when my computer broke down a few days ago that I came to realise just how much she really means to me! I say "she" because in Spanish the word for computer is "computadora", which happens to be feminine. But I usually call her "putita", which is not a nice word, but the truth is that it was my son who first called her like that, as he could not pronounce the word computer! My putita was gone for a few days and during that time I felt completely lost, nervous and unsettled. The truth is that she is like my friend and she makes up for the real ones I don't have. I came to this country nearly 14 years ago and despite all my efforts, I haven't been able to make many friends here, except for foreign students come for a limited time. I joined the Women's Association, which gathered English speaking women, but it did not work, as the fact that we spoke English was not enough. One also had to consider ages and interests too. I gave up on the English speaking women, so then I tried the Latin American Assoc, but the only person I spoke Spanish to was the secretary, although I did enjoy their dancing parties every May. In a way my computer is like an entertainer for me! She provides reading matter, like newspapers, so I can keep track of life in the places I have lived before. She also allows me to communicate, in English and Spanish, with friends and family all over the world. My putita also lets me be creative, by making it possible for me to write articles about various topics, or my travels. It is as if she was sitting still, listening to what I have to say. But she doesn't only listen, she also makes it possible for me to play the MP3's that friends have sent me from overseas. My putita did come back home eventually, but Windows and other programs needed to be installed again. For a while it felt as if it was not really her, but slowly I have been able to restore her to her old self and I can enjoy her once again!