At least I think so.

I’ve spent countless hours trying to learn how to build an online blog site, and I think I’m losing hair because of it.

I’m an older gentleman who grew up in West Africa. I saw my first computer when I was 28. I’ve always had a fear of new technology. But completing a digital skills assessment for course EL6082 made me realize how inadequate my knowledge of computer technology and apps are. Sadly, I developed the awful habit of tugging at my hair when frustrated.

To make things worse, I came down with a bad case of the flu soon after the semester started and was stuck in bed for about five days. I missed several classes, forcing me to play catch-up.

More hair pulling ensued.  

I paid NameCheap for the domain name SagaEuropa.com and hosted it on WordPress. WordPress offered me encryption which I (perhaps unwisely) declined.

I struggled to design Sagaeuropa.com. I tried using html and CSS to create the site, but got overwhelmed by the technology. I frequently questioned my own choice of outline text, colour, layout and graphics, so after a few failed attempts, I used a WordPress template for the site’s interface design instead.

I tried to publish my site online, but I got the “Your connection is not private” error. I called Olena from NameCheap support, and she helped me fix it by activating SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) for better security and privacy.

Now that the site is live, I’m wondering what to blog about. Maybe how I discovered instructional design and fell in love with it, the technical skills I’m learning every week, or how much I enjoy my MA in Technical Communication and E-Learning. But not today. Today’s post is just to vent about the frustrating process of getting this site up and running.

I’ve started work on my next class assignments: Creating a LinkedIn profile, completing three LinkedIn courses online, and creating an engaging eLearning storyboard.

Sounds like it’s going to be a busy week for me here in Sweden. On the bright side, I heard the bald look is very desirable nowadays.

Obi Ikeako.

February 16, 2025.